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Best Practices of Award-Winning Secondary School Principals
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Best Practices of Award-Winning Secondary School Principals

Foreword by Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director, National Association of Secondary School Principals



July 2006 | 256 pages | Corwin
Using recent survey results from 34 award-winning NCLB blue-ribbon secondary headteachers across the United States, author Sandra Harris examines over 100 of their best field-based practices to help school leaders everywhere succeed in making their schools the best that they can be. The chapters in this unique collection are organized around six themes to help secondary school headteachers learn from their peers successful strategies centred on leadership, shaping campus culture, communicating for collaboration, curriculum and instruction, school improvement plans, and personalizing the learning environment. Aspiring, new, and veteran secondary headteachers will benefit from:

o Descriptions of best practices and ideas for implementing them

o Recommended reading list for effective headteachers

o Reflection and insight from successful headteachers

o Additional resources to further extend best practices

This invaluable resource covers the most current research, ideas, and strategies to help secondary headteachers become exemplary school leaders and create a thriving school environment.

 
Foreword by Gerald N. Tirozzi
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
About the Contributors
 
Introduction
 
1. Leadership
Leadership Actions That Build Exemplary Schools

 
Leadership: Tim's Top 10 Tips

 
Two Essential Leadership Qualities

 
Good Leaders Ask Good Questions

 
Leadership Best Practices: In Retrospect

 
Snapshots

 
Summary

 
Leadership Reflection

 
Additional Resources

 
References

 
 
2. Shaping Campus Culture
Trust Is the Foundation

 
Team Thornton

 
Influencing the School Culture

 
Shaping a Demographically Changing High School

 
Theme-Based Education: The High School's Mantra

 
Developing a Professional Learning Community

 
Shaping Through Professional Development

 
It Takes a Village

 
Guaranteeing a Better Future for the Entire Community

 
Shaping a Culture of Leadership in a Rural School

 
Three Ways to Improve Student Achievement

 
School Vision and Strategic Planning Are Exciting

 
Golden Opportunities

 
Snapshots

 
Summary

 
Shaping Campus Culture Reflection

 
Additional Resources

 
References

 
 
3. Communicating for Collaboration
Communicating for Collaboration With Faculty and Other Educators

 
Communicating for Collaboration With Students, Parents, and the Larger Community

 
Summary

 
Communicating for Collaboration Reflection

 
Additional Resources

 
References

 
 
4. Curriculum and Instruction
Build Curricula to Fit Student Needs

 
Closing the Achievement Gap

 
Standards-Based Curriculum

 
Supporting Standards-Based Programs

 
Challenging Curricula

 
Freshman Induction and Looping Improve Performance

 
Looping Aids Accountability

 
Team Looping Shares Responsibility

 
The Role of Technical Arts

 
CRISS-CROSS Professional Development

 
Different Instructional Methods Improve Learning

 
Differentiated Instruction Opportunities

 
Academic Celebrations

 
It's Not Your Mom's Detention Anymore: A Study on the Effectiveness of Walking for Fitness as an Alternative to Traditional Afterschool Detention

 
Snapshots

 
Summary

 
Curriculum and Instructional Programs Reflection

 
Additional Resources

 
References

 
 
5. School Improvement Plans
School Improvement Improves Us All

 
What I Wish I Had Done Differently

 
Everyone Is Accountable for All

 
TEAMS Target Improved Student Learning

 
Using Breaking Ranks II for School Improvement

 
New Teacher Mentoring Program

 
How We Use Data Assessment

 
Using Assessment Data

 
The School Improvement Plan as a Living Document

 
Improving Academic Rigor

 
Five-Minute Classroom Walk-Through

 
Teacher Observations

 
Know Your Facility Better Than Anyone

 
Nurturing and Sustaining Best Practices for School Improvement

 
Snapshots

 
Summary

 
School Improvement Plans Reflection

 
Additional Resources

 
References

 
 
6. Personalizing the Learning Environment for All
What Is and What Ought to Be

 
A Welcoming Environment

 
What Every Principal Needs to Know About Students

 
Building-Based Intervention Team

 
Providing Individual Attention for At-Risk Students

 
Freshmen Transition Program - A Bridge to High School

 
Transition Class

 
Strategies for a Low-Performing High School

 
ESL Students and Reading

 
Find an Advocate

 
Improving Reading Skills

 
Individualized Graduation Plan

 
Double Promoting Students

 
Snapshots

 
Summary

 
Personalizing the Learning Environment for All Reflection

 
Additional Resources

 
References

 
 
7. Words of Wisdom
Words of Wisdom Reflection

 
Reference

 
 
8. Recommended Reading List
Recommended Reading List Reflection

 
 
9. Conclusion
We, Not Me

 
Sharing a Vision

 
Empower Others

 
Balancing Life as a Leader

 
. . . And Don't Forget

 
Leadership in Retrospect

 
People Are Always First

 
Treat Others As You Want to Be Treated

 
Re-Establishing Campus Culture

 
February Fun

 
Commit to Collaboration

 
A Commitment to the Team

 
Listen and Be Safe

 
Communicating a Collective Vision

 
Student Academic Achievement Plan

 
Sustaining School Improvement

 
People, Not Programs

 
Students, Not Schools

 
A Force for Good

 
References

 
 
Index

Sample Materials & Chapters

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1


For instructors

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