ABSTRACT
Here are practical insights from an experienced principal about how to run a successful school. Organized into three sections (Beginning the School Year, During the School Year, and Ending the School Year) these tips are powerful and attainable. Each one is introduced by an inspiring quote, followed by practical advice on how to implement the strategy. The 169 tips include: Encourage Staff to Set Improvement Goals, Take Staff on Neighborhood Visits, Call Parents with Good News Early, Learn What Parents and Students Want, Give Messages That Students Are Safe, Stress Procedures Early, Be Visible Daily, Keep No Secrets from Your Staff, Don't Make Decisions to Keep Friends, Don't Wait for Group Consensus, Praise Twice, Be a Nurturing Leader, Use Peer Pressure, Let Kids Work It Out, Have Family Night Activities, Admit Mistakes, Learn to Handle Complaints to Your Superiors, Have Written Goals and Update Them Regularly, See the School through the Parent's Eyes, and It Is Better to Do a Few Things Well.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|46 pages
Beginning the School Year
chapter |1 pages
Build Positive Relationships
chapter |1 pages
Communicate Your Vision
chapter |1 pages
Unite Employees with a Mission Statement
chapter |1 pages
Share Work Expectations with Staff
chapter |1 pages
Turn Cell Phones Off
chapter |1 pages
Set Short-Term Goals to Motivate Employees
chapter |1 pages
Encourage Staff to Set Improvement Goals
chapter |1 pages
Make Goals Measurable
chapter |1 pages
Set the Tone for Others to Follow
chapter |1 pages
Be on Time
chapter |1 pages
Dress Professionally Every Day
chapter |1 pages
Smile
chapter |1 pages
Know Everybody's First Name
chapter |1 pages
Develop Organizational Skills
chapter |1 pages
Create a Support Group
chapter |1 pages
Eliminate Hoops
chapter |1 pages
No Surprises
chapter |1 pages
Send School News to the Media
chapter |1 pages
Take Staff on Neighborhood Visits
chapter |1 pages
Call Parents with Good News Early
chapter |1 pages
Encourage Staff to Write a Weekly Newsletter to Parents
chapter |1 pages
Write a Weekly Staff Newsletter
chapter |1 pages
Encourage Input
chapter |1 pages
Empower Staff to Act
chapter |1 pages
Learn What Parents and Students Want
chapter |1 pages
Give Messages That Students Are Safe
chapter |1 pages
Encourage Parent Involvement
chapter |1 pages
Organize a Welcome Committee
chapter |1 pages
Requests to Move Children to Another Teacher
chapter |1 pages
Stress Procedures Early
chapter |1 pages
Start the Year Sharing Expectations with the Entire Student Body
chapter |1 pages
Challenge Upper Grades to Accept Leadership Responsibility
chapter |1 pages
Be Visible Daily
chapter |1 pages
Schedule Time with New Employees
chapter |1 pages
Encourage Staff to Mentor Others
chapter |1 pages
Help Staff Improve
chapter |1 pages
Give Educational Materials to Staff
chapter |1 pages
Provide Food and Refreshments
chapter |1 pages
Eat Healthy and Exercise
chapter |2 pages
Write Letters, Write Notes
part 2|94 pages
During the School Year
chapter |1 pages
Have Regular Informal Conversations with Your Staff
chapter |1 pages
Keep Written Messages Positive
chapter |1 pages
Think Time
chapter |1 pages
Staff Success Means School Success
chapter |1 pages
Be Positive
chapter |1 pages
Presume Positive Intentions
chapter |1 pages
Keep No Secrets from Your Staff
chapter |1 pages
Practice Speaking
chapter |1 pages
Use Correct Grammar
chapter |1 pages
Eye Contact
chapter |1 pages
Telephone Etiquette
chapter |1 pages
Approve Memos to Parents
chapter |1 pages
Respect Everyone
chapter |1 pages
Express Thanks and Send Thank-You Notes
chapter |1 pages
Become Interested in Your Employees' Families
chapter |1 pages
Overdeliver
chapter |1 pages
Consider Staff Opinions When Making Decisions
chapter |1 pages
Use a Problem-Solving Approach When Making Decisions
chapter |1 pages
Never Leave Today's Work for Tomorrow
chapter |1 pages
Doing Well Is What Matters Most
chapter |1 pages
Stay Calm
chapter |1 pages
Don't Rush a Decision
chapter |1 pages
Don't Make Decisions to Keep Friends
chapter |1 pages
Build Allies
chapter |1 pages
Learn to Collaborate
chapter |1 pages
Don't Wait for Group Consensus
chapter |1 pages
Be Consistent
chapter |1 pages
No Whining
chapter |1 pages
Use Persuasion
chapter |1 pages
Trust is My Most Valued Asset
chapter |1 pages
Help Others Succeed
chapter |1 pages
File Ideas
chapter |1 pages
Use E-mail
chapter |1 pages
Praise Twice
chapter |1 pages
Base Decisions on What's Best for the Entire School
chapter |1 pages
Avoid Conflicts
chapter |1 pages
Learn to Compromise
chapter |1 pages
Be Fair
chapter |1 pages
Deal Is a Deal
chapter |1 pages
Agree to Disagree
chapter |1 pages
Spend Time Focused on Staff
chapter |1 pages
Schedule Regular Classroom Visits
chapter |1 pages
Suggest Ideas to Staff
chapter |1 pages
Know When to Help
chapter |1 pages
Check Lesson Plans
chapter |1 pages
Train Your Employees
chapter |1 pages
Limit Classroom Interruptions
chapter |1 pages
Don't Limit Visits to Allow Classroom Autonomy
chapter |1 pages
Send Cards to Staff
chapter |1 pages
Include Staff in Evaluation Process
chapter |1 pages
Be an Instructional Leader
chapter |1 pages
Focus on Student Engagement
chapter |1 pages
Be a Nurturing Leader
chapter |1 pages
Recognize Staff Accomplishments
chapter |1 pages
Use Tact When Reprimanding Staff
chapter |1 pages
Document Negative Actions of Staff
chapter |1 pages
Contracts with Staff
chapter |1 pages
Make Students Give Written Statements
chapter |1 pages
Encourage Honesty
chapter |1 pages
Is This the First Time You Have Done This?
chapter |1 pages
Use Peer Pressure
chapter |1 pages
Call Home Before the Student Gets Home
chapter |1 pages
Conflict Resolution
chapter |1 pages
Let Kids Work It Out
chapter |1 pages
Conduct Locker Searches
chapter |1 pages
Encourage Concerned Parents to Meet with Staff
chapter |1 pages
Keep Parents Happy
chapter |1 pages
Promote Patriotism
chapter |1 pages
Keep the Building Clean and Tidy
chapter |1 pages
Make Home Visits
chapter |1 pages
Have Family Night Activities
chapter |1 pages
Get Involved in Your School District
chapter |1 pages
Display Student Work in the Community
chapter |1 pages
Publicize Your School Name and Mascot
chapter |1 pages
Help Parents Help Their Children
chapter |1 pages
Unannounced Visitors
chapter |1 pages
Treat Your Secretary Well
chapter |1 pages
Make Every School Employee Feel Like Part of Your School Family
chapter |1 pages
Support Substitute Teachers
chapter |1 pages
Support Mistakes and Risk Taking
chapter |1 pages
Admit Mistakes
chapter |1 pages
Don't Gossip or Listen to Gossip
chapter |1 pages
Keep Friends Close and Enemies Even Closer
chapter |1 pages
Loyalty Is a Two-Way Street
chapter |1 pages
Don't Bad-Mouth Your Leaders
chapter |1 pages
Be Tactful When Correcting Your Boss
chapter |1 pages
Learn to Handle Complaints to Your Superiors
chapter |2 pages
Learn to Handle School Board Requests
part 3|38 pages
Ending the School Year