the needs of principals professional development suzana hitrec, prof. june 11 – 12, 2007, krk

THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS

Professional Development

Suzana Hitrec, Prof.

June 11 – 12, 2007, KRK

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007

BASIC REQUIREMENTS for the realization of the role of principal

Ensured support from the system Program of development Continuous and targeted professional

development The exchange of experience of good practice Evaluation and self-evaluation of the work (with the possibility of the promotion to the position of a mentor

and adviser)


LEVELS OF NEEDS

National Regional and local School Personal


NATIONAL PRIORITIES

Development of schools as a professional community of learning.

Principals need to become the promotors/holders of changes, leaders, they need to ensure funds and material improvement, they need to be innovative and, in line with that, they need to develop good communicational skills.

FROM: THE EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, 2005 – 2010


ANALYSIS OF NEEDS2002 - 2003Unit for the implementation of CARDS program, Institute for Education (Zavod za školstvo), Milvija Marković

Questionaire was filled in by 197 principals of secondary schools

THE MOST IMPORTANT SEGMENTS: Efficient team work (80%) General leadeship skills (79%) Planning and decision-making (64%) Quality management in schools (57%) Human resources development (56%) Change management (56%)


GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

USE OF COMPUTERS: For access and browsing/searching for information

66% Text processing 56% Electronic communication 50% FOREIGN LANGUAGES (level of knowledge 3-4-5): English 25% German 20% Italian 10% French 5%

DATA OBTAINED FROM QUESTIONAIRE FOR PRINCIPALS (2002 -2003)


NEEDS ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPAL’S EXPERIENCE (1)PRINCIPALS IN 1st MANDATE• Legal – normative scope of work of the principal• Ways of financing• Models of school management and leadership• Ways of motivating according to the needs of the employed• Quality management

PRINCIPALS IN THE 2nd MANDATE• Educational management and leading of school• Management of the project’s cycle• Evaluation and self-evaluation of work• Constructive solving of conflicts• Prevention of addictions and violations and ensurance of safety• Techniques of managing/coping with stress

DATA GATHERED BY THE EXPERIENCE GROUP AT CONFERENCE FOR PRINCIPALS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS, November 8, 2005, Opatija


NEEDS ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPAL’S EXPERIENCE(2)PRINCIPALS IN 3rd MANDATE• Evaluation and self evaluation of work• Management of the project’s cycle• Ways of cooperation according to situation• Educational management• Communications

PRINCIPALS IN 4th, 5th and 6th MANDATES• Use of computers in everyday work (ICT)• Techniques of stress management• Evaluation and self evaluation of work• Creating the vision of the school and monitoring the realization• Prevention of addictions and violations and ensuring safety• Quality management• Management of the project’s cycle

DATA GATHERED BY THE EXPERIENCE GROUP AT CONFERENCE FOR PRINCIPALS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS, November 8, 2005, Opatija


TOPICS PROPOSED BY PRINCIPALS OF 49 PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN HNOS

Management of the schools Management and leadership Team work and planning Development plan of the school Evaluation of work of pupils, teachers, school School – learning community Leading the project Integrated, project-based and interdisciplinary teaching Communication Gifted pupils Children with special needs

DATA GATHERED FROM EVALUATION QUESTIONAIRE AT SEMINARS AOO 2005./2006.


MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS for principals of European countries

Culture of the school Vision of the school Application of new ideas and innovations HR management Strategic policy of the school

DATA FROM THE STUDY: EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR IMPROVING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN

EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT (2001.) - 12 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES


WHAT IS MOST OFTEN EMPHASIZED AS GOOD AT THE SEMINARS

Good choice, preparedness and leadership – authenticity of lecturers/ moderators

Exchange of experience with colleagues Selection and elaboration of themes Precise and applicable activities, learning

based on experience


WHAT IS MOST OFTEN EMPHASIZED AS BAD AT THE SEMINARS

Selection of lecturers/ leaders Overburdened program, too many contents Unclear expectations from the participants Unadequate dynamics of work at seminars Lack of material Organisation (place, time)


PROPOSALS Establish competences and standards Define clear legal regulations with regard professional development Present models of successful work – examples of best practice at

seminars and on website Perform exercises /activities For principals and teachers realize the (same) key contents/topics Offer professional development according to analyses of the needs Organize professional development in the form of targeted modules Make use of professional potential of principals and teachers in the

organization and implementation of professional development Improve network of cooperation with colleagues and horizontal

learning (ŽSV) Improve the production of literature for principals Increase the possibility for on-line professional development Strengthen the connection with faculties, agencies and ministries


OPEN ISSUES What type of a principal do we need ? (“lead learner”?) In which ways professional development which will provide answers

to all the needs of principal can be organized? How to strengthen the role of principal in professional development

of teachers? Which are the key positive experiences in the existing system of

professional development ? What can we learn from the experiences of other countries? What can be done immediately in order to enhance the existing

system of professional development ? How to monitor the efficiency and sustainability of the system of

professional development ?


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE

AN URGENT INTERVENTION,

BUT

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL, THE SCHOOL, AND THE

SYSTEM.

the needs of principals professional development suzana hitrec, prof. june 11 – 12, 2007, krk

Documents

experience group

school management

exchange of experience

change management

mandateeducational management

efficient team work

general leadeship skills

skills use of computers