Principalship, The

Joseph Matthews is Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations at Brigham Young University. Dr. Matthews teaches courses in school principalship, leadership theory, and supervision. He has written for both national and regional publications co-authored three books: Being and Becoming a Principal (2003, Allyn & Bacon); Leadership: A Relevant and Realistic Role for Principals (1996, Eye on Education); and Finding One’s Way: How Mentoring Can Lead to Dynamic Leadership (1998, Corwin Press).He has served as a high school teacher and principal in three different states.

• CHAPTER 1New Conceptions of the Principalship in a Professional Learning CommunityVignetteIntroductionRole ConceptionsPrincipalship and LeadershipThe Definition of LeadershipProfessional Learning CommunityPrincipals and Professional Learning Community in a Global, Knowledge SocietyLearning about LeadershipPrincipal Leadership in PracticeEight Role Conceptions for the PrincipalshipPrincipal as LearnerPrincipal as Culture BuilderPrincipal as AdvocatePrincipal as LeaderPrincipal as MentorPrincipal as SupervisorPrincipal as ManagerPrincipal as PoliticianConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse ActivitiesWebsites  CHAPTER 2Historical View of the Principal’s RoleVignetteIntroductionOrigin of the PrincipalshipOrigin of the Assistant Principal RoleWomen and Minorities in the PrincipalshipInteracting Elements that Have Influenced the Principal’s RoleChanging Social Demographics of Cities and SchoolsAcademic Study and State Licensure RequirementsProfessional AssociationsPractice of School LeadersConceptual Frameworks Influencing the Principalship RoleMoral and Ethical LeadershipSocial and Community LeadershipInstructional LeadershipSchool Reform and Implications to the Role of School PrincipalsContemporary Conditions and ImplicationsConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse Activities  CHAPTER 3Professional Learning Communities as School ReformVignetteIntroductionEducational Reform and Professional Learning CommunitiesUnderstanding CommunityVarious Models of a Professional Learning CommunityElements in a Professional Learning CommunityThe Case for Professional Learning CommunitiesBarriers to the Development of Professional Learning CommunitiesThe Principal’s Role in Developing a Professional Learning Community in a SchoolThe Principal’s Focus on Student LearningPrincipal’s and Assistant Principal’s Functions in Developing and Facilitating Professional Learning CommunitiesConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse Activities  CHAPTER 4The Principal as LearnerVignetteIntroductionLearning: Transmission versus ConstructionThe Traditional Conception of LearningThe Constructivist Conception of LearningAdult LearningPrincipal as LearnerImportance of Learning in a Knowledge SocietyFour Components of Principal as LearnerPrincipal as FacilitatorSupporting a Professional Learning Community to Enhance Learning CapacitySchools as Learning OrganizationsPrincipal’s Role in Facilitating Learning OrganizationsThe Roles of the Assistant Principal and Teacher Leaders for Building and Cultivating Learning CapacityPrincipal’s role with teacher leadersConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse Activities  Table 4.2 Senge’s Five DisciplinesSenge’s Five DisciplinesPersonal masteryMental modelsBuilding shared visionTeam learningSystems thinking- The Fifth Discipline that integrates the other 4  CHAPTER 5Principal as Culture BuilderVignetteIntroductionA Cultural Perspective for Learning in CommunityDefining School CultureUnderstanding a School’s Existing CultureToxic CulturesOutcomes of Strong School CulturesPrincipal Leadership in Creating, Maintaining, and Changing CultureCreating School CultureMaintaining School CultureChanging School CultureThe Principal Facilitating Others in Understanding and Developing CultureFacilitating Internal Veterans in Understanding and Developing CultureFacilitating Newcomers in Understanding and Developing CultureFacilitating External Constituents in Understanding and Developing CultureFacilitating a Culture ChangeLeadership Teams as Culture-BuildersConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse ActivitiesWebsites  CHAPTER 6Principal as AdvocateVignetteIntroductionSocial Justice as a Basis for AdvocacyComponents of Social JusticeSocial Justice in a Professional Learning CommunityLeadership as TransformativeDefinition and Elements of AdvocacyThe Moral Criteria for AdvocacyThe Legal Criterion for AdvocacyThe Thoughtfulness Criterion for AdvocacyPrincipals and Social JusticeYour Own Identity Within a Social Justice ContextBarriers to the Role Within a Social Justice ContextPriorities Within a Social Justice ContextPrincipal as AdvocateAdvocate for the Whole Child and for All StudentsRacial, Ethnic, and Cultural DiversityReligious DiversityLanguage DiversityPoverty and Social ClassGenderSexual OrientationStudents with Special NeedsGifted and Talented StudentsStudents Placed At-RiskBeing an Advocate for the SchoolMulticultural Education ProgramsBilingual EducationSpecial EducationGifted and Talented ProgramsTitle IAlternative Education ProgramsAdvocate for the CommunityPrincipal as Facilitator of Others’ AdvocacyConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse ActivitiesWebsites  CHAPTER 7Becoming a Leader in a Professional Learning CommunityVignetteIntroductionThe Nature of Principal LeadershipLeadership from External SourcesLeadership from Internal SourcesPrincipal LeadershipLeadership LiteraturePopular LiteratureProfessional LiteratureScholarly LiteratureResearch on LeadershipTrait ApproachesBehavior ApproachesContingency ApproachesLeadership as a RelationshipLeadership as an Organizational FeatureMoral LeadershipHow Useful Is Research on Leadership?The Purpose of Principal LeadershipDefining Significant School Change and ReformCreating a Collective VisionPrincipal Leadership in Vision BuildingThe Principal’s Roles as Visionary LeaderThe Dark Side of VisionsChallenges of Vision BuildingCommunicating the VisionPrincipal as Facilitator of Leadership in OthersTeacher EmpowermentFacilitating Others in Vision BuildingFacilitating Others in CollaborationApproaches to Collaborative Decision MakingCollaborative TeamingConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse ActivitiesWebsites  Chapter 8The Principal as MentorVignetteIntroductionIntroduction to MentoringThe Nature of MentoringMentoring Roles and FunctionsParticipants of MentoringContent of MentoringProcesses of MentoringBenefits and Pitfalls of MentoringBenefits of MentoringPitfalls of MentoringThe Principal’s Role in MentoringMentoring New TeachersMentoring New Teachers in Professional DevelopmentReflective MentoringMentoring New Teachers in Psychosocial DevelopmentMentoring New Teachers in Career DevelopmentSelecting and Matching Teachers to Be Mentors: Two PerspectivesMentor TrainingProviding Support for Peer MentoringMentoring Veteran TeachersMentoring Teacher TeamsThe Principal as Facilitator of Mentoring of Veteran TeachersPrincipal as Mentor of StudentsConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse ActivitiesWebsites  Chapter 9Principal as SupervisorVignetteIntroductionTraditional Role of Principal as SupervisorHistorical Overview of the Supervisor’s RoleElements of the Traditional Role of Principal as SupervisorTraditional Supervisory Role of the Assistant PrincipalThe Principal’s Role in Direct Supervision: An Innovative ConceptionOverview of the Innovative Role of SupervisorEstablishing a System of AccountabilityRecruiting, Selecting, and Retaining Capable and Committed EducatorsRetaining Qualified TeachersPromoting Educator GrowthFostering Teacher Practical KnowledgeReflectionInquiryEstablishing TrustEvaluating Educational ResultsThe Regular Collection and Analysis of Student Performance DataThe Principal’s Role as Facilitator of SupervisionWhy Supervision Should Be SharedElements of the Principal’s Role as Facilitator of SupervisionEstablishing a System of AccountabilityRecruiting, Selecting, and Retaining Capable and Committed EducatorsPromoting Educator GrowthBuilding Trust with the Leadership TeamEvaluating Educational ResultsConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse ActivitiesWebsites  Chapter 10Principal as ManagerVignetteIntroductionThe Principalship and Management RootsManaging the Unexpected in a Professional Learning CommunityPrincipal’s Direct Role in Managing the UnexpectedSupporting InformationDirect Role in Implementing the Professional Learning CommunityPlanningTaking ActionEvaluating and AssessingManaging through TechnologyThe Principal as Facilitator of Others in Management of a Professional Learning CommunityFacilitating SupportFacilitating Others in Planning and Taking ActionFacilitating Others in Evaluating and AssessingInstitutionalizing a Professional Learning CommunityConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse ActivitiesWebsites  Chapter 11VignetteIntroductionThinking PoliticallyPrincipal as Politician In the SocietySchools as Political SystemsSchools as Civil SocietiesSchools as Democratic InstitutionsRole of Principal as Politician in SocietyPrincipal as Politician in the CommunityViews of School-Community RelationshipsRole of Principal as Politician in the CommunityPrincipal as Politician In the DistrictRole of Principal as Politician in the DistrictPrincipal as Politician In the SchoolRole of Principal as Politician in the SchoolAssistant Principals as PoliticiansThe Principal as Facilitator of Others as PoliticiansIn the SocietyIn the CommunityIn the DistrictIn the SchoolBuilding Social Capital in Professional Learning CommunitiesStudentsTeachersConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse ActivitiesWebsites  Chapter 12Becoming an Innovative Principal in a Professional Learning CommunityVignetteIntroductionSocialization: Learning a New RoleNature of SocializationSources of SocializationStages of SocializationMethods of SocializationIndividual InfluencesOutcomes of SocializationFocus of Socialization OutcomesTypes of OutcomesBecoming a New Assistant PrincipalDistinctive Features of the Socialization of Assistant PrincipalsBecoming a New PrincipalContent of SocializationSources of SocializationStages of SocializationMethods of SocializationOutcomes of SocializationBecoming an Innovative Mid-Career PrincipalUnique Features of Mid-Career SocializationLearning to Be an Innovative Principal at Mid-CareerConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivityPeer Reflection ActivitiesWebsites  Chapter 13Looking to the Future as a PrincipalVignetteIntroductionSocietal TrendsFuture Scenarios for the Principalship and SchoolsConclusionActivitiesSelf Reflection ActivitiesPeer Reflection ActivitiesCourse Activities