This book provides a bridge from learning the theory of school administration to the practical problem solving in which school principals and other leaders engage.
All chapters conclude with “Summary,” “Activities,” “Endnotes,” and “Selected Readings.”
Preface.
I.CREATING A VISION OF LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING.
1.The Principal: A Creative Blend of Substance and Style.
The Principalship: The Role in Context.
The Principal: The Leader within the Role.
The Leadership Background: A Historical Perspective.
2.The Learning Community.
Learning Communities.
High Performance Organizations.
3.Decision Processing and Decision Making at the School Site.
Decision Making: A Perspective.
Decision Making as Problem Solving.
Decision Settings.
Decision Processing.
The Work Group as a Problem Solving Unit.
The Garbage Can Model of Decision Making.
4.School Improvement through Systematic Planning.
Principals Role.
Gathering Baseline Data.
Determining Vision and Mission.
Clarifying Expectations for Student Learning.
Analysis of Instructional and Organizational Effectiveness.
Action Planning/Project Management.
The Project Calendar: Gantt Charting.
II.DEVELOPING A POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE.
5.Creating a Positive Learning Climate.
Its No Secret.
The School as a Culture.
Positive Student Control.
Actively Encouraging a Positive Learning Environment.
The Counseling Program.
Student Services.
6.The School Curriculum.
The Principals Role in Curriculum Administration.
7.Promoting Student Achievement.
Individual Differences among Children.
Grouping Students.
Instructional Processes and Types of Instruction.
Research on Teaching.
8.Special Students and Special Services.
The Principal as Facilitator.
Fostering an Ethic of Care.
Special Education and Related Services.
Disciplining Students with Disabilities.
Dealing with Parents of Special Children.
Special Education and the Regular Classroom Teacher.
Outside Public Agencies.
9.Human Resources Development.
Human Resource Development and Organizational Context.
Professional Development.
Personnel Evaluation and Supervision.
Implications for Leaders.
III. MANAGING THE ORGANIZATION.
10.Staffing the School — Recruitment, Selection, and Termination Processes
Recruitment.
The Selection Process.
Employee Probationary Status.
Teacher Tenure.
Involuntary Termination.
Voluntary Termination.
11.Restructuring the Deployment of Instructional Personnel.
Empowerment.
Learning Communities.
Organizing for Learning Community Development.
Staffing Patterns for Elementary and Middle Schools.
Staffing Patterns for Secondary Schools.
Learning Community Planning.
The School as a Learning Community.
12.Restructuring Time — Scheduling.
Schedule Flexibility.
Schedule Design.
Learning Community Planning Time.
Elementary School Schedules.
Middle School Schedules.
Secondary School Schedules.
Block Schedules — Middle and High School.
Year-Round Schools.
13.Creative Budgeting, Fiscal Accounting, and Building Management.
The Budgeting and Planning Process.
Implementing a Planning, Programming, Budgeting System.
Accounting for Financial Resources and Expenditures.
Supplies and Equipment Management.
Care of the School Plant.
Working with Classified Personnel.
14.Technology Applications for School Management.
How to Get Started.
Technology Plans.
Technology Applications for a School Office.
Local Area Networks (LAN).
World Wide Web (WWW).
Staff Development for Technology.
Hardware Security.
IV.INTERACTING WITH THE EXTERNAL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
15.The School and the Community.
The Community.
Informal Community Forces.
Anticipate Obvious Flashpoints.
Formal Community Forces.
Getting the Message Out: One-Way Public Relations Techniques.
Getting the Message Out and Back: Two-Way Public Relations Techniques.
16.Legal Rights and Responsibilities of Students and Staff.
Legal Bases for Schools: A Federal, State, and Local Perspective.
Due Process.
Issues of Equity.
First Amendment Rights.
Sexual Harassment.
Common Tort Liability Settings.
Regulating Student Conduct.
Privacy and Confidentiality of Student Records.
Appendix A: Cases.
Problem Analysis, Decision Processing, and Decision Making: Introduction to the Cases.
Case 1: The Project Is Late.
Case 2: Your Kids Dont Read Well Enough.
Case 3: Dont Mess with My Budget.
Case 4: Trouble Brewing at Hughes Middle School.
Case 5: The Curriculum Is Not Working: Fix It.
Case 6: Values Clarification Dispute.
Case 7: Reduction in Force.
Case 8: Which Textbook Will It Be?
Case 9: Thats My Parking Place!
Case 10: The New Photocopier.
Case 11: How Safe Is the School?
Case 12: Mrs. Davis Is a Bad Teacher.
Case 13: Ricky.
Case 14: Back to the Basics.
Case 15: Where Is the Money?
Case 16: How Come Im Not a Master Teacher?
Case 17: Welcome: Please Change Janies Teacher.
Case 18: We Object!
Case 19: Mike Is the Best You Have.
Case 20: The Restructured School.
Case 21: I Wish I Was Dead.
Case 22: Get Rid of That Book!
Case 23: Gun in the School.
Case 24: Mr. Bishop Grabbed Ashley Jane.
Appendix B: ISLLC Standards (1-6).
