What Successful Principals Do: 169 Tips for Principals

by Franzy Fleck

Overview

Here are practical insights from an experienced principal about how to run a successful school. Organized into three sections (Beginning the School Year, During the School Year, and Ending the School Year) these tips are powerful and attainable. Each one is introduced by an inspiring quote, followed by practical advice on how to implement the strategy. The 169 tips include: Encourage Staff to Set Improvement Goals, Take Staff on Neighborhood Visits, Call Parents with Good News Early, Learn What Parents and Students Want, Give Messages That Students Are Safe, Stress Procedures Early, Be Visible Daily, Keep No Secrets from Your Staff, Don't Make Decisions to Keep Friends, Don't Wait for Group Consensus, Praise Twice, Be a Nurturing Leader, Use Peer Pressure, Let Kids Work It Out, Have Family Night Activities, Admit Mistakes, Learn to Handle Complaints to Your Superiors, Have Written Goals and Update Them Regularly, See the School through the Parent's Eyes, and It Is Better to Do a Few Things Well.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317925750
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/13/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Dr. Franzy Fleck is a principal and an associate professor in Evansville, Indiana. Dr. Fleck was a junior high teacher, middle school principal, and district administrator prior to coming to Evansville. He has been in education working with students at the elementary, middle school, high school, and university level.Dr. Fleck has been published in the area of leadership effectiveness, motivation, administration, and leadership. In 2003, he was recognized for excellence in research and leadership by Indiana State University. Most recently, Dr. Fleck was involved in planning and developing the Educational Leadership and Administration program at the University of Southern Indiana where he serves as an associate professor.Dr. Fleck is married to Kristy Fleck, an elementary teacher in Evansville. They have two children, Tyler and Gentry.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Beginning the School Year; Chapter 1 Build Positive Relationships; Chapter 2 Communicate Your Vision; Chapter 3 Unite Employees with a Mission Statement; Chapter 4 Share Work Expectations with Staff; Chapter 5 Turn Cell Phones Off; Chapter 6 Set Short-Term Goals to Motivate Employees; Chapter 7 Encourage Staff to Set Improvement Goals; Chapter 8 Make Goals Measurable; Chapter 9 Set the Tone for Others to Follow; Chapter 10 Be on Time; Chapter 11 Dress Professionally Every Day; Chapter 12 Smile; Chapter 13 Know Everybody’s First Name; Chapter 14 Develop Organizational Skills; Chapter 15 Create a Support Group; Chapter 16 Eliminate Hoops; Chapter 17 No Surprises; Chapter 18 Send School News to the Media; Chapter 19 Take Staff on Neighborhood Visits; Chapter 20 Call Parents with Good News Early; Chapter 21 Encourage Staff to Use a Variety of Procedures to Determine Student Progress; Chapter 22 Encourage Teachers to Use Planning Periods on Instructional or School Duties; Chapter 23 Encourage Staff to Write a Weekly Newsletter to Parents; Chapter 24 Write a Weekly Staff Newsletter; Chapter 25 Encourage Input; Chapter 26 Empower Staff to Act; Chapter 27 Learn What Parents and Students Want; Chapter 28 Give Messages That Students Are Safe; Chapter 29 Encourage Parent Involvement; Chapter 30 Organize a Welcome Committee; Chapter 31 Requests to Move Children to Another Teacher; Chapter 32 Stress Procedures Early; Chapter 33 Start the Year Sharing Expectations with the Entire Student Body; Chapter 34 Challenge Upper Grades to Accept Leadership Responsibility; Chapter 35 Be Visible Daily; Chapter 36 Schedule Time with New Employees; Chapter 37 Encourage Staff to Mentor Others; Chapter 38 Help Staff Improve; Chapter 39 Give Educational Materials to Staff; Chapter 40 Provide Food and Refreshments; Chapter 41 Support Efforts to Establish and Maintain Appropriate Student Behavior; Chapter 42 Eat Healthy and Exercise; Chapter 43 Write Letters, Write Notes; Part 2 During the School Year; Chapter 44 Have Regular Informal Conversations with Your Staff; Chapter 45 Use Written and Verbal Communication to Help Employees Understand; Chapter 46 Keep Written Messages Positive; Chapter 47 Think Time; Chapter 48 Staff Success Means School Success; Chapter 49 Be Positive; Chapter 50 Presume Positive Intentions; Chapter 51 Keep No Secrets from Your Staff; Chapter 52 Practice Speaking; Chapter 53 Use Correct Grammar; Chapter 54 Eye Contact; Chapter 55 Don’t Talk When Someone Else is Talking during Meetings or Presentations; Chapter 56 Telephone Etiquette; Chapter 57 Approve Memos to Parents; Chapter 58 Respect Everyone; Chapter 59 Express Thanks and Send Thank-You Notes; Chapter 60 Become Interested in Your Employees’ Families; Chapter 61 Overdeliver; Chapter 62 Consider Staff Opinions When Making Decisions; Chapter 63 Use a Problem-Solving Approach When Making Decisions; Chapter 64 Never Leave Today’s Work for Tomorrow; Chapter 65 Doing Well Is What Matters Most; Chapter 66 Stay Calm; Chapter 67 Don’t Rush a Decision; Chapter 68 Don’t Make Decisions to Keep Friends; Chapter 69 Build Allies; Chapter 70 Learn to Collaborate; Chapter 71 Don’t Wait for Group Consensus; Chapter 72 Be Consistent; Chapter 73 No Whining; Chapter 74 Use Persuasion; Chapter 75 Trust is My Most Valued Asset; Chapter 76 Help Others Succeed; Chapter 77 File Ideas; Chapter 78 Use E-mail; Chapter 79 Praise Twice; Chapter 80 Base Decisions on What’s Best for the Entire School; Chapter 81 Avoid Conflicts; Chapter 82 Learn to Compromise; Chapter 83 Be Fair; Chapter 84 Deal Is a Deal; Chapter 85 Agree to Disagree; Chapter 86 Spend Time Focused on Staff; Chapter 87 Schedule Regular Classroom Visits; Chapter 88 Suggest Ideas to Staff; Chapter 89 Know When to Help; Chapter 90 Check Lesson Plans; Chapter 91 Train Your Employees; Chapter 92 Limit Classroom Interruptions; Chapter 93 Don’t Limit Visits to Allow Classroom Autonomy; Chapter 94 Send Cards to Staff; Chapter 95 Include Staff in Evaluation Process; Chapter 96 Be an Instructional Leader; Chapter 97 Focus on Student Engagement; Chapter 98 Be a Nurturing Leader; Chapter 99 Recognize Staff Accomplishments; Chapter 100 Use Tact When Reprimanding Staff; Chapter 101 Document Negative Actions of Staff; Chapter 102 Contracts with Staff; Chapter 103 Make Students Give Written Statements; Chapter 104 Encourage Honesty; Chapter 105 Is This the First Time You Have Done This?; Chapter 106 Use Peer Pressure; Chapter 107 Call Home Before the Student Gets Home; Chapter 108 Conflict Resolution; Chapter 109 Let Kids Work It Out; Chapter 110 Conduct Locker Searches; Chapter 111 Encourage Staff to Communicate Both Positive and Negative Consequences to Parents; Chapter 112 Encourage Concerned Parents to Meet with Staff; Chapter 113 Keep Parents Happy; Chapter 114 Promote Patriotism; Chapter 115 Keep the Building Clean and Tidy; Chapter 116 Make Home Visits; Chapter 117 Have Family Night Activities; Chapter 118 Get Involved in Your School District; Chapter 119 Display Student Work in the Community; Chapter 120 Publicize Your School Name and Mascot; Chapter 121 Help Parents Help Their Children; Chapter 122 Unannounced Visitors; Chapter 123 Treat Your Secretary Well; Chapter 124 Make Every School Employee Feel Like Part of Your School Family; Chapter 125 Support Substitute Teachers; Chapter 126 Support Mistakes and Risk Taking; Chapter 127 Admit Mistakes; Chapter 128 Don’t Gossip or Listen to Gossip; Chapter 129 Keep Friends Close and Enemies Even Closer; Chapter 130 Loyalty Is a Two-Way Street; Chapter 131 Don’t Bad-Mouth Your Leaders; Chapter 132 Be Tactful When Correcting Your Boss; Chapter 133 Learn to Handle Complaints to Your Superiors; Chapter 134 Learn to Handle School Board Requests; Part 3 Ending the School Year; Chapter 135 Let Staff Know that the Evaluation Will Include Both Commendations and Recommendations; Chapter 136 Have a Good Relationship with the Unions and Associations; Chapter 137 Become Results Oriented; Chapter 138 Don’t Accept Status Quo; Chapter 139 Don’t Hold Grudges; Chapter 140 Monitor Spending; Chapter 141 Make Safety a Priority; Chapter 142 Delegate Responsibility and Authority; Chapter 143 Make Changes if Necessary; Chapter 144 Record Mistakes and Evaluate; Chapter 145 Gather Information; Chapter 146 Check References; Chapter 147 Hire the Best Available; Chapter 148 Make Job Applicants Feel Special; Chapter 149 Don’t Be Insecure; Chapter 150 Study the Experts; Chapter 151 Suggested Books; Chapter 152 Network; Chapter 153 Help Others; Chapter 154 Teach Others; Chapter 155 Write Grants, Seek Donations; Chapter 156 Learn Something New Every Year; Chapter 157 Have Written Goals and Update Them Regularly; Chapter 158 It Is Better to Do a Few Things Well; Chapter 159 Become a “Community in Schools Site”; Chapter 160 See the School through the Parent’s Eyes; Chapter 161 Develop a Parent Report Card; Chapter 162 Encourage Staff to Attend Professional Development Opportunities; Chapter 163 Consider Staff Strengths When Assigning Tasks; Chapter 164 Give Each Employee a Budget; Chapter 165 Allow University Students to Work in Classrooms; Chapter 166 Use Beginning University Students in Your Building; Chapter 167 Provide Materials and Equipment Needed to Do the Work; Chapter 168 Think About How Decisions Will Affect the Entire School; Chapter 169 Don’t Give Up Your Power in Writing;