Action-Oriented Principals: Facing the Demands of External Pressures

(Paperback)

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Description

Principals in today's schools face a wide range of requests and demands from a variety of sources that are often conflicting. There are government mandates, rules and regulations such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). There are state rules and regulations for program review, curriculum standards, testing, licensing of teachers, length of school day and year, transportation, graduation requirements, and activities. There are accrediting agencies with their own sets of guidelines for how schools should be operated, teachers qualified, resources allocated and progress assessed.

The action-oriented principal of the twenty-first century is being called upon to respond to all of these and many more external pressures. They often become mired in the arbitration of problems caused by the divergent values, beliefs, and opinions of those many stakeholders in the educational process. The purpose of this text is to act as a resource and a guide for administrators of tomorrow's schools by being a proactive leader and leading schools by strategic planning and community involvement instead of waiting for things to happen to them from the external communities.

Reviews

The book looks like a great read. I think all the areas covered are significant for success in this crazy job. I'm teaching the principalship course for two local universities. This could become my new text! -- Dr. Robert Perdeams, principal, Osseo Senior High School, Minnesota
I think that this book has been able to give a real comprehensive view of what it takes to manage a successful Principalship. I particularly like the portion where the book emphasizes planning. Many principals are unable to lead because they don't project a vision. The planning and development of a framework for leading staff is essential to providing staff with a road map for school success. -- Rich Deaver, retired high school principal, Sturgis, South Dakota
If I were to plan a textbook on the principalship, I'd include the material that Dr. Engelking has outlined. The historical perspective plus the practicality of useful research, are special highlights offering a unique perspective to the training of prospective principals and assisting experienced administrators keep current in the field.... -- Neal Nickerson, professor Emeritus, Department of Educational Policy and Administration, University of Minnesota
From my perspective, the book's author positions the school principal as a contemporarygrounded and growing in response to the needs of today's schools. He captures the essence of effective principalship and offers sound direction and process for leading schools forward. It is a solid and practical resource for any and all school principals. -- Dr. James Parry, executive director, Technology Innovations in Education (T.I.E)
I find the organization of the book of great interest, as the process of explaining the changing role of the school principal moves into the research base of effective school principals. The skills of effective principals are then presented and the focus is on how principals can put into practice the skills needed to become a modern, effective principal. I strongly feel that the external demands faced by school principals is greatly increasing. This pressure requires that we continue to examine the role of the school principal in a very fast paced era of change and increasing desire for accountability. I especially like the focus on planning and goal setting, and the focus on continuous professional development being especially pertinent to principals. I feel this would be a worthwhile book, both for current and aspiring principals. -- Jerry Rasmussen, principal, Dakota Valley High School, North Sioux City, South Dakota
As a middle school principal in a diverse building of 1000 students and ever challenging standards, I often feel like I am running to catch up with change. The relevancy of the book was apparent in the first chapter. I think this book would assist day-to-day administrators and those aspiring to go into administration to know what is ahead. The most relevant part of the book for me was the structure in Part II of how, what and why supported by examples. As I have journeyed through my career I have always sought examples to help save time, jump-start the process and set the vision of our tasks. Chapter 11 is critical for today's administrators and the 'new skills' are essential. This is a much needed resource to support administrators. -- Dr. Diana Messick, principal, Whittier Middle School, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

If I were to plan a textbook on the principalship, I'd include the material that Dr. Engelking has outlined. The historical perspective
plus the practicality of useful research, are special highlights offering a unique perspective to the training of prospective principals and assisting experienced administrators keep current in the field.

-- Neal Nickerson, professor Emeritus, Department of Educational Policy and Administration, University of Minnesota

Author Bio

Jeri L. Engelking is the associate dean and professor of educational administration in the School of Education at the University of South Dakota, where he also serves as the director of the Educational Research and Service Center and the director of graduate studies for the School of Education.