Beginning the Principalship: A Practical Guide for New School Leaders

by John C. Daresh

Principals are today’s newest superheroes, and every superhero needs a mentor. Daresh and Alexander offer encouragement in a practical hands-on guide to help principals navigate the challenges of leadership. Discover how

Drive student learning as the primary mission of the school Deal with others’ expectations of you as principal Master the technical skills needed to run an efficient school Create and clarify a personal professional growth plan Work effectively with the greater community and parents Celebrate instructional and non-instructional staff in a positive school cultureDon’t just survive. Read this guide and thrive!

Genres: Education

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 1997

Reviews

[Lisa Gusewelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

If someone unfamiliar with the job read this, they would not know how deeply criticized, how time-intensive, how involved in community and state organizations, how lacking in work-life balance, a person in this position is. Perhaps this book would be useful to those who have few other commitments in their life when they enter the position, but I doubt there are many of those.

In my opinion, a beginners book like this should focus on negotiating (salary, staff, parent, and the like), organizing (keeping an organized file system, putting together an annual calendar with traditional events, having expected meetings, meeting layouts, evaluations), dealing (with criticism, traumatic events at the school/community, with a boss, with employees, time away from family), and financing (grants, budgets, professional development, book studies, saving towards a goal, selecting goals).

In some cases, yes, the book addresses a few of those, but not in a way that I felt truly mentored the reader.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reflective space for planning and thinking about your first year.