MASSP Summer Conference 2011 Principle Essentials for Principals

1. MASSP Summer Conference 2011�Principle Essentials for Principals� Presenter: Jeffery P. Ridlehoover Senior Associate Principal Wayzata High School Dissertation Defended: September 2010 Hamline University St. Paul, MN Committee Members: Dr. Walter Enloe, Dr. Nicholas Miller, Dr. Craig Paul

2. An investigation into The High school principalship The High School Principalship: An Investigation into the Essential Leadership Characteristics as Determined by High School Principals and the Teachers Whom the Serve Ridlehoover (2010)

3. An investigation into The High school principalship �Basically, I�m not interested in doing research and I never have been. I�m more interested in understanding, which is quite a different thing.� David Blackwell

4. An investigation into The High school principalship Research Rationale 1. Increase the leadership capacity of the high school principal 2. Promote productive learning organizations 3. Aid high school principals in increasing student academic achievement

5. An investigation into The High school principalship Research Rationale �Evidence has suggested that principals are in a unique position to influence school culture and, therefore, a significant challenge for leadership research is to identify those conditions likely to have direct effects (on culture and student learning)� (p. 407). Leithwood and Jantzi (2007)

6. An investigation into The High school principalship Research Questions Primary Question: Do high school principals and teachers have similar or differing views regarding the essential leadership characteristics of the high school principal? Secondary Question: Which high school principal leadership characteristics are viewed as the most essential by both high school principals and high school teachers?

7. An investigation into The High school principalship Methodology An extensive literature review was utilized to narrow down the ten essential leadership characteristics used in my study. I did this by making use of the following criteria� 1. The essential leadership characteristics that were most frequently cited by past research. 2. The essential leadership characteristics that aligned with my study-I.E., the essential leadership characteristics that promoted student academic achievement as well as promoted healthy, productive school climates.

8. An investigation into The High school principalship Literature Review Key Term Search Using The Following Three Terms� Principals Teachers Leadership

9. An investigation into The High school principalship Working Definitions Principal: The origin of the term principal is derived from the leader or �principal teacher� of a school. Over time, the role has changed from an active teacher/educator to one that is responsible for the entire academic operation of the school. Hall (2005) refers to principals as the Chief Learning Officers of the organization.

10. An investigation into The High school principalship Working Definitions McEwan (2003) went beyond the definition of the principal and interviewed �highly effective principals,� teachers, central office administrators, school board members, and parents to discover the important traits of the principal. Through this research, McEwan (2003) found ten traits that stood out above everything else.

11. An investigation into The High school principalship McEwan�s 10 Principal Traits Communicator Educator Envisioner Facilitator Change Master Culture Builder Activator Producer Character Builder Contributor

12. An investigation into The High school principalship In their book, School Leadership That Works (2005), Marzano, Waters, & McNulty cited their meta-analysis study, which analyzed 70 quantitative research projects, and determined that there are �21 Responsibilities� that make an effective high school principal. Most Vital: Situational Awareness Least Vital: Contingent Rewards

13. An investigation into The High school principalship NASSP (2010) NASSP�s Breaking Ranks: 10 Skills for Successful School Leaders (2010) offered another look into the essential skills of the principalship. NASSP divided these skills into four prominent themes� Educational Leadership Resolving Complex Problems Communications Developing Self and Others

14. An investigation into The High school principalship Theme #1: Educational Leadership Setting Instructional Direction Teamwork Sensitivity

15. An investigation into The High school principalship Theme #2: Resolving Complex Problems Judgment Results Orientation Organizational Ability

16. An investigation into The High school principalship Theme #3: Communication Oral Communication Written Communication

17. An investigation into The High school principalship Theme #4: Developing Self and Others Developing Others Understanding Your Own Strengths and Weaknesses

18. An investigation into The High school principalship Using the 10 Skills as their barometer, NASSP (2010) found that high school principals were spending large amounts of time on matters that had a less than direct affect on instructional practices or student academic success (I.E., more time on managerial tasks than on educational tasks) Source: Schiff, T. (2001). Priorities and Barriers in High School Leadership: A Survey of Principals. Reston, VA: NASSP

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