{"id":516,"date":"2020-01-20T09:17:40","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T17:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.sandiego.edu\/character\/?p=516"},"modified":"2020-01-20T09:19:23","modified_gmt":"2020-01-20T17:19:23","slug":"its-whats-up-front-that-counts-the-principal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.sandiego.edu\/character\/blog\/2020\/01\/20\/its-whats-up-front-that-counts-the-principal\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s What\u2019s Up Front That Counts \u2014The PRINCIPAL"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>During the holidays, I had a conversation with a friend who is a district administrator in another state responsible for monitoring and assisting new principals and those experiencing \u201cdifficulties.\u201c\u00a0 <\/span>Her story was filled with concerns about their administrative skills and leadership abilities.<\/p>\n

In this blog, I share information with those of you who are in educational leadership (administrative) positions with a special focus on school principals.<\/p>\n

My view about leadership in schools and elsewhere is summarized best by Zenger and Folkman (The Extraordinary Leader):<\/i><\/p>\n

Character is the center pole, the core of leadership effectiveness.\u00a0 <\/span>Character traits, for our leaders and ourselves, include respect, responsibility, compassion, trust, perseverance, honesty, gratitude, self-discipline and courage.<\/i><\/p>\n

I also like the Turknett Leadership Group\u2019s \u201cLeadership Character Model\u201d (www.turknett.com)<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/span>Their view is that \u201cLeadership is about character \u2013 who you are, not what you do.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>Their model includes three keys to character-related leadership: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Integrity (honesty, credibility, trustworthy);<\/i><\/li>\n
  2. Respect (empathy, lack of blame, motivational mastery, humility);<\/i><\/li>\n
  3. Responsibility (self-confidence, accountability, focus on the whole, courage).<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You may have read a few of my past blogs on school leadership such as:<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhat\u2019s Under Your School\u2019s Character Education Umbrella?\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe Principal: Character, Collaboration and Commitment\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhat is This Thing Called \u2013 Leadership?\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cThe Qualities of Character and Leadership\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cPresidential Character and Leadership\u201d<\/p>\n

    Three examples of my books on this topic include: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Complete Guide to Administering School Services<\/i><\/p>\n

    An Administrator\u2019s Guide for Evaluating Programs and Personnel\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

    Character Education: A Guide for School Administrators<\/i><\/p>\n

    In the character <\/i>education guide book, we developed the idea that a principal\u2019s leadership role must include being a visionary, a missionary, a goaltender, a standard-bearer, an architect, an educator, a communicator, a provider, and an evaluator.<\/b><\/p>\n

    Interestingly, Jacob Francom researched the roles high school principals assume when developing, implementing, and sustaining character education efforts in their schools.\u00a0 <\/span>He found six main roles, three of which deal directly with leader skills and abilities: reflective<\/b> leaders, collaborative<\/b> leaders, and moral <\/b>leaders.\u00a0 <\/span>These principals were also plate peddlers<\/b> (get buy-in from constituents), cultural engineers<\/b> (character education becomes the foundation of the school\u2018s environment), and champions<\/b> (obstacles overcome, successes celebrated.)<\/p>\n

    \u201cRoles High School Principals Play in Establishing A Successful Character Education Initiative,\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Journal of Character Education,<\/i> Vol 12(1), 2016, pp. 17-34)<\/p>\n

    Three Surveys<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A 2012 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher found that three out of four K-12 public school principals believe the job has become \u201ctoo complex,\u201d with the majority contending that school leadership responsibilities have changed significantly over the last five years.\u00a0 <\/span>Nearly half of the principals surveyed indicated that they \u201cfeel under great stress several days a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

    In a teacher survey, 21% of teachers polled completely agree that their school\u2019s principal possesses the subject-matter\/content knowledge necessary to help them improve their instruction.\u00a0 <\/span>Forty-one percent of the principals believe that they did.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

    (Education Week Research Center<\/i>, 2019)<\/p>\n

    A survey of the top reasons cited by principals for leaving their jobs are: poor working conditions, lack of resources, insufficient salaries, inadequate preparation and professional development, overwhelming job with inadequate support, lack of decision-making authority, and high-stakes accountability policies.\u00a0 <\/span>The research also shows \u201cthat principals are highly committed to their students and staff.\u00a0 <\/span>The root of the turnover problem is school conditions.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

    (Education Dive<\/i>, Roger Riddel, July 22, 2019)<\/p>\n

    Two Article Summaries<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Bernard Marr, internationally best-selling author and keynote speaker, writes about the 14 Essential Leadership Skills During The 4th Industrial Revolution.<\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>They include: actively agile, emotional intelligence, humbly confident, accountable, visionary, courageous, flexible, tech savvy, intuitive, collaborative, quick learners, culturally intelligent, authentic, and focused.<\/p>\n

    In the February 27, 2019 issue of SmartBrief, <\/i>Naphtali Hoff, PsyD, writes that the \u201caverage 21<\/i>st<\/sup><\/i> century school leader is in over his or her head in work demands and expectations.\u201d<\/i> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    He poses this question: \u201cWhat are principals to do?\u201d<\/i> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    His answer: \u201cBecome more comfortable with and proficient at <\/i>delegating.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

    How?\u00a0 <\/span>His suggestions (edited) include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n