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Although assistant principals are key influences in our nation's schools and represent the next generation of school principals, little has been done to address professional development for these administrators. At the local level, assistants often spend their time handling student activities and discipline with little opportunity to exercise more sophisticated leadership. At the state and national levels, the position has not received much attention.
Positioning the partnership between principals and assistant principals as a coaching-based relationship serving the best interests of both students and schools, Powerful Partnerships presents specific tools to help principal/assistant principal teams define and strengthen their significant collaboration and to nurture the development of future school leaders.
Through discussion questions and shared activities, this resource provides opportunities for principals and assistant principals to develop a shared vision for their relationship and school, and to design a plan for communication and professional growth. The author examines aspects of instructional leadership including supervising and supporting teachers, classroom walkthroughs, professional learning communities, and using data for school improvement. Principals and assistant principals are invited to study this book together, addressing critical topics such as:
- leadership as stewardship
- unique leadership challenges involved in working with people
- key instructional leadership responsibilities that are shared by both administrators
List of contents
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
Part 1. Building a Powerful Partnership
1. A Coaching-Based Relationship
2. Building and Communicating a Shared Vision
3. You Need to Meet
4. The Leader-Follower Relationship
5. Building an Apprenticeship Plan
Part 2. The Managerial Basics
1. Time Management
2. Delegation
3. Student Discipline
4. Student Activities
5. Site Budget Management
6. Enrollment Projections
7. Building the Master Schedule
Part 3. Working With People
1. School Culture and Climate
2. Recognition
3. Classified Staff
4. Difficult Conversations
5. Effective Meetings
6. Decision Making and Problem Solving
7. Communications and Public Information
8. Community Engagement
9. Dealing With Difficult Parents
Part 4. Instructional Leadership
1. Professional Reading
2. Supervising and Supporting Teachers
3. Classroom Walkthroughs
4. Professional Learning Communities
5. Using Student Data to Improve Teaching and Learning
6. School Planning Processes
7. Professional Development Planning
Epilogue
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Gary Bloom is the lead author of
Blended Coaching: Supporting the Development and Supervision of School Leaders. Gary has 40 years of K-12 education experience, having served as a bilingual teacher, principal, director of curriculum, and assistant superintendent. He served as the superintendent of the Aromas-San Juan Unified School District, known for its innovative programs, such as graduation exhibitions, a teacher-led high school, and teacher peer review. More recently he served as superintendent of Santa Cruz City Schools. He was a founder and Associate Director of the New Teacher Center at the University of California Santa Cruz. Gary is a Kellogg National Fellow, was adjunct faculty to San Jose State University's Educational Administration graduate program, and has consulted, trained, and presented on a variety of topics throughout the United States and in Latin America. He is the primary author of a number of professional development programs for leadership coaches and school principals. He has published articles in a variety of journals, most recently on the topics of teacher leadership, principal development, professional learning communities, new teacher support, and the appropriate use of technology. He authored, with his friend Marty Krovetz, the book
Powerful Partnerships, a guide for the development of assistant principals in collaboration with their supervising principals available from Corwin Press. Gary currently consults with school districts around the United States, provides executive coaching to superintendents and principal supervisors, does volunteer work in California and Central America.
Summary
This book provides opportunities for principals and assistant principals to develop a shared vision for their relationship and school, and to design a plan for communication and professional growth.
