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PBIS Rules, Rewards Boost Behavior and Academics
By relying on concise rules and frequent rewards, principals say the PBIS approach to school-wide behavior management drastically reduces discipline problems and improves academic performance among all students.
Practicing Love & Logic Can Mean Happier Schools
Stressing positive teacher-student relationships, empathetic adults, and differentiated consequences, the Love & Logic approach to behavior management has fans among teachers and parents. Included: Nine essential skills for teachers practicing Love & Logic.
Discipline with Dignity Stresses Positive Motivation
The Discipline with Dignity approach teaches educators to create positive motivators for kids so they take responsibility for their own behavior. Included: Examples of Discipline with Dignity in action.
Practical Advice for Coping With Difficult Kids, Parents
We’ve all experienced them -- the student or parent who not only pushes your buttons but leans on them until relief seems impossible. Building relationships with students and keeping yourself calm when issues arise can mean fewer conflicts.
Students "Stand Tall" Against Bullying
In a proactive attempt to squelch "bullying" behavior before it even emerges, one school district embraced an anti-bullying theme. Students were encouraged across the ages and the curriculum to avoid bullying behaviors and to help the victims.
Paired Schools Work Together to Solve Problems, Boost Achievement
Principals usually work in isolation, with few opportunities to share ideas. But since the Newport News Public Schools started pairing up elementary schools, more principals are sharing ideas, resources, talents, and strategies to make all schools successful.
The School Day: Fitting In Everything Requires Creative Scheduling
Making time in the school day to emphasize academics, tutor students who need help, schedule planning times for teams, or meet many other needs is a challenge all principals face. Our “Principal Files” team shares how they make time for these things and more.
Big Test Pep Rallies: 2, 4, 6, 8 -- Taking Tests and Feeling Great!
A little stress over tests can keep kids on their toes, but too much will knock them off their feet. Lowering test stress is why many schools are using the popular "pep rally" to get students excited and motivated to do their best. Included: Cheers, skits, and more.
Pete Hall: Get Your Learnin’ On
Education fluctuates more than a rattlesnake’s temperature. We cannot wait two years, then emerge and ask, “What did I miss?” Education moves much too fast for that. So what can we do to keep our heads in the game? Here are some ideas…
Use Personality Types to Structure Staff Development
Can you recognize the Bricks, the Rebels, or Knowledge Royals in your school? Chances are you have some of those personality types on your faculty. Any or all of them can sabotage staff development efforts. But only if you give them the chance.
Principals Reflect on Teachers Who Made a Difference in Their Lives
Who was the teacher who had the most significant impact on your life? That’s the question we posed to our “Principal Files” principals. Their responses confirm that the most respected teachers are those who take time to build relationships with their students.
Pete Hall: The Bull’s-Eye of School Discipline
Remember that time when there was a line of students awaiting their punishments outside your office door? The school day was a blur of black eyes, name-calling, and disobedience. That was this morning, really? Oh, you mean that happens every day?
Principals’ Classrooms Visits Help Build Better Readers
When principals and literacy coaches understand what students are learning and teachers are teaching -- and participate in literacy lessons -- they set a positive tone for the school that can lead to improvement in reading, say author and educator Dr. Beth Whitaker.
Sports4Kids: Reforming Recess by Teaching the Rules of Play
Is recess the most harried time of your day? A time when fights and visits to the nurse's office skyrocket? Before you eliminate recess, consider these principals’ thoughts about Sports4Kids, a program that has reformed their playgrounds and restored order to recess.
Organizing Staff Meetings Even You Want to Attend
Do you run your staff meetings like press briefings -- that is, read the news and run? More principals should use faculty meetings as opportunities for problem-solving and professional development, according to the authors of Energizing Staff Meetings.
Stop It!
The principalship is one step shy of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, so a little diversion is nice. But when all the diversions in our day get in the way of what is most important, we need to say Stop it! because sometimes succinct wins.
Developing, Retaining Strong Teachers in the Schools That Need Them Most
Too often, beginning teachers in urban schools or teachers new to an urban setting become frustrated when their students don’t respond to them. It’s not that they are bad teachers -- they just need to learn how to reach out more to students and their parents.
Interviewing for the Principalship: Tips from Principals
Interviewing can be a grueling process. But aspiring principals can relieve the pain by heeding this advice from our “Principal Files” team. Included: Practice interview questions, sound advice, plus a few surprises that might be encountered along the way.
Pete Hall: Leading Off the Edge of the Map
It might not surprise you to come across in a column about principal leadership names the likes of Thomas Edison and Ferdinand Magellan. So how the heck did Pete Hall manage to add to that mix Rowlf the Dog from The Muppet Show? Follow along…
Principals Share Lessons Learned About Communicating With Parents, Others
Seldom does a day go by when most school leaders don’t learn something new about the importance of communication. Here, our team of experienced “Principal Files” principals share their thoughts and tips about best practices in communication.
Pete Hall: Confronting Concerns With Teacher Performance
The time is now to confront the malpractice being committed by teachers who don’t pull their weight. If there are children in that teacher’s classroom, we have an obligation to provide the best possible learning environment and to insist upon excellence from that teacher.
Community Scavenger Hunt Teaches Research Skills, Much More
When armies of students descend on local libraries, it has to be time for the State of Jefferson Scavenger Hunt. The three-day event challenges kids to track down answers to a series of questions. The results include improved research skills, priceless memories.
Guidelines for Grading Principals
Stress Multiple Benchmarks
Concerned that administrators might not have enough input into NCLB-inspired criteria for assessing principals, a national principal association has offered criteria that include more than test scores. Included: NASSP’s recommendations, comments from NAESP.
Reformers, School Leaders Work Closely to Improve Schools
Sometimes an outside perspective is what is needed to jump-start change. Some districts are committing to reform through long-term partnerships with foundations and centers that can provide consultants, money, and other resources.
If You Were Handed a $10,000 Windfall…
Principals can make a seemingly small windfall like $10,000 go a long way! That’s what we learned this month when we “gave” members of our Principal Files team $10,000 to spend. The principals offered wise tips for spending in ways that add true value.
Study Circles Help Gather Input,
Solve Problems
Many schools and communities use study circles to ensure that diverse perspectives are represented as they address issues such as the achievement gap, redistricting, building projects, racism, and bullying. Included: Tips for starting a study circle.
Pete Hall: Who’s Doing the
Work Here, Anyway?
I’ll just spit this out there: It’s time that we, as educators, evaluate everything that we do in our classrooms. Many of us are spending a tremendous amount of time and a monumental amount of energy in low-yield practices.
Twenty-Five Ideas for Celebrating American Education Week
American Education Week was first celebrated in 1921 as a way to help raise America’s literacy rate. Today, AEW offers a special opportunity for educators to shine a light on the great things they do. Included: Twenty-five ideas for celebrating AEW in your school.
Principals Promote Reading
Aloud With Special Award
Are you a principal who is looking for a special way to recognize Children’s Book Week this year? You can share your love of reading and set a great example for students by reading aloud the five books nominated for the 2008 Principal’s Read Aloud Award.
More Schools Turn to Extended Days
Hours of test preparation, especially in underperforming schools, has left little time for electives or even some of the un-tested basic subjects. Adding time to the school year and day has helped some schools improve their scores and flesh out their curriculums.
Pete Hall: Who’s Your
Joey Amalfitano?
You wake up late, you burn the toast, the cat vomited on the rug and you find out by stepping in it, you leave the house just barely behind schedule but then have to stop for gas… Ever had a day like that? That’s the day you have to find your Joey Amalfitano.
Is This "It" for Tag?
Schools in a handful of states have recently made news headlines by banning tag on their playgrounds. While school officials seek to make playgrounds safer, others disagree with the decision to eliminate tag. Included: Views from the trenches and the benches.
Principals Share Programs That Work
There are hundreds of programs out there. Some claim to raise student achievement. Others aim to improve student behavior, stop bullying, or keep kids off drugs… But do these programs work? Included: Principals share ten programs that work.
New Chancellor Committed
To Urban Students
Michelle Rhee only spent a few years as a classroom teacher, but during that time she developed a passion for helping underprivileged students. She plans to apply that drive and a commitment to high expectations as the new head of the DC Public Schools.
Pawlas on PR: Volunteers and
Mentors Add So Much to a School
Setting up and maintaining a strong volunteer or mentor program is not an easy task. But most principals who take time to recognize the immediate and countless benefits of establishing volunteer programs feel the extra effort is well worth it.
Pawlas on PR: Forging Relationships With the Larger Community Pays Off Big-Time
Schools cannot afford to function independent of other segments of their communities. Now, more than ever, it is essential that schools form relationships with community members, groups, and agencies for the mutual benefit of the students and schools.
Pawlas on PR: Experienced Administrators Share Their Advice With Aspiring Principals
Twenty-three students in George Pawlas's graduate educational leadership course recently interviewed experienced school administrators to learn, What two pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring administrator? Here is what they said.
Pawlas on PR: Take Care of the People Who Take Care of You
The words of a local dentist's grandmother have got me reflecting on what school principals can and should do for their internal and external publics and members of their immediate families. "Taking care" efforts with all three groups are vitally important.
Pawlas on PR: Crisis Planning -- Have You Done Yours?
No one can predict when or where the next disaster or tragedy will strike, so principals must be prepared to deal with any possible crisis. Principals who develop effective crisis plans are those who understand the true meaning of the saying, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
Developing More Resilient
School Administrators
People who are resilient -- “realistic optimists” who adapt to changes and learn from mistakes -- often are more effective leaders. More administrators are learning what it means to be resilient.
Teacher Selection Counts: Six Steps to Hiring
As principals, we feel an enormous amount of pressure to staff our buildings with strong, effective, intelligent people. If you’ve ever had to fill a teaching vacancy, you know how hard that is: Hard as a coffin nail. Included: Tips for “getting the right people on the bus."
Mapping Instruction With Interim Assessments
Officials in one school district needed to know if their instructional interventions were working. They needed data reported more often than state tests could provide, so they created an online assessment tool that has improved instruction and raised test scores.
Teachers Take Lead in Instructional Talk Throughs
To meet teachers’ professional development needs, one district’s administrators developed Instructional Talk Throughs. Teams of teachers observe colleagues and offer written and verbal feedback. Included: An outline of the Instructional Talk Through
Pete Hall: Reviving the American Dream
Pete Hall is wondering if the American Dream is dying. "As educators, we can teach -- through some direct instruction and intentional role-modeling -- what the American Dream means," he says. Will you be joining Pete in reviving the American Dream this year?
Order in the Cafeteria: Tips for Improving Behavior and Supervision
Some principals have nightmares about “cafeteria time.” But with rules for traffic flow and behavior firmly in place, many principals say lunchtime can run hitch-free. Included: Tips for improving behavior, training monitors, and planning trouble-free recess time.
The Best Thing About This Year…
So what was the best thing to happen in your school this past school year? Was it a special event? A school-wide effort that paid off? A special recognition? A kid who made great strides?... Read what our “Principal Files” principals had to say.
Paul Young: The No-Hat Rule
Would you agree that manners, civility, and respect for decorum are values that are heading the way of the horse and buggy? Paul Young thinks so. He says a return to teaching manners in school must start at the top -- so take off those ballcaps!
Paul Young: The Five Levels of Principal Leadership
Joe had ‘arrived’ when in early August, at age 29, he was selected as the principal of Union Elementary School. In a rush to make a great first impression, Joe made a momentous mistake. If only he’d read John Maxwell’s Leadership 101…
Paul Young: Have You Got Enough Love to Be a Mentor Principal?
Have you got what it takes to mentor the next generation of school leaders? If you’re a principal who has benefited from the helping hand and heart of a skilled mentor, you’ve no doubt picked up skills that will support you as you grow great teachers and future principals.
Paul Young: Who Is Responsible for Unruly Kids?
Community members finally had it with unruly students at a neighborhood bus stop. So they turned to the school for help. After being confronted, the principal knew he had to take action. But how would he handle this “potentially dangerous” situation?
Paul Young: The Light in the Principal’s Office
You’ve all heard of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which is often triggered by the shorter days and longer nights of winter. But have you heard of BAD? Principal Paul Young offers his perspective and a few tips for managing kids who suffer from BAD.
Paul Young: The Omnipresent Principal
To students in a school, the principal often seems to be everywhere. While we know that is physically impossible, there are things that any principal can do to make it seem that way. A principal’s omnipresence sets a tone for a school and gives it a personality.
Paul Young: Give Yourself the Best Gift -- The Gift of Time
Time. Busy principals always seem to need more of it. So why do they give so much of it away so freely? By gaining control of the time they do have, principals can save precious minutes every day and create more hours in a week for more important things.
Paul Young: Preventing Gridlock -- The “Principal” Traffic Cop’s Job
The job of a principal is not all that different from the job of a traffic cop. When gridlock forms in our schools, it is the principal -- the school’s traffic controller -- who must make the quick decisions that “drive” achievement and remove barriers to improvement.
Paul Young: Becoming a Principal Is Like Learning to Swim All Over Again
The lessons Paul Young learned while learning to swim stick with him today. Learning to swim and learning to principal aren’t all that different, he says. Both require encouragement from trusted teachers. So are you ready to dive into the principalship?
Paul Young: Landing Your First Principalship
When it comes to being interviewed for that first principalship, all principals-to-be can benefit from the experience of a mentor. Mentors help their mentees focus on what must be said rather on what not to say. Included: Tips for aspiring principals.
These Shoes Were Made for Running/Walking
A runner for many years, Principal Kim Pavlovich has created a run/walk program that each week attracts teachers, parents, and more than half the student body to the school track. Included: Tips for starting this simple and inexpensive program in your school.
Top Educator Finds Alternatives to Failure
Joris Ray, director of the Memphis City Schools’ alternative schools, believes that helping students achieve academic success leads to confidence and better behavior. That dedication helped earn him ASCD’s 2007 Outstanding Young Educator Award.
Principals on the Move: Tips for Making a Smooth Move
If you have just been assigned to a new school for next school year, or if you’re taking your first job as a principal, members of our “Principals Files” offer practical advice. Included: Tips from principals who have experienced a move or two or more.
Pete Hall: Changing Addresses
Forward this column to anyone you know who will have a new principal’s office in the coming school year. That includes new principals beginning their first assignments and vets who are moving to new schools or districts. Plus: Tips for starting off on the right foot.
Test-Stressed Out: Strategies for Improving Attitudes, Scores
Whether it is simple butterflies or a severe case of "test anxiety," students can feel overwhelming pressure to succeed on high-stakes tests. But educators can provide the tools students need to do their best. Strategies included: “Get ICE,” sticky notes, more.
This Is Only a Test
Testing may not be a favorite activity, but it is here to stay. When the adults around them are nervous -- or worse yet, negative -- about standardized tests, students can adopt those attitudes as well. Included: Simple tips to help administrators facilitate a smooth test day.
Pete Hall: Turning Teacher Evaluations on Their Ears
The scheduling, the classroom observations, the reports, the checklists… Teacher evaluation time is an exhausting time. Just ask our ulcers. But when you keep SITTM in mind, and pair it with frequent classroom walk-throughs, students end up the big winners.
Military Veterans Proudly Serving Again, in the Classroom
Former servicemen and women bring to the classroom unique management skills, flexibility in dealing with others, and the ability to respond to nearly any situation. Included: Three troops-turned-teachers talk about the rewards, difficulties of their new.
Showing Appreciation on “Secretaries Day”
Administrative Professionals Week (formerly called National Secretaries Week) is celebrated each April. What are you doing to recognize the folks in the front office who keep things on an even keel in your school? Here are some practical ideas…
Principals' Feats Fuel Fabulous Reading
What would students do to see a principal camp on the roof, become a human sundae, kiss a pig, or get slimed? Turns out they will do a great deal -- of reading! Many principal are capitalizing on students' desire to see them do wacky stunts and build reading skills.
The Principal as Troublemaker
Paul Young is past president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). And he is a troublemaker. But, as he describes in this essay, being a troublemaker is a necessary thing for strong school leaders to be.
Administrators Praise Three-Minute Walk-Throughs
Since one North Carolina school district started using three-minute walk-throughs, principals have become more involved with curriculum, provided support for educators, and learned from students. Included: How a three-minute walk-through program works.
Students Clean Up Their Act and "Dare Not To Swear!"
At Bremerton (Washington) High School, the student-generated "Dare Not To Swear!" program has proven that students can be even more effective in reducing swearing than teachers. Included: Two schools’ approaches, plus Dare Not To Swear! poetry.
Marriage, Family, and the Principalship: Making It All Work
The demands of the principal’s job can’t help but take a toll on marriages and families. According to our “Principal Files” principals, keeping families intact requires plenty of effort, teamwork, a well-used calendar, and a cell phone with lots of minutes. Included: Principals offer their advice.
Pete Hall: Before “Lightning” Strikes
Around and around we go with the Frequent Fliers. The Detention Crew. The kids who have difficulty staying out of trouble. They are the Lightning Club. Lightning can strike at any time, without warning. Included: Start a Lightning Club in your school.
Making Inclusion the Norm
Including special education students in "regular classes" and finding ways to meet their -- and all other students' learning needs -- should be the goal of every school, according to professor Dr. Mara Sapon-Shevin.
Crafting Thorough Cleaning Plans
Few educators may link school cleanliness with student performance, but cleaner buildings can mean higher attendance and more learning. Included: Tips for developing a comprehensive cleaning program that creates a healthier environment for all.
Improving School Environments Through Green Cleaning
As research mounts about the link between indoor air quality and health, and as more children enter school with respiratory problems, schools, districts, and even whole states are switching to more environmentally-friendly cleaning agents.
It’s Time to Repair America’s Schools
Stories of vermin, mold, asbestos, and water in classrooms have become all too common in the U.S., according to a report from the American Federation of Teachers. It’s time for the nation to commit itself to repairing its aging and deteriorating schools.
More (Short) Tests Can Help Learning
With all the testing going on these days, it's hard to imagine doing more. But some schools are finding that assessing students throughout the year with short tests can improve learning and better prepare kids for the big tests. The idea is backed up by research.
Wellness Policies Promote Healthy Choices
The federal mandate for schools to adopt written wellness policies has prompted many to focus on cafeteria and snack items as well as opportunities for physical activity. What have school leaders learned as they implemented new wellness policies?
Top Administrator Focuses on Standards, Achievement Gap
Under the leadership of Dr. Beverly L. Hall, the Atlanta, Georgia, Public Schools have seen achievement rise as the achievement gap shrinks. For these efforts and others, Dr. Hall earned the award for the nation’s top urban educator.
WatchDOGS Unleashed on Schools
WATCH D.O.G.S. is a K–12 program that makes it easy for father figures to spend meaningful time in a school setting. The program is overseen by a “Top Dog” volunteer dad who partners with the school administrator to identify opportunities for WatchDOGS dads.
Pete Hall: Why I Wear Red Socks to School
The earliest known socks were discovered in Egyptian tombs. In subsequent years, socks have taken many turns on the paths of style and function. Principal Pete Hall’s socks, for instance, are red. Every day, red socks. So why does Hall wear red socks to school every day?
Mentoring New Administrators to Success
Too often new administrators are dropped into their offices with a list of expectations and little support -- not even a bottle of aspirin. But the Savannah-Chatham County (Georgia) mentoring program is designed to nurture and mold quality educators into quality administrators.
Principal Personalizes, Individualizes Student Learning
After watching her bright brother drop out of high school, Dr. Jeryl (Jill) Martin wanted to find ways to keep kids in schools. Her efforts as principal to personalize education at Thomas B. Doherty High School helped earn her Principal of the Year honors.
Pete Hall: T2 -- Togetherness and Teamwork
There is a Kilimanjaro-sized mountain of research supporting the importance of teamwork in our schools. Quotes such as "many hands make light work" and "two heads are better than one" could not be more apropos than they are in today's schoolhouses.
Pete Hall: The Attack
With the advent of the No Child Left Behind Act, higher standards and expectations, growing pressure for preparing
children for global competition, and an increasing need to address the whole child… on behalf of 50 million children
I ask you to join me in "The Attack."
Teachers Teaching Teachers: Professional Development That Works
If you're not capitalizing on the expertise of your school's teaching team, you're missing out on the most effective
professional development around. Ed World's "Principal Files" principals share their experiences with and enthusiasm
for teachers-teaching-teachers PD.
"Recovery Rooms" Put Disruptive Students on Road to Recovery
Are disruptive students inhibiting learning in your school? If so, the answer may be creating a place for them
to refocus and regroup -- a "recovery room." With guidance, students can reflect on their mistakes and find ways
to improve.
Pairing At-Risk High School, Elementary Kids Benefits Both
Mixing at-risk high school and elementary-aged students might sound like a plan for perpetuating bad habits.
But when asked to serve as mentors, the high school students stepped up, and they and their charges are learning
about themselves and each other.
Put "Punch" Into Your Parent Handbook
Is it time to take a fresh look at your school's parent handbook? How can your school get more out of this essential
resource for parents? Education World takes a look at ten handbooks from across the grades and shares what each
one does especially well.
My Three Favorite Things: Data, Data, and Data
"Educators, as a breed, are afraid of data," says Ed World columnist Pete Hall. "We treat them like contagious
numerical pathogens. After all, for decades we have been the evaluators, but now we are the evaluatees, often
left to the mercy of unpleasant school designations..."
Group Brings Waves of Humor to Professional Development
The group Wavelength proves that professional development can be fun and full of substance. Using skits, music,
and improvisation, the troupe zeros in on hot education topics. Included: Descriptions of Wavelength presentations.
It's Time to Reinvent the Principalship
The idea of a single principal who can do everything is not working. Here are eight recommendations for reinventing
the principalship to help reduce stress on current administrators and entice new candidates to the profession.
Principals as Leader-Managers
Principals often view leadership and management as two different roles, but the most effective principals know how
to blend the two. Included: Tips for combining leadership and management skills to be a more effective administrator.
Principal Unites School Around Student Strengths
When changes hit Khowhemun Elementary School in British Columbia, staff members and the community initially found
it hard to adjust. Charlie Coleman, ASCD's 2005 Outstanding Young Educator, helped give the school focus and unified
the staff.
Pete Hall: 600 Reasons To Do It Again Next Year
"I cannot begin to share the number of times that I've sat alone in my car at the end of a long day of principaling.
I sit, unwilling to turn the key as dusk creeps into the staff parking lot, and wonder aloud, 'Why, exactly, do I
continue to do this?'"
The Best Convention Speakers We've Seen...
Have you been to a conference session that truly inspired you? Have you run into a speaker whose message changed the
way you do things? Improved your school? Improved your life? Our "Principals Files" principals name the speakers you
must see!
Solid Leadership Key to Good Middle Schools
A multi-year, national study of leadership in middle schools led by professor Jerry Valentine of the University of
Missouri-Columbia's Middle Level Leadership Center showed in part that successful schools had good leaders with positive
attitudes.
Pete Hall: Prioritize and Delegate Your Way to Effective Leadership
"If a principal cannot effectively prioritize time and energy, and if a principal cannot delegate certain tasks and
decisions, then that principal will find him or herself dangling at the end of a very short rope over a frothing sea
of sharks, piranhas..."
BRAVO Principals… Act With Courage, Conviction
Making difficult decisions requires courage. A principal's acts of courage help ensure that all children learn.
Those acts also serve as catalysts; they motivate colleagues to act with courage. Included: Sandra Harris offers ten
actions of courageous principals.
Getting Kids to Read By Keeping Their Eyes on the Prize
Educators know that children who read and are read to are more likely to become life-long readers. That's why many
schools are using reading incentives -- from reading honor rolls to "prize patrols" -- to encourage kids. And they're
reading more as a result.
Create a School Profile Brochure
Most corporations have professional brochures that promote their history, goals, and results. So, asks George Pawlas,
why shouldn't schools create brochures to boast of their history, their stats and awards, their community connections,
and their visions and goals?
Systems Let Schools Call More Parents Faster
School phone trees are being eclipsed by phone systems that can dial thousands of numbers in minutes and alert parents
to emergencies, schedule changes, and even events, saving administrators time and stress.
Got Motto? -- Twelve Slogans to Help Build School-Wide Community
You've seen those celebrity-filled "Got Milk" magazine ads? Now it's time to meet the "Got Motto" poster principals!
They're using school-wide slogans to spur enthusiasm, inspire teamwork, and build community. Included: Twelve mottos
for your consideration.
Pete Hall: Get Out of That Chair!
Principal Pete Hall says walk-throughs are the most powerful thing he does. They provide him with a clear picture
of the state of learning in his school and many peripheral benefits too. Walk-throughs, Hall says, should be a priority
in every principal's day.
Use a Daily "School Pledge" to Build Community
While discussing morning rituals that would be meaningful for teachers and students, the staff at the Adams School
in Castine, Maine, decided to introduce five daily pledges -- a different one each day. They got their inspiration
from literature, history, and pop culture.
BRAVO Principals… Celebrate Diversity
Columnist Sandra Harris says principals make their schools stronger by valuing their students' diversity. By highlighting
-- even encouraging -- diversity, they make kids who might feel "different" feel welcomed instead. They limit bullying
and harassment too.
Triumph Over Truancy: Tips for Improving Student Attendance
Greater learning, a brighter future, less delinquency, and more funds for schools -- there are countless benefits
to increased student attendance. Many schools are coming up with novel approaches to resolve their truancy woes. Will
their ideas work in your school?
Support Personnel Are P.R. People Too
Secretaries, custodians, cafeteria workers, crossing guards, and bus drivers are key personnel in creating a school's
reputation. Education World columnist George Pawlas shares tips for capitalizing on the P.R. potential of your schools
support personnel.
Principals Reflect on the Best Parts of the Job
Being a school principal is a tough job. But many principals stick with it because the joys of the job far outweigh
the frustrations. Education World's "Principal Files" team recently reflected on what it is that gets them out of
bed each morning!
What's the Most Frustrating Part of Being a Principal?
What are the biggest challenges faced by school principals? Members of our "Principal Files" team recently shared
the downside of being a school leader. They reflected about unfunded mandates, kids who fall through the cracks, a
lack of parent support, and more.
Teen Brings Unique Voice to School Board
Many high school students might groan about attending a school board meeting. But for senior Pallas A. Snider, serving
on the Anne Arundel County school board is a chance to make her voice heard on issues important to the community and
fellow students.
Morphing Your Elementary School Into a Literacy Academy
We used to call them grammar schools. Now we call them elementary schools. I propose a new definition
of our schools -- especially those that service the primary grades. We need to shift our mindset and rename them as…
Community Effort Links In-School, After-School Learning
Louisville, Kentucky, school officials wanted youngsters to get more out of their after school hours. With the help
of a software program, schools share data with after-school program staff who develop content to address students'
areas of weakness.
BRAVO Principals... Help Staffs and Students Cope With Stress
Sandra Harris has seen firsthand how principals have handled the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But not
all disasters are natural ones. In the event of job loss, illness, death, and divorce BRAVO principals do all that
they can to help faculty and students cope.
"Together We Can" Motto Spurs Columbia Elementary's Success
Columbia Elementary's school motto is "Together We Can!" Together principal Lori Musser and staff members have adopted
initiatives such as after-school clubs and intensive reading instruction to help students achieve.
Pawlas on PR: 50 Million Students Can't Be Wrong
Research says that people base their opinions of schools on what children tell them. That's why principals should
take a good look at their schools from a kid's perspective. Included: Tips for improving students' -- and parents'
-- perceptions of your school.
Budgeting in the Accountability Age
Doing more with less has been the challenge for school districts in recent years, but now the demands of the No Child
Left Behind Act, coupled with shrinking resources, are making budgeting even harder.
Pete Hall: Mentoring and the Three Golden Rules
New principals have no idea what they're about to encounter. That is not their districts' fault; they hired competent
leaders. The principalship is simply a beast that cannot be understood until one has wrangled with it. Included: Three
"golden rules" for principals.
Principals Offer Practical, Timely "Time Management" Tips
Have you mastered the 3 D's (Delegate it, Dump it, or Do it)? Could a "closed-door policy" help you better
manage your time? Maybe you should set up "satellite offices" -- or find a hiding place? EW's "Principal Files" team
offers those tips and more.
BRAVO Principals… Care About People
How do caring principals show teachers and students that they care? Sandra Harris shares ten traits of caring principals
that she has observed -- ten ways in which principals make teachers and students feel important, respected, recognized,
heard, and included.
More Tips for Great Newsletters
Surveys say newsletters are the second most important source of information about your school. George Pawlas offers
timely reminders about what to include in the newsletters you produce during the second semester. Included: "Fifteen
Tips for Writing Right."
Schools Celebrate Martin Luther King and His Dream
Each January many schools celebrate the life of Martin Luther King by bringing to life his words and his dream. Learn
what some schools, including three that bear his name, do to keep the meaning of this holiday foremost in the minds
of their students.
What H.S. Kids Want from Their Principals
High school students can be a tough bunch, but they also like knowing that someone cares for them. In Sent to the
Principal, high school students talk about what principals can do to help them become responsible, confident adults.
How Does Your School Handle the Homework Dilemma?
Do you have a school-wide policy? Do students earn a homework grade? What about late homework? Or the effects of homework
zeros on student grades? Education World's "Principal Files" team members share their thoughts on those questions
and others.
BRAVO Principals… Rekindle the Spirit
Sandra Harris says principals who encourage others "rekindle the spirit" of their schools. Harris shares ten ways
in which principals are encouraging teachers and students and, as a result, creating a school-wide atmosphere of encouragement
and achievement.
School-Wide Handwashing Campaigns Cut Germs, Absenteeism
School-wide handwashing programs can improve the health and attendance of students and staff. If your school does
not have a program in place, many resources are available to help you get one started. Included: Links to valuable
free resources.
The Benefits of Being an MBWA Principal
As principal, getting out of the office and into classrooms can have countless benefits for your school. George Pawlas
offers three easy and fun ways to get into classrooms more often. A couple of his ideas are accompanied by favorite
classroom memories.
Schools Offering Service With A Smile
Greetings, smiles, and eye contact may be standard customer-service training in the retail industry, but now it is
moving into schools as well. Some districts are training all staff members, including administrators and bus drivers,
to be more customer-friendly.
Pete Hall: 3 Steps to Embracing Change
Change is scary. But as leaders of school improvement, we are faced with the daunting challenge of making change a
necessity, a known quantity, and fun. Yes, change is fun! If you don't believe that, come
along with me.
Yearlong Themes: Principals Use Them to Build Spirit, Achievement
Does your school use a yearlong theme to motivate students and increase student achievement? Education World's "Principal
Files" team shares a dozen ideas to help others see the power and potential of using yearlong, school-wide themes.
BRAVO Principals... Communicate Effectively
Author and EdWorld columnist Sandra Harris says that BRAVO principals follow three principles of effective communication.
They are truthful, yet tactful; available; and active listeners. Included: Examples of those three principles in action
during the school day.
Building Positive Relationships With the Media
George Pawlas remembers the day he invited the newbie education reporter into his school. The guy hadn't stepped foot
in a school in years! But that special invitation led to some great coverage. Included: Simple tips for getting
good media coverage.
Preparing the Next Generation of Urban School Leaders
In an effort to deepen the pool of qualified urban principal candidates, the Institute for the Mentorship of Urban
School Leaders at Lehigh University was established to give proven school leaders the training and support needed
to be effective administrators.
Schools Grapple With Soaring Fuel Costs
With fuel prices rising to budget-breaking levels, school officials are re-tooling their spending plans for this school
year to help cover the costs. Some have cut back on bus service, lowered building temperatures, and are looking at
long-range remedies.
Kids Tutor Kids to Big Gains
When Ivy Hall School staff members were searching for a way to provide more individual support to struggling readers,
they turned to Stevenson High School's service club, and found a supply of free, effective tutors.
Panning for Gold in the Era of Accountability
Is your school's public perception in need of a little polishing? Even if your school is "in need of improvement,"
you can mine golden nuggets of good news and silver linings to make the school's image shine. Here are some ways you
can do just that.
Does Your School's Atmosphere Shout "Welcome!"?
Does your school's atmosphere shout "Welcome!" to parents, students, and staff? Our "Principal Files" team shares
how they've created welcoming atmospheres in their schools. Most of their ideas are easy to duplicate. Learn from
their ideas, share your own.
Rise and Shine with Morning Assembly
Connect students and staff at the beginning of each day with a "morning assembly." Principals say a well-organized
assembly establishes a positive tone for teachers and students and encourages community involvement.
BRAVO Principals… Share Power
EdWorld columnist Sandra Harris says sharing power means acknowledging that every faculty member at your school is
a leader. By empowering others, you inspire others, you build a climate of trust and respect, and good decisions get
made!
Dressing (Teachers) for Success
"Dressing appropriately" used to be a phrase with universal meaning. But in an age where flip flops appear in White
House photos, some school districts want to make it clear how they expect all staff members -- including teachers
-- to dress.
Newsletters: An Essential Tool for Every Principal
George Pawlas learned early in his years as a principal that regular, informative communication from his office helped
build support for his school. That's when he discovered the true value of parent newsletters. Included: Newsletter
do's and don'ts.
Parent Planning for Parent Involvement
Too often administrators view parent involvement programs as neglected gardens. If by chance they grow and bear fruit,
terrific. If they don't, it can't be helped. But a national institute says that, with some planning, all schools can
grow parent involvement programs.
Always Strive to Be a Better You
Just as James Bond exists by the words "Live and let die" so award-winning principal Pete Hall lives by the words
"Always strive to be a better you." How does Hall's motto guide his principalship? He shares ideas that might help
all principals be their best.
Schools Recruit, Recognize Contributions of Volunteers
Is your school crawling with volunteers? Or are you looking for ways to recruit more volunteers? In this article,
our "Principal Files" principals talk about the benefits of volunteers and offer tips for recruiting them and recognizing
their contributions.
Co-Principals Face Challenges Together
Many principals have days when they wish they weren't alone at the top. Mary Gentili and Jeanne Wall say they have
found that working as co-principals gives them the help and support they need to efficiently run a school with 1,100
K-2 students.
BRAVO Principals… Calm the Storm
Sandra Harris teaches at a university near Houston, which has been a focal point of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
She is witnessing firsthand the essential role that principals are playing in the effort to bring relief and normalcy
to the lives of children and families.
Bring "Order" to the Cafeteria
Is your school's cafeteria a place where you love to spend time, or is it a nightmare come to life? How can you make
the lunchroom a more "orderly" place? Administrators share their best tips for improving atmosphere, behavior, and
manners in the lunchroom.
Getting the Most Out of Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are an important part of any school's communication plan. And principals are in a position
to help ensure that the first conference of the year sets a tone for future communication. Included: Tips for prepping
parents and teachers ahead of time.
Staff Meeting Idea: Teachers "Stand" for Students
Looking for an inexpensive, powerful way to remind your staff of why they embarked on a career in education? Try "I
Stand For...," an activity that asks teachers to rise and name a student for whom they have made a difference. Tips
for using this activity included.
Mastering the New Three R's
Most educators find themselves constantly feeling that they have too much to do and too little time. John Blaydes
offers advice for mastering the three R's of resiliency, renewal, and reflection to keep you healthy and more productive.
BRAVO Principals… Create a Shared Vision for Student Success
Author and EdWorld columnist Sandra Harris says creating a shared vision does not mean telling the faculty what your
vision is. Harris walks through steps involved in creating an all-staff Vision Day. Plus ideas for sustaining that
vision once developed.
Schools Bring Professional Development In-House
More districts are getting away from generic professional development -- the "spray and pray" approach -- in favor
of their own professional development programs targeted to their needs and presented by their staff.
Education World's Principal Ideas series
presents ideas from principals just like you. Those principals have been kind enough to share ideas for
- Celebrating Students
- Planning a Special Event
- Welcoming Students Back to School
- Making Graduation Day Special
- Livening Up A.M. Announcements
- Motivating Teachers
- Involving Parents
- Raising Money
- Planning an Effective Staff Meeting
- Getting Some Good PR for Your School
…or many other topic of interest to principals.
Dont miss this series at http://www.education
world.com/a_admin/
archives/ideas.shtml.
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Coaching Teachers to Success
Staff development teachers in the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools are coaches, mentors, and on-site resources
for classroom teachers. Many bring years of teaching experience and a desire to help their peers do the job.
State Your Mission: Creating Mission Statements that Work
What is your school's mission statement? If it doesn't exist or you can't recall it, it's time to take another look.
A mission statement can be a focal point for learning. It can guide all school activities, and even assist you in
choosing the right people to join your staff.
From Chaos to Coherence: Managing Teacher Stress
"I'm totally stressed out." Listen carefully when teachers repeat that routine mantra. The stress they're experiencing
could affect their performance, students, and personal lives. But stress doesn't have to take a toll. Included: Effective
stress-fighting strategies.
Principals Hold Key to Teacher Retention
Recruiting and hiring teachers for schools is hard enough -- so it’s frustrating if teachers leave after a year or
two. A Houston, Texas, principal talks about the important role a principal plays in retaining teachers.
What Great Principals Do Differently
You can tell great principals by what they do, what they say, and who works for them, according to educator, author,
and speaker Dr. Todd Whitaker. They are the people who lead by example and recruit other effective people.
Principal Ideas Volume #1
Just think of Principal Ideas as a virtual show-and-tell for principals. Each week in the coming school year
we'll present five new principal-tested ideas. Send in your idea today, get an Education World mug if we use it! See
the article for information.
School-Community Relations is Great PR And Then Some
George Pawlas, author of The Administrator's Guide to School-Community Relations, says every principal should
carry a list of "six statements you can say with pride about your school." Pawlas offers that PR advice and much more
in this EdWorld interview.
What Makes Effective Teaching Teams Tick?
Many of the most successful schools teem with the spirit of team teaching. Educators agree that teaming has huge benefits
for students' academic and social growth, but what makes the most effective teams tick? Included: "Ten Commandments"
for team teaching.
“Strive To Be A Better You”
Pete Hall came to Anderson Elementary School in Reno, Nevada in 2002 as a young principal with a mission: to help
children who desperately needed support. In two years, Hall changed Anderson from a failing school to one of the district’s
top achievers.
Improving School Culture
What kind of culture pervades your school? Do staff members feel like a family? Or is it like a factory or a Little
Shop of Horrors? One way to assess school culture, and then strive to improve it, is through the Center for Improving
School Culture's triage survey.
Green Schools Save the Environment, Money
Green schools, which are built to rely more on natural resources or have extensive recycling and conservation programs,
may sound expensive or a lot of work, but actually they save districts money in the long run, some experts say.
Walk-Throughs Are On the Move!
Principals use walk-through observations to engage teachers in conversations about student learning. Included: Principals
share the benefits of walk-throughs; how to initiate walk-throughs with teachers who might fear frequent classroom
visits by principals.
Excellent Evaluations: Practical Tips for Improving Principals' Observation,
Teacher Evaluation Skills
Evaluating teachers is a principal's most important responsibility. Education World's "Principal Files" team offers
their advice for doing this process better. Included: What to look for, evaluation form options, walk-through tips
and forms, tips for teachers, more.
Report Calls for Overhaul of Administrators' Programs
A report on graduate education programs says they do a poor job of training school leaders. The system needs overhauling,
according to the author, Columbia University's Dr. Arthur Levine. We talked with principals who have some suggestions.
Enforcing Dress Codes a Continuous Challenge
Dress codes are hard to create -- and harder to enforce -- but with enough parent and student involvement at the beginning,
and consistent enforcement once they are in place, educators at three schools report that dress codes can work.
Before You Fly Off to That Conference… Have You Thought of Everything?
A big conference can be the best experience of your professional life -- or a big waste of time! To help you out,
our "Principal Files" team shared their experiences. Included: Tips to help you plan for -- and get the most out of
-- the next conference you attend.
Principals Offer 30 Ways to Fight Stress
Being a principal is a stressful job -- no doubt about it! But principals do a great job of figuring out how to beat
that stress. We asked our "Principal Files" team to share their stress-busting tips. Maybe some of these 30 ideas
are ones you haven't thought of before.
Crafting A Workable Cell Phone Policy
With so many families depending on cell phones, banning them from schools became pointless. Now the debate is how
to regulate phone use in schools, as more students own camera phones and ones that can send text messages and connect
to the Internet.
Using Data Rooms to Map Your Way to Success
Got data? Most administrators would say of course. The trick is to get it off the shelves and into the open. By setting
up data rooms to display, track, and analyze information, administrators can make meaningful, measurable changes in
their schools.
Uniting A School Around Improvement
A former U.S. Army officer, Samuel E. Harris set out to change the culture at Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High School
when he became principal five years ago. Harris's efforts have helped transform the school.
The Journey Back: Administrators Return to the Classroom
They have taken the path from the classroom to the principalship and beyond, then gone back because they realized
the lure of teaching surpassed their desire to sit at the helm. Included: Advice for school leaders who are thinking
about returning to the classroom.
Recess Before Lunch Can Mean Happier, Healthier Kids
Recess follows lunch almost as predictably as four follows three, because it always has been that way. Principals
who have put recess first, though, have noticed children eat more and behave better after lunch. Included: Tips for
making the transition.
A Live-In Principal Explains His Move
To squeeze more family time into an 80-hour workweek, principal Michael Bremont moved his wife and four sons into
a building on the school campus. The move fits in with his belief that showing students commitment nurtures success.
Principals Review Teacher-Graded Student Written Work, Enhance Instruction
Quality
Principals can and should assess the quality of graded student work in their schools. Yvonne Bender offers straightforward,
simple suggestions for accomplishing this kind of assessment, which can improve instruction.
Outreach Through the Airwaves: Schools Bring Message Home with Television
Some districts are using cable TV to reach out to their communities. These "education stations" keep citizens informed
and show the lighter, "human" side of faculty and administration. Included: Successful programming from two districts.
Easy Ways to Market Your Schools
School administrators often are so busy or so cautious that they don't get to know their local media. But developing
good public relations, as well as a solid plan for marketing a school district, are easy to do and can pay big dividends.
Professional Development Via E-Mail: All You Need is a Keyboard!
E-mail is a great way for keeping teachers informed about school goings-on. But are you using e-mail as a tool for
providing professional development for your teachers? Ed World's "Principal Files" principals share how they are doing
just that. Tips included.
Looking Beyond Schools for School Leaders
Since the traditional ways of training and finding new principals are not producing enough qualified candidates --
or enough who want the jobs -- a study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute recommends looking to the outside for the
next wave of school leaders.
Making Data Work for Your School
Most educators today probably would balk at the mention of more testing, but when results from interim assessments
are used to tweak the curriculum and applied to individual learning, schools often see gains.
Preventing a School Hostage Crisis in the U.S.
The hostage crisis at a Beslan, Russia, school last month has raised questions about the safety of public schools
in the U.S. A security consultant tells Education World why he thinks schools need tougher security measures.
The Making of a Dynamic Department Head
What makes a dynamic, effective high school department head? How can a department head improve staff morale? In what
ways can creative conflict benefit group dynamics in a school department? Education World poses those questions and
more to Rodney LaBrecque, author of Effective Department and Team Leaders: A Practical Guide.
Has the Threat of Lawsuits Changed Our Schools?
A recent survey revealed that most school principals have been threatened with lawsuits. That ever-present threat
of legal action -- by disgruntled parents or teachers -- can affect the way principals work and schools run. Included:
Tips for handling the threat.
The ABC List: A Public Relations Tool That's as Simple as A-B-C
Have you been looking for a quick and easy way to promote your school's finest qualities and its best ways for the
community to get involved? South Carolina principal Ann Mohr has a great idea for you, and it all begins with the
alphabet!
Lean Regime: A District Cuts Almost Half Its Administrators
With a ballooning deficit and shrinking resources, Mundelein High School District 120's superintendent decided in
2003 to pare down its administrators' ranks by almost half. While there have been challenges, staff members are making
the new system work.
Rubrics Help Improve School-Wide Behavior
Teachers have seen the value in using rubrics to assess student work and behavior. Now some principals are using them
as a tool for monitoring and modifying behavior on a school-wide basis. Included: Examples of behavior rubrics.
Boosting Test Scores: "Principal" Strategies That Work
Raising test scores is a goal at the top of all principals' lists. It's a task that requires focus and a multi-pronged
approach. In this article, Ed World's "Principal Files" team shares strategies that have helped them boost sagging
scores -- strategies that could work for you too.
Bag It: A Professional Development Activity That Works
Looking for a great staff meeting idea? One that is totally practical and fun? The "Brown Bag It" activity gives all
members of your staff an opportunity to play the role of professional developer for an hour. Included: Step-by-step
activity instructions.
Twenty-Five Activities for Building Student Character, School "Community"
In an already packed school day, finding time for character education can be a challenge. Most of these 25 activity
ideas can be worked seamlessly into the school day to build student character and to develop a sense of community
in your school.
Mobilize for Education September 22
A coalition of organizations, calling itself the National Mobilization for Great Public Schools, is asking people
to meet at house parties September 22 to discuss education concerns and possible solutions.
Scavenger Hunts Fun Way to Introduce Staff
Staff scavenger hunts are a fun way to kick off the year and help new and returning faculty members get better acquainted.
Armed with a list of descriptions, staff members "hunt" for a person who matches each item on the list.
Principals Share "Best Meetings of the Year"
It takes only one waste-of-time meeting to give all staff meetings a bad name. That's why we asked our "Principal
Files" team to share a meeting that went exceptionally well. You're sure to find ideas here to help you pump up the
value of meetings in your school.
PR Ideas for PRincipals
Is it any coincidence that the word principal begins with the letters PR? Many principals overlook
the importance of strong public relations, but these principals recognize the important role PR can play in creating
a "buzz" about their schools.
Focus, Higher Standards Can Bring Urban School Gains
As chairman of the Board of Directors of the Council of the Great City Schools, Carlos A. Garcia says part of his
job is telling people what urban educators are doing right. Recent academic gains in some cities are reason for optimism.
A Day With Experience Corps Volunteers
They worked all over New York City, almost all of them in fields other than education. Now they are a team, helping
first and second graders at P.S. 154 in Harlem learn to read. Included: Descriptions of an Experience Corps program.
Calling All Grandparents: Senior Volunteers Transform Schools
They are reliable and passionate, and they bring learning and love to urban classrooms. They are Experience Corps
volunteers, retirees recruited and trained to tutor students and assist teachers. Volunteers and educators alike have
nothing but praise for the program.
The Interview: Principals Share 30 Favorite Questions for Future Teachers
It's springtime, which means it's also the beginning of job-interview season in schools. Since principals are starting
to interview candidates for open teaching positions, we asked our "Principal Files" principals to share their favorite
questions to ask applicants.
Good Morning! -- A.M. Announcements Build School Community
Are morning announcements at your school deadly dreary and dull? Education World's "Principal Files" team shares how
they have used their daily announcements to build school "community." Included: Ideas for spicing things up, getting
kids involved, more.
Starting School Reform from the Inside
Teachers and principals know their schools best, which is why they need to take the lead in school reform, says author
Roland S. Barth. Only when everyone in a school commits to life-long learning will education change.
Making Peer Mediation a Part of Campus Life
Teen skirmishes over rumors, perceived put-downs, and he-said-she-said arguments might seem inconsequential to adults,
but to kids they can be major distractions. Mediation by peers can clear up misunderstandings quickly and improve
school climate.
Homework Study Hall: Mandatory "Make Up" for Missed Work
Startled by the large number of failing students, principal David Chambers made making up missed homework a mandatory
activity. The policy has produced more honor students, raised GPAs, and improved teacher morale. Could it work for
your school? Tips included.
Using Satellites to Track Wandering Students
Losing a child, especially in a crowded, unfamiliar place, is every parent and teacher's nightmare -- and a real concern
during fieldtrips. Now, a wristwatch-size Global Positioning System receiver can allow students to be tracked and
located within minutes.
Making Retention A Last Resort
Too often, educators find themselves choosing between social promotion and retention, when neither benefits children.
Some districts have found that intensive intervention in the early grades can eliminate the choice between two unappealing
options.
Voice of Experience: Three Differences Between Teaching and Administration
Educator Arnold Pulda reflects on his move from the classroom to administration. There are big differences, he says,
but the most important thing administrators need to know is that they can never -- must never -- forget where
they came from.
Celebrating Students: Schools Recognize Achievement in Many Ways
When we asked our Principal Files team to share the ways in which their schools celebrate students' accomplishments,
we had no idea how many and varied the responses would be. Included: Practical ideas, food-for-thought for all school
leaders.
To Close or Not to Close: A Superintendent's Winter Worry
How deep is the snow? How fast is it falling? Have their been any accidents? What is the wind chill? That is just
some of the information that administrators process on cold or snowy winter mornings as they decide whether or not
to close schools. It's not always easy.
Principals Solve Inclusion Challenges
Five principals share how they faced -- and overcame -- obstacles to inclusion. In spite of budget and staffing constraints,
they are committed to educating kids in the least restrictive setting. Included: Ideas for creating an inclusive
environment.
From Custodian to Principal
After working with students and teachers as a school custodian, Jack Yates knew he wanted to be an educator. With
support from family and colleagues, Yates earned two degrees, and now is an elementary school principal.
Family Reading Nights Create Avid Readers
For administrators looking to increase student reading at school and at home and improve parent involvement, family
reading nights have proven successful for many schools. Included: Practical suggestions for initiating a family reading
night program.
ABC Book of the Principal's Job
What do principals do? That's the question we asked our "Principal Files" team last month. They told us what they
do, and here are their responses -- from A to Z! Included: Contributions from more than a dozen great principals.
Uniting Against Cheating
When students began to complain about the level of cheating at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, principal
John J. Brady knew it was time to face the issue directly. Faculty, students, and parents now are working to end cheating.
Signaling an End to Classroom Chatter
Some teachers are finding that mini traffic lights are as effective at regulating student conversation levels as the
real signals are at controlling traffic flow. Devices such as the teacher-created Yacker Tracker tell students when
to put the brakes on their chatter.
Principals Collaborate, Bring About School Change
After years of working in isolation, a group of Milwaukee principals decided to collaborate rather than compete. Principals
create yearlong themes, share problems and strategies, and advocate for all students. Included: Descriptions of the
group's programs.
New Union President Ready for Big Issues
An educator for 34 years with solid union experience, Baxter M. Atkinson, new president of the American Federation of
School Administrators (AFSA), is ready to tackle education issues in the national arena.
Party! A Year of Special School Events
Getting parents involved is no easy task. But Education World's "Principal Files" team offers some great ideas for
school-wide events that are sure to draw parents in large numbers. Included: More than 30 events to add to your school
calendar!
Student-Led Conferences Successful in Elementary, Middle Grades
As student-led conferences grow in popularity, educators are finding ways to improve their flow and productivity.
Preparing students and parents for what's involved and practicing before "going live" can help. Included: Tips from
K-8 teachers.
Second Time Around
In the midst of an epidemic of principal burnout, Robert Yeager has come out of retirement to lead a school that has
had four administrators in only seven years. What keeps this seasoned educator going? And what lessons does he have
for others?
School-Business Partnerships That Work: Success Stories from Schools
of All Sizes
Schools and businesses are working together to benefit students, teachers, and entire communities. Successful partnerships
can be found across the grades, in schools large and small. Included: Ideas, tips for successful school-business partnerships.
Principal Goes Door to Door With Back-to-School Message
Tired of low student turnouts on the first few days of school, Hartford, Connecticut, principal Dr. Robert E. Morris
decided to remind parents about the opening of school. In person. Staff and community members joined Morris walking
door-to-door.
Voice of Experience: Alleviating Appraisal Anxiety -- Lessons Learned
from 29 Years of Evaluations
Max Fischer has taught for 29 years, but he still gets a little nervous each time he is observed! Over the years,
however, Fischer has learned a lot about reducing anxiety during observation and appraisal time.
Retreat, Review, Recharge!
Retreats can be the perfect way to re-energize faculty, flesh out new programs, and help people get to know one another
better. While getting away is a treat, some creative activities also can make an in-house retreat productive
and fun.
Great Starts: Veteran Principals Offer Opening Day Tips
Are you a first-year principal? A veteran with many years under your belt? Doesn't matter! All principals will learn
a thing or two from this article about making the first day of the new school year a smooth one. Included: Tips for
a great first day!
What Would Dad Say About Education Today?
Father's Day is just around the corner. With that in mind, principal Paul Young considers what his did might think
about the state of education today. Down-home stories and common sense prevail in this principal's touching tribute
to his dad.
Power Napping Refuels Weary Students
With school starting at 7:30 a.m., extracurricular activities stretching past 8 p.m., and jobs and volunteer work
as well, sleep often falls to the bottom of the adolescent priority list. An after school Power Napping Club gives
teens a chance to just relax.
It's About Time (and Sleep): Making the Case for Starting School Later
High school administrators who have pushed back their schools' starting times to coincide with adolescent sleep cycles
report fewer discipline problems, less tardiness, and happier and more alert students.
Managing Difficult People: Turning "Negatives" Into "Positives"
You find them at staff meetings, in the classroom, and even at social occasions. They are the always-negative people
whose outlook drains everyone's energy. How do you counteract
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