AT THE CENTER OF THE AT THE CENTER OF THE STORM: PRINCIPALS STORM: PRINCIPALS

AND TEACHERSAND TEACHERS

Jim ButterworthFebruary 9, 2012

Fiscal and Policy Forces are Demanding that Schools Do More With Less:

• Class sizes are up• District support for instructional improvement is

severely diminished• Support Persons (Ex. Counselors) are being cut• Additional Layoffs are predicted• Rising Accountability Targets must be met with

leaner staff and shrunken budgets• Teachers are in the middle of the battle without

adequate resources

School Principals Must:

• Manage the remaining scarce resources• Continue to increase the school’s effectiveness• Maintain morale• Rally teachers, staff and community around

common goals

Teachers are the most important school determinant of student learning:

• Organizing Instruction• Communicating Learning Goals• Assessing Student Progress• Adjusting the Content and Interaction of the

Classroom

Empirical Research shows Teacher and Principal Impact on Student Learning:

Over 25 Years of Research Has Underscored the Central Roles that

School Leaders Play in Effective Schools:

• Creating Opportunities for Collaboration (Structures) and Building a Culture of Trust

• Creating High Expectations for Adults and Students Alike

• Supporting Educator Learning• Allocating Resources in Support of Learning

Leverage Points for Strengthening School Leadership:

1. Shaping a Vision of Success for All Students Based on High Standards

2. Creating a Climate Hospitable to Education3. Strengthening Teacher Evaluation4. Improving the System of Preparation, Evaluation and

Support for Principals5. Identifying Models of Effective School Leadership Teams6. Building a Comprehensive Data System to Guide Policy

and Practice7. Managing People, Data and Processes to Foster School

Improvement

Thank You!

Questions or Comments?