Conversations with Principals : Issues, Values, and Politics

by Andrew E. Dubin

• ISBN13: 9781412916363
• ISBN10: 1412916364
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-06
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

The book orients and prepares aspiring and practicing administrators to be more effective in dealing with real and practical issues and problems in schools. It is a succinct, problem focused, oral history of issues articulated by newly hired and experience administrators as they consider their decisions. It reflects the honest introspections of practicing administrators, and is unique and original in its approach. It both reinforces existing knowledge and introduces new ideas and insights. Paramount to the information conveyed is the style in which it is presented. By examining leadership issues through the actual words of school leaders, Conversations with Principals distinguishes itself from other leadership material. The text lends itself to a Socratic style of teaching, making it is easy to discuss the issues and themes presented in an open-ended format whereby students exchange ideas and engage in the activities of questioning and analyzing administrative behavior and action. Each oral account is prefaced by contextualizing information about the school leader and the demographics of his or her school. Following each interview there is an analysis of the case, as well as a section with questions and activities for students to complete.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	xiii
The Role of the Principal	xiii
Connecting the Principal to the Reader	xiv
How the Principal Interviews Were Formulated	xv
Organization of the Book	xvi
Connecting Across Interviews	xvii
Matrix of Principal Interviews	xix
Part I: Elementary School	1	(104)
Changing the School Culture: The Community Activist	3	(24)
Profile of the Community Activist	4	(1)
School Context	4	(1)
School Characteristics	5	(1)
School Climate	5	(1)
School Organization	5	(1)
Interview	5	(17)
Analysis	22	(1)
Discussion Questions	23	(1)
Student Activities	23	(1)
Interview Question	24	(1)
Simulations	24	(1)
Developing a School Culture	24	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	25	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	26	(1)
Readings and Resources	26	(1)
Personal and Professional Belief Systems: The Ethicist	27	(19)
Profile of the Ethicist	28	(1)
School Context	28	(1)
School Characteristics	29	(1)
School Climate	29	(1)
School Organization	29	(1)
Interview	29	(13)
Analysis	42	(1)
Discussion Questions	43	(1)
Student Activities	44	(1)
Interview Question	44	(1)
Simulations	44	(1)
The Ethical Balance	45	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	45	(1)
Readings and Resources	45	(1)
Maintaining Stability and History: The Traditionalist	46	(23)
Profile of the Traditionalist	47	(1)
School Context	48	(1)
School Characteristics	48	(1)
School Climate	48	(1)
School Organization	48	(1)
Interview	48	(17)
Analysis	65	(1)
Discussion Questions	66	(1)
Student Activities	66	(1)
Interview Question	67	(1)
Simulations	67	(1)
Maintaining Tradition	67	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	67	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	68	(1)
Readings and Resources	68	(1)
Social Exchange and Power: The Balancer	69	(16)
Profile of the Balancer	70	(1)
School Context	70	(1)
School Characteristics	71	(1)
School Climate	71	(1)
School Organization	71	(1)
Interview	71	(10)
Analysis	81	(1)
Discussion Questions	82	(1)
Student Activities	83	(1)
Interview Question	83	(1)
Simulations	83	(1)
Developing Effective Negotiating Abilities	83	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	84	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	84	(1)
Readings and Resources	84	(1)
The Lens of Decision Making: The Intuitive Leader	85	(20)
Profile of the Intuitive Leader	86	(2)
School Context	87	(1)
School Characteristics	87	(1)
School Climate	87	(1)
School Organization	87	(1)
Interview	88	(12)
Analysis	100	(1)
Discussion Questions	101	(1)
Student Activities	102	(1)
Interview Question	102	(1)
Simulations	102	(1)
Developing Effective Decision-Making Abilities	102	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	103	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	103	(1)
Readings and Resources	103	(2)
Part II: Middle School	105	(62)
Leadership Focus and Planning: The Sage	107	(21)
Profile of the Sage	108	(2)
School Context	109	(1)
School Characteristics	109	(1)
School Climate	109	(1)
School Organization	109	(1)
Interview	110	(14)
Analysis	124	(1)
Discussion Questions	125	(1)
Student Activities	125	(1)
Interview Question	125	(1)
Additional Assignments	126	(1)
Simulations	126	(1)
Developing School Trust	126	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	127	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	127	(1)
Readings and Resources	127	(1)
Evaluation and the Political Arena: The Politician	128	(21)
Profile of the Politician	129	(1)
School Context	130	(1)
School Characteristics	130	(1)
School Climate	130	(1)
School Organization	130	(1)
Interview	130	(15)
Analysis	145	(1)
Discussion Questions	146	(1)
Student Activities	146	(1)
Interview Question	147	(1)
Simulations	147	(1)
Creating a Manageable Work Environment	147	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	147	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	148	(1)
Readings and Resources	148	(1)
Students in Transition: The Wise Veteran	149	(18)
Profile of the Wise Veteran	150	(1)
School Context	151	(1)
School Characteristics	151	(1)
School Climate	151	(1)
School Organization	151	(1)
Interview	151	(11)
Analysis	162	(1)
Discussion Questions	163	(1)
Student Activities	164	(1)
Interview Question	164	(1)
Simulations	164	(1)
Developing an Organizational Awareness of the Changing Middle School Child	165	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	165	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	166	(1)
Reading and Resources	166	(1)
Part III: High School	167	(70)
Perceptions and Assumptions: The Multitasker	169	(24)
Profile of the Multitasker	170	(2)
School Context	170	(1)
School Characteristics	171	(1)
School Climate	171	(1)
School Organization	171	(1)
Interview	172	(16)
Analysis	188	(2)
Discussion Questions	190	(1)
Student Activities	190	(1)
Interview Question	190	(1)
Simulations	191	(1)
Structuring a School Environment	191	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	191	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	192	(1)
Readings and Resources	192	(1)
Addressing Organizational and Personal Needs: The Philosopher	193	(22)
Profile of the Philosopher	194	(1)
School Context	195	(1)
School Characteristics	195	(1)
School Climate	195	(1)
School Organization	195	(1)
Interview	195	(16)
Analysis	211	(1)
Discussion Questions	212	(1)
Student Activities	212	(1)
Interview Question	212	(1)
Simulations	212	(1)
Creating a Consistent School Philosophy	213	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	213	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	214	(1)
Readings and Resources	214	(1)
Group Dynamics and Multinationalism: The Internationalist	215	(22)
Profile of the Internationalist	216	(1)
School Context	216	(1)
School Characteristics	217	(1)
School Climate	217	(1)
School Organization	217	(1)
Interview	217	(15)
Analysis	232	(2)
Discussion Questions	234	(1)
Student Activities	234	(1)
Interview Question	234	(1)
Simulations	235	(1)
Developing a Supportive School Environment	235	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	235	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	236	(1)
Readings and Resources	236	(1)
Part IV: No Child Left Behind	237	(41)
A Principal's Approach to the No Child Left Behind Act	239	(22)
Profile of NCLB: The Principal	240	(2)
School Context	241	(1)
School Characteristics	241	(1)
School Climate	241	(1)
School Organization	241	(1)
Interview	242	(17)
Analysis	259	(1)
Principal Leadership Applications	259	(1)
Questions Related to ISLLC Standards	260	(1)
Readings and Resources	260	(1)
A Superintendent's Perspective on NCLB	261	(17)
Goals of the No Child Left Behind Act	262	(1)
Profile of NCLB: The Superintendent	262	(2)
County Context	263	(1)
County Characteristics	263	(1)
County Climate	263	(1)
County Organization	264	(1)
Interview	264	(13)
Analysis	277	(1)
Readings and Resources	277	(1)
Appendix	278	(9)
References	287	(2)
Index	289	(6)
About the Author	295