Stepping into Administration: How to Succeed in Making the Move

by Thomas A. Kersten

Overview

This book is designed to provide beginning administrators with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed during their first year, shortening the initial learning curve and helping them make smooth transitions from teaching to their first administrative positions. Too often, beginning administrators undermine their success by making critical novice mistakes. To help new administrators optimize their first-year success, a highly experienced school administrator shares a plethora of practical and useful strategies which can guide them through their all-important first year as administrators. He offers advice on what to do as well as what not to do from the moment a new administrator accepts the job offer through the end of the first year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781607096191
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/16/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	132
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Thomas A. Kersten is an associate professor of educational leadership at Roosevelt University in Chicago and Schaumburg, Illinois. He has served as an Illinois school administrator for twenty-eight years, during which he was an assistant principal, elementary school principal, middle school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.

Table of Contents

Preface: Considering a Career in School Administration v

Acknowledgments ix

1 Preparing for a Career in Administration 1

2 Making the Most of Your First Few Weeks 11

3 It's as Simple as Being Visible 21

4 Building Relationships within the School 29

5 Working with Other Administrators 41

6 Establishing Yourself as the School Leader 53

7 Managing Your School's Budget 63

8 Making Teacher Selection and First Year Teacher Evaluation Top Priorities 73

9 Leading Special Education in Your School 89

10 Working Smarter, Not Harder 107

Closing Thoughts 117

References 119

About the Author 121

Editorial Reviews

School superintendents and educators of future school leaders Stepping into Administration is a must-read! Dr. Kersten has written an excellent and practical guide to help first-year school principals avoid the potential mine fields of disaster that can occur in the first year of a principalship. As a person who knows the extraordinary expectations of current school principals and who currently works extensively with young principals, I highly recommend this book.

Jack Elliott

Stepping into Administration is a must-read book for any new or aspiring school administrator. In an easy-to-read, narrative format, the author provides an excellent balance of theory and practice along with practical strategies for launching a successful administrative career. As an experienced educator working with novice administrators, the topics can serve as a roadmap to and discussion starting point for mentoring and supporting our newest principal colleagues.

Margaret Clauson

This is the most accurate, practical, down-to-earth description of the new administrator skill set that I have seen. Thomas A. Kersten offers meaningful advice in an easy-to-read format. This book is a must-read for any new or aspiring administrator! I will definitely be using this text with new administrators joining my district.

Frances McTague

Explores the journey from preparing for an administrative career through the first year in an educational administrative position....Stepping into Administration is practical and an easy read through 10 chapters, each focusing on a different aspect, such as developing an entry plan, building relationships within the school and managing a budget....The book is up-to-date and emphasizes 21st-century instructional leadership. It also addresses how to efficiently use electronic communication and social media.

School Administrator

Educational leadership has long been characterized as 'a disconnect between what is taught in university preparation classrooms and what practitioners need to be able to do in their schools and districts.' Thomas A. Kersten has taken the risk of veering from tradition and the status quo and presents to our profession and its aspiring school leaders strategies and tools designed around actual practice. I say, 'Finally! A book truly designed to help future school leaders connect preparation with the realities of school site leadership.' To the aspiring school leaders reading Stepping into Administration-this book will prepare you well. You will be ready to positively impact teaching and learning in your schoolsss

Theodore Creighton