Fall Down, Stand Up: Advice for Aspiring Principals

(Paperback, Second Edition)

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Starting out as a principal is a lot like starting out as a new teacher. You feel alone. You need guidance. And you have to provide leadership even when you dont feel sure of yourself. You also make mistakes. In Fall Down Stand Up: Advice for Aspiring Principals, Russ Thompson provides guidance for future principals based upon his experiences as the principal of three urban high schools in Los Angeles. Practical suggestions are provided for creating an orderly school climate, improving classroom instruction, ensuring effective school operations, providing thoughtful leadership, and working with people. Every principal makes mistakes and falls down. This book is about standing up, becoming better, and working to create schools where all students learn at the highest levels.

Reviews

Tired of arm chair theorists and distant policy wonks in conservative think tanks telling politicians, gullible op-ed editors, and state legislators who want instant fixes of how easy it is to fix the schools Then open this book by veteran public school principal Russ Thompson for how it is in the real world of school administration for a refreshing memoir of the multi dimensionalities of the hard day to day continuous challenges involved with real school improvement. Fall Down Stand Up will find you cheering for the hard won little victories at days end that when summed up over time result in changed school accomplishment and operational success. -- Fenwick W. English, R. Wendell Eaves Sr. Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This is one of the most comprehensive books on the principalship and leadership I have encountered. It is written by a thoughtful administrator who has actually done the job. It could easily be useful to managers and administrators in fields other than education. -- Stu Bernstein Ed.D, Cluster Administrator (Area Superintendent), Retired; Senior Advisor, The Amber Group; and University Professor
I enjoyed every part of this book. I wish I could have read it before I became a principal. -- Frank Dolce, Principal, Retired
This is a terrific tool for incoming administrators and those who plan to become principals. -- Julian Lopez, Ph.D., superintendent, retired
Fall Down Stand Up: Advice for Aspiring Principals is an easy read, full of sound, practical advice. -- Merle Price, Deputy Superintendent, Retired; and Professor of Education

Author Bio

Russ Thompson served thirty-six years as an educator in Los Angeles, including fourteen years as the principal of three high schools. Two of the schools where he served as principal were turnaround schools.