weaknesses of a school principal

A new principal in a school with a high percentage of English language learners and a campus considered academically low-performing may be especially challenged to create that climate. Bilingual education and ESL programs are an integral part of the mainstream curriculum. Interviewers are (or at least they should be) capable of recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, without a need to inquire about them. There are many pros and cons that come with being a principal. A principal essentially has to oversee all aspects of school life, including but not limited to: As a principal, you are in charge of a large team of staff, as well as a huge number of students and you are the mediator between students, teachers, and their parents. We do not like to speak about our weaknesses. She noted that there were a lot of students that transfer in from other districts but that reading is still a weakness. Principals must make split-second decisions while weighing the costs and benefits. Last, there should be a program for lateral and upward mobility of bilingual education staff. School principals who embody this leadership paradigm encourage and enable teachers, and demonstrate a desire to build school community. Teachers develop students metacognitive skills and provide opportunities for students to show competence in selecting and using metacognitive skills (Dianda and Flaherty, 1995). Create stories about reasons for celebrating. Structural Leadership Uses organization designs that promote maximum efficiency and success. Redundancy is never an issue when you are a school principal. For example, working closely with a young teacher who needs some direction and guidance has a tremendous impact on both the teacher and every student they will ever teach. Principals' comments shed some light on their perceptions of the program's and their mentor's strength and weaknesses. It is common for a principal to have favorites among their staff, thats ok. There are several ways to accomplish this, such as a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis; a teacher perception Likert scale survey, which I used for the study mentioned above; and interviews of PLC members. Hispanic Families as Valued Partners: An Educators Guide (San Antonio, Texas: Intercultural Development Research Association, 1993). Conceptually and physically integrate the bilingual education program to the mainstream curriculum. The lack of stringent criteria and the . Before you even set foot into the classroom for a planned observation, sit down with the teacher to discuss the upcoming lesson that you'll observe and what you should expect, Superville says. As with everything that principals do, they must lead by example because if they dont try to use this new technology, they cannot expect their teachers to. He should be proactive in getting to know the teachers and students. For many assistant principals, the move to the role comes straight from the classroom, the counseling office, or a dean position. But that most importantly, you are approachable. Meador, Derrick. It is also crucial to note that you will also be responsible for failures. van Broekhuizen, M. Romero, L.V. Resolving the Great Debate, American Educator (1995) 19(2): 10-20. August 22, 2023 Blog Editor NCSER. Before discussing what skills are needed to become a good principal, lets first discuss what the role of a principal is. Garcia, P. Espinosa. +39 055 1997 3220. The instructional program for English language learners maintains the high academic standards required for all students. Childrens books reflect the variety of cultures and benefits of diversity, and they are written in the languages used for instruction. Robledo Montecel, M., and A. Gallagher, A.M. Montemayor, A. Villarreal, N. Adame-Reyna, J.D. Why do you want to be principal of this school? The curriculum is balanced to ensure that its literacy program develops basic and higher order thinking skills (McLoed, 1996). To communicate with parents, for example, you could send out a weekly newsletter, outlining events happening at the school and student achievements for the week. I would add that a good school Principal must also possess the ability to build respectful and trustful relationships. Maroney, O.H. Student achievement and success in other school endeavors are central to any vision and strategy used to guide school reform efforts. Key indicators of school success are categorized by 10 attributes and may be used as the framework on which to build a blueprint for change. Fax: 210-444-1714, Our Story Transforming Education by Putting Children First, Donate to Support Education During COVID-19 Crisis, Policy, Advocacy and Community Engagement, Policy, Advocacy and Community Engagement Home, Ending Harmful Discipline to Create Safer Schools, Ensuring Excellent Educational Opportunities for English Learners, Ensuring Fair School Funding for All Students, Growing and Sustaining Healthy School Districts, Preparing All Students to Succeed in College, Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition, Jos A. Crdenas School Finance Fellows Program, Evaluation, Research and Needs Assessment Services, Learning Goes On A COVID-19 Resource for Education. [2001, IDRA. When someone associated with the school is recognized for outstanding achievement in some area, it typically means that the right decisions have been made. In discussing your weaknesses, be careful not to blame others or make negative comments about school districts. The ideal qualities of an effective school principal, Teacher development is as important as student development, How schools can expand their brand presence and reach, NCLE and Schoolvoice sign agreement to enhance digital education with cutting-edge technology, 10 Best Classroom Apps to Promote Good Morale At Classrooms. Adams, M., and M. Bruck. Challenge 1: Improve the school climate. Principals have a greater workload than teachers do. As a teacher, you most likely already possess many of the strong leadership qualities required to be a principal, but what are the most important skills required to become a good principal? Learned a lot of insights. You are expected to employ innovative school reform initiatives adapted to address English language learners, who nationally still remain a most academically neglected and shortchanged group of students. The box below is a checklist that elaborates on the research-based attributes that contribute to school and student success. Each day brings new challenges, new problems, and new adventures. Teachers use cross-cultural interactions where students and teachers learn from each others differences. Organized and Prepared. Teachers receive training and know how to assess areas of student needs and plan instruction accordingly. Integrates instructional program and all students in the overall school operation (Berman et al., 1995; McLoed, 1996; Tikunoff et al., 1991). Plan overall strategies to address the hostility and indifference that exists in the campus and in the community toward bilingual education as a viable response to the needs of English language learners. A good principal does not stay in his cabin all day long. This pressure may come from a prominent community member, school board member, or your district superintendent. Challenge 10: Align curriculum both horizontally and vertically. Also, a large part of a principals job is to listen to teachers, staff, parents, and students. Nurtures and sustains a family environment that is inclusive of parents, students and teachers (McLoed, 1996). School principals have a lot of different interests to navigate. Effective Implementation of Bilingual Programs: Reflections from the Field, IDRA Newsletter (San Antonio, Texas: Intercultural Development Research Association, January 1998). Are there specific goals the teacher hopes to accomplish? The myth that poor families have radically different values is debunked by this study. Administrators and teachers can communicate high expectations to students, including English language learners, and can show particular manifestations of high expectations. 10) Managing Risk. Therefore, as principal you must be a strong leader so that students, staff, and parents respect you and listen to what you say. August and Hakuta affirm by acknowledging, One important way to raise teacher expectations is to raise student achievement by helping teachers acquire skills and knowledge needed to be more successful with students, rather than exhorting teachers to raise their expectations (1997). A good leader always leads by example. Carter, T., and M. Chatfield. Being able to work together builds a bond that allows for differences to be openly discussed and negotiated. Instruction of skills and concepts addressed in the state-mandated test or standardized tests receive special attention through explicit skill instructional activities. As a teacher, you often only have an impact on the students you teach. In addition, usually, if you act decisively and therefore quickly, it means that the issue which you are trying to address is also solved more quickly. Your research and preparation is critical to answering this. Adept at Building Relationships With People. Worth reading for a educator. Not everyone is cut out to be a principal. Additionally, along with the ability to make an impact, you'll also be taking on a great deal of responsibility to ensure the proper functioning of the school, and you'll have to deal with politics involving students, teachers, and parents. Making Change Happen in a Language-Minority School: A Search for Coherence, EPR #13 (Washington, DC: Center for Applied Linguistics, 1994). It may be as straightforward as hiring the right teacher or coach, implementing and supporting a new program, or offering a particular student the right motivation. San Antonio, TX 78228, Phone: 210-444-1710 English language learners have access to grade-level content; curriculum is not watered down (McLoed, 1996). Thank you so much. There might be some tasks which other staff members would be better equipped to complete, or sometimes a principal may simply have far too much work to complete themselves and requires help from other members of staff to get everything done. Biliteracy development requires teachers to have a deep understanding of the role of the first language in the development of the second language. Being a principal can be a terrific career option for the right person. Principals have to lead by example and must not be afraid of change but rather make changes to the curriculum and teaching style as these new trends and techniques emerge. Effects of Success for All on the Reading Achievement of First Graders in California Bilingual Programs (Los Alamitos, Calif.: Southwest Regional Educational Laboratory, 1995). It must be clearly conveyed to them as to what and how much is expected from them to succeed. They are no longer responsible for only a few subjects with a handful of students. Teachers check that instruction is comprehensible and modify instruction accordingly. The instructional program for English language learners should be the same as the mainstream curriculum. Schools celebrate and value a diversity of languages and cultures as community assets and valuable to the national interest (Lucas and Katz, 1994). Prepare a short answer and learn it for your interview. SWOT analysis for schools, teachers and education, colleges and universities - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in an educational environment. NCLE and Schoolvoice sign agreement to enhance digital education with cutting-edge How To Pick The Best School Communication App? Parents request meetings to voice concerns regularly. Expects and exerts pressure to excel (Goldenberg and Sullivan, 1994). Goals and objectives for the bilingual program flow from the mainstream curriculum; learning standards are not lowered. Supik. Topics include specific learning and metacognitive strategies, cooperative learning and thematic units in the native language and English. Schools have a clear understanding of levels of language and content instruction and use these levels for instructional planning to facilitate transition and efficient progress (Berman et al., 1995). You will typically have at least some control over key decisions, such as hiring a new teacher, changing curriculum and programs, and scheduling. These strengths help introduce you and your academic competencies to the admissions office while also highlighting what may help you be a successful student and learner. Following are a few of the major drawbacks of the job. Spending time in the hall, smiling and greeting staff and students, and attending events and classroom sessions, creates a sense of positivity among all and also makes the principal more approachable. For A., it all started a little before 11 a.m. on March 20, 2017. Armed for the first time with compelling, research-validated examples of ef- . We will write to you when we will publish new articles on our blog; articles that might help you in your class, interviews with our teachers, experiences here at Europass Teacher Academy, and more! Coordinate activities with grade level lead teachers to involve bilingual teachers in planning and implementing grade level instruction. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Unfortunately, there is a political component to being a principal. Values and celebrates student linguistic and cultural diversity (Lein, Johnson and Ragland, 1997; Ogbu and Matute-Bianchi, 1986). What Do Principals Do to Combat Financial Problems? Role as a School Leader A school principal is the primary leader in a school building. Pros of Being a School Principal There are plenty of pros to being a school principal, from a hefty annual salary to the control you have over school programs as well as the ability to have a lasting impact. of school leader professional development 35 6.2 Illustrating aspects of the proposed model of the stages and dimensions in the . A kind, empathetic school principal also comes across as far more approachable. Montemayor, A.M. The Nurturing of Parent Leadership, IDRA Newsletter (San Antonio, Texas: Intercultural Development Research Association, September 1997). "10 Pros and Cons of Being a School Principal." Being decisive gives the impression to both staff and students that you know what you are doing and you are confident in your abilities. Challenge 12: Ensure and deliver grade-level content. Very valuable information regarding the principal role. Have an upfront conversation with your child about his or her academic performance. In matching principals and coaches, the district considers a coach's background, and the principal's strengths, weaknesses, and areas in which they need to growinformation the district has . The role of a school principal, to say the least, is like walking on a tight rope. Third, the program must embark a massive retraining of teachers that includes regular teachers. Research and practice confirm that there is slim chance of creating and sustaining high-quality learning environments without a skilled and committed leader to help shape teaching and learning. What are the main duties of an assistant principal? teacheracademy@europassnetwork.eu Throughout a school, there will be students, parents, and staff from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds and situations at home. Another essential quality for a school principal is that they are decisive. 2. Second, this article discusses key challenges that principals face in campuses with these demographics. Conduct a debrief conversation that includes specific strategies the teacher can practice so that she leaves the room with an actionable plan. The challenge of creating the most appropriate instructional model rests with the school and community. Banners and other important public displays at a successful school are written in a minimum of two languages. Successful schools conclude that English language learners are intellectually capable to learn this content. 1. You cannot always say what you want to say. Sapiens. 8 Ways to Make Teacher Evaluations Meaningful and Low-Stress. Many people are afraid of this particular question. Second, staff differentiation is an alternative to adequately staffing a bilingual program. within families and communities on the quality of education and achievement outcomes of English language learners. The delivery will be made either in the students native language or in sheltered instruction in English. Short, informal visits can yield lots of information about the total classroom environment. We're celebrating 50 years of transforming education across the country! Lein, L., and J.F. The most important thing is that you keep all parties informed about what is going on at the school. Short and early visits with low-stakes feedback loops can also tamp down anxiety for teachers when it is time for formal evaluation. Most importantly, mention your efforts to improve. Good principle skills for leadership development article, Absolutely, the skills outlined here are crucial for a school principal to excel in their role. Campuses with effective bilingual education programs celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity in different ways. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Principals should be cognizant of that gap. The self-reflection gives teachers an opportunity to process the feedback of the principal while providing their own assessment of the observation. Principals should communicate the vision and goals of the school to the staff and students. After all, it goes about one of the starting questions, the ice-breakers. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that a principal is able to prioritize the most important issues so that they can be dealt with as swiftly as possible. the staff. Students are provided opportunities for interaction with English-speaking peers (McLoed, 1996). Good listening skills are at the core of becoming a good principal. What skills are required to be a successful principal? Principals are often the first one to school and the last one to leave. Talk about ways to create more stories that relate successes with students, including English language learners. The question is who makes an effective principal or what kind of qualities does an effective principal have? A good principal understands the significance of teamwork and develops a healthy team who can work together understanding each others strengths and weaknesses. help a school to improve weaknesses or help staff and students to reach collective goals (Klar, & Brewer 2013). Furthermore, teachers were asked to discuss with students each morning what this meant. Research shows that campuses have taken a 180-degree turn changing from a low performing to an exemplary status where all staff are one family having a powerful, positive impact on the lives of children. (principal) and distributive (administrative team and teachers) but both are only indirectly related to student outcomes; OL, or a collective teacher efficacy, is the important intervening variable between . Reframing the Debate: The Roles of Native Language in English-Only Programs for Language-Minority Students, TESOL Quarterly (Autumn 1994). Similarly a principal must envision the future of a school by charting both long and short term strategies taking into account external and internal changes to its environment. A weakness was seen in the ceasing support after 18 months. The education of English language learners is also guided by the same educational standards that have been adopted by the local district. With a response of 1,361 participants, we consider the sample to be representative not . "We don't do the same for teachers." Ward, L.D. Are you interested in improving your IT skills for the classroom but not entirely sure where to start? Challenge 11: Establish a program that capitalizes on the linguistic strengths of students and families in the community. For example, schools with effective bilingual education programs create small organizational arrangements (e.g., families and academic teams to build cohesion and unity of purpose, to augment communication among teachers and to create a system of support) (Villarreal and Sols, 1998).

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