ABSTRACT
Effective principals understand that they are the filters for the day-to-day reality of school. Their behavior sets the tone. The most effective principals choose their filters carefully. One way or the other, the principal's response affects the school. By sparing others the unnecessary bad news, he/she can create a much more productive environment. This applies not only to working with people outside the school, but also to working with people within the school district. If principals have great credibility and good relationships, people work to please them. If they lack credibility, people work against them. No matter what the purpose, content, or focus of a faculty meeting might be, a principal should always have one simple additional goal: the teachers need to be more excited about teaching tomorrow than they were today. By consistently filtering out the negatives that do not matter and sharing a positive attitude, principals can create a much more successful school.
