Three Simple Ways to Support Teachers

Posted on August 17, 2021 Written by

Many teachers begin their career full of joy and excitement for the profession. But over the years, that enthusiasm can fade. How can a principal help teachers keep or rekindle the passion? How can you maximize time and resources while also keeping great educators in the classroom?

In this article, Darcy Bakkegard shares three things every administrator can do to encourage teachers … not only during these difficult times, but in the future years ahead. These three simple actions can lead to a happier, more productive, more passionate team.

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Effective Recruiting

Posted on August 3, 2021 Written by

A recent survey of principal preparation programs revealed that many only include one course on human resources (Holcombe, 2020), and the typical content of that course is simply human resources law. This leaves most principals completely underprepared to effectively recruit the personnel whose salaries and benefits make up over 80% of their total school budget!

In addition, numerous studies suggest that the collective impact of teachers and principals on student standardized achievement is well over 50% (Hattie, 2011). So how should principals approach this vital task?

This article offers four strategies for effectively recruiting and managing talent. As the authors note, “Building a principal’s capacity doesn’t end when that leader completes a program and receives a degree. Preparation, especially in terms of bringing strong teachers in and developing their strengths, must be an ongoing effort” (Holcombe, Peeples, and Johnson, 2021).

References:

Hattie, J. (2011). Visible learning for teachers. New York: Routledge.

Holcombe, A. A. (2020). Strategic talent leadership for educators: A practical toolkit. New York: Routledge.

Levin, J., & Quinn, M. (2003). Missed opportunities: How we keep high quality teachers out of urban classrooms. New York: The New Teacher Project.

RAND Education. (2012). Teachers matter: Understanding teachers’ impact on student achievement. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation.

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Four “Must-Do’s” for Principals

Posted on July 20, 2021 Written by

“There is no magic characteristic or tendency that leads people to become the perfect principal. But there are four things all empowered principals do that set them apart from the rest of their colleagues” (Caposey, 2021).

It’s important to note, however, that while these four characteristics are relatively simple, they can be very difficult to implement. In this article, Caposey explains how to address each of these areas effectively.

PJ Caposey is an award-winning educator, keynote speaker, consultant, and the author of eight books. He currently serves as the superintendent of schools for the nationally recognized Meridian CUSD 223 in Northwest Illinois.

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42% of Principals Want To Quit!

Posted on July 6, 2021 Written by

According to this article, “School leadership is not easy, and many of those who take the position have not had the professional learning and development to be successful” (DeWitt, 2021).

That’s why ATU’s Educational Leadership program has a high level of rigor, and the assignments in most courses are job-embedded, practical, real-world experiences. It’s not just about getting a P-12 Building Level Administrator license. It’s about understanding the foundational concepts of true leadership and developing the skills necessary to be successful right from the start.

But again, too many of today’s principals have not had this type of training, and the added pressures of the pandemic have made the situation even worse. In fact, one study found that 42% of current principals want to leave their jobs (NASSP.EPI, 2021)!

If you’re one of those struggling principals, DeWitt (2021) offers some excellent tips on how to regain balance in your position “through mindfulness and well-being.” There are a number of additional constructive suggestions in the article as well.

Feel free to share this article with your Superintendent, too. It includes suggestions on how the district can better support principals in their challenging roles.

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