First-Year Principal

Peter A. Hall, first-year principal of Anderson Elementary School in Reno, Nevada, is currently the youngest of the 92 building principals in the Washoe County School District. Anderson School, which had failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in each of the three years prior to Mr. Hall's appointment, achieved the academic requirements to meet AYP during his first year (2002-2003). Mr. Hall's ability to streamline the educational process in his school, to motivate staff, and to analyze data led to this immediate resurgence.Hall is part of the new breed of elementary school Principals: technologically savvy, data literate, trained in quality instruction, energetic, positive, and personable. Anderson School, which was one of twelve Nevada schools labeled "In need of improvement," will soon be on the map as Mr. Hall helps forge a new category: Exemplary Turnaround Schools.

• Chapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 1 The JobChapter 3 2 Acquiring the JobChapter 4 3 Prepare ThyselfChapter 5 4 Lightning StrikesChapter 6 5 Just Because You're NewChapter 7 6 Personnel Issues: Hiring the Right FolksChapter 8 7 Personnel Issues: Supervision and EvaluationChapter 9 8 The Three Golden RulesChapter 10 9 Catch-AllChapter 11 10 Tales of CombatChapter 12 11 Staying HealthyChapter 13 APPENDIXES: FORMS TO HELP THE FIRST-YEAR PRINCIPALChapter 14 Annotated ReferencesChapter 15 About the Author

This book is a must read for the rookie administrator. As a first year vice principal, I found this extremely useful: Mr. Hall discusses the reality of the business. No theory, just the down and dirty. He offers simple solutions to complex issues that many of us have never even heard of. I particularly enjoyed Mr. Hall's sense of humor. As I read this book, I felt great relief knowing that others are faced with similar experiences.