Dare to be a Principal
In the real world, being a school principal is no longer an easy task. Principal is the title for the chief administrator of a school.
The principal is responsible to provide the highest kind of education for the students in his/her school, accept responsibility to improve instruction, and hence promote better learning.
This can be done only through a well-planned supervisory program.
Dare to be Different
*Be Consistent
The key to good leadership is consistency. If principals are to be effective they must be consistent in maintaining the rules which make pupils better and the institution a better place to acquire knowledge.
*Set Goals
Effective principals are strong educators. They ensure that staff development needs are identified with school improvement priorities. Principals must have the skills to lead their school through the goal-setting process – to identify improvement areas and initiate actions for change.
*Communicate
Principals are able to manage people and budgets, evaluate and coach teachers, develop curriculum. They help resolve conflicts, communicate with parents, discipline and encourage students, and mobilize the school to improve student achievement.
*Capitalize on Strengths
Principals must have a healthy ego to realize that as leader of an organization you are not an expert in everything. They should work with staff to capitalize on their strengths in order to build the best program. Principals need knowledge of child psychology and child development and should have strong public speaking and writing skills.
*A Team Leader
A principal sees himself/herself as a team leader and creates an environment in the school where staff and students feel comfortable. They must get involved in the instructional program and cooperate with teachers on making curriculum changes.
*Handle Stress
Principals are able to handle stress, willing to work with diverse groups and committed to the mission of public education. Must be willing to work long and hard hours. Principals allocate time for supervision and budget his/her time carefully to keep all aspects of the in-service program moving satisfactorily.
*Model Expectations
A principal always model what he or she hopes the whole school staff will become. They put aside conventional wisdom and use their freedom to make some of his/her own rules. A principal must ensure that the school improvement plan has identified activities to support strategies and milestones to assess progress toward goals.