Beginning the Principalship: A Practical Guide for New School Leaders

′You cannot take on the principalship and view it as a job . . . . Simply stated, you have to view it as a special calling′ - Jim Kelch, from Beginning the Principalship, Third Edition The best way to learn the ropes is to have an expert at your side. Beginning the Principalship, Third Edition is exactly that kind of essential encouragement and help you need. Filled with updated and new information designed to help you survive your first years as headteacher, this new edition of John C. Daresh′s bestseller provides the resources you need to become a strong and effective leader. Find out how you can o Manage others′ expectations of you as headteacher; o Master the technical skills necessary to run a school; o Create and clarify your personal professional growth plan; o Work effectively with the community; o Incorporate staff in school goals and initiatives; o Work more effectively with parents. In compelling scenarios from new headteachers, Daresh focuses on the practical skills for developing a network, the process of finding mentors, and the importance of professional organizations. With the tools this guide offers, you will build the skills you need to thrive as a principal, growing more comfortable-and more confident-in your role as school leader!

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Introduction Plan for the Book Suggested Reading 2. A Framework for Understanding the Beginning Principalship Case Study: Figuring Out the Papers Case Study: To Go or Not to Go Case Study: I’m Not a Politician Balance Is the Key Suggestions for Improvement and Professional Development Building a Personal Plan References Part I: Technical and Managerial Skills 3. A Personal Leadership Checklist Critical Leadership Skills Your Personal Plan References 4. Expectations for Technical and Managerial Skills Some Apparent Contradictions Formal Requirements Informal Tasks Before the Year Begins After the Year Begins Toward the End of the Year Building a Personal Plan Suggested Reading 5. Learning to Lead by Assisting Remember Your Role Using the Role for the Future Your Personal Plan Suggested Reading 6. Assuming Responsibility for Accountability Terms of the No Child Left Behind Act The Realities Your Personal Plan References Part II: Socialization 7. Seeing Your Invisible Heroes Office Workers Custodial Staff Food Service Workers Building a Personal Plan References Suggested Reading 8. Parents as Partners? Traditional Functions of Home-School Relations Current Problems With School-Community Relations Your Personal Plan References 9. Others’ Expectations Critical Skills for Beginning Principals: A Survey So What Does This Mean? Your Personal Plan 10. Learning Your School’s Culture Don’t Just Look…See Listen…Don’t Just Hear Celebrate the Past Develop an Action Plan Part III: Self-Awareness 11. Reviewing Personal Values Case: Because It’s Important to Me Case: But What About the Children? Building a Platform What Do You Do With the Platform? Your Personal Platform 12. Being a “Boss” Others’ Perceptions So What Do You Do? Strategies to Reduce Isolation Your Personal Plan Suggested Reading 13. Building a Personal Timeline for Learning and Development A Developmental Framework What’s This Got to do With Me? Developing a Personal Timeline for Action Suggested Reading 14. Building a Support System Strategy 1: Find a Mentor Strategy 2: Develop Networks Strategy 3: Participate in Professional Associations Strategy 4: Maintain Personal and Family Support Developing a Plan of Action 15. Some Concluding Thoughts Not Just a Job Keep Your Sense of Humor How Far Are You Willing to Go? Make Your School Your Family Keep Your Eye on the Target Last Words Appendix: Beginning Principals’ Administrative Skills Assessment Instrument

About the Author :
John C. Daresh is professor of educational leadership at the University of Texas at El Paso. Over the years, he has held faculty or administrative appointments at the University of Cincinnati, The Ohio State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and Illinois State University. He has also worked as a consultant on high school reform and administrator professional development for universities, state departments of education, national and state professional associations, and individual schools and districts across the United States, and also in Barbados, Canada, France, Holland, Israel, Turkey, South Africa, and Taiwan. By far, the bulk of Daresh’s international service has been in the United Kingdom where he served an advisor and trainer for the School Management Task Force that developed and promoted support programs for beginning headteachers, the National College for School Leadership, the Welsh Office of Education, the North West Network for Diploma Development in Cheshire, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Lincoln, the University of Hull, CREATE Consultancies, and literally dozens of Local Education Authorities and individual schools across England and Wales. Daresh recently completed three years of service as the lead consultant on principal mentoring programs for the Chicago Public Schools as that megadistrict was faced with the challenge of bringing in mostly inexperienced principals to serve in nearly of the school system’s elementary and high schools.

Review :
"The major strengths of this book are the format and the emphasis on self-reflection and self-assessment. The information presented is solid and provides a great framework for the new principal." -- Jim Hoogheem "There is no doubt as to the purpose of this book. From the title to the end, it clearly is designed to help the new principal begin a successful career. The various sections which call for introspection and action are meaningful and will provide both the new and the experienced administrator many thought-provoking hours of self evaluation. This book makes a distinct contribution to the field. Even as an administrator with over 25 years of experience, there were several areas which caused me to go back and evaluate if I could do some things better." -- Stephen Handley, Principal