ABSTRACT
Every leader makes decisions that will be controversial. And every principal has teachers who gripe and complain, teachers who drag their feet, and teachers who do their jobs well and embrace change. One of the most critical differences between effective principals and other principals is where they place their focus when they make tough decisions. The best principals base every decision on their best teachers. This may seem counterintuitive. After all, traditional thinking says, “Teach to the middle.” But if we want our schools to work better, we will find ways to focus on our best teachers.
