1st Edition
Keeping the Leadership in Instructional Leadership Developing Your Practice
In a high-stakes and testing-focused school climate, principals strive to develop and refine the skills that will make them effective instructional leaders. This book discusses how a narrow focus on day-to-day operations and management can limit the potential for effective instructional leadership by drawing attention away from the behaviors and interpersonal skills that enable school administrators to succeed. Building on stories from experienced principals in school districts across the country, author Linda L. Carrier offers practical tips and strategies for restoring the human dynamic of instructional leadership. Keeping the Leadership in Instructional Leadership: Developing Your Practice is designed to facilitate personal reflection and conversation about leadership practice, and its advice will empower principals and administrators to transform their schools into highly engaged communities of learners.
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: The Challenge of Instructional Leadership
The School Principal
Redefining the Focus of Principals: Standards-based reform
The Journey to Instructional Leadership
To Be or Not To Be: The Moral Purpose
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Chapter 2: The Practice of Instructional Leadership
Management versus Leadership
The Practice of Instructional Leadership: An Introduction
Instructional
Focused on Learning
High Expectations
Data-based Decision Making
Developing Communities around a Single Vision and Mission
No One Way
Leadership
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Chapter 3: The Work of the Principal
Focuses on Learning
Communicates High Expectations
Data-based Decision Making
Facilitates a Single Vision and Mission
No Two Alike
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Chapter 4: The Leadership of the Principal
Authentic to Self
Fearlessness
Personally Humble and Modest
How Can I Develop My Leadership?
Mindfulness
Personal Reflection
Coaching
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Chapter 5: Overcoming Perceived Barriers
Personal vision and mission
Potential Barriers to Developing a Holistic Practice of Instructional Leadership
The Positive and Negative Impacts of Policy
Accountability Policy
Performance Evaluation Policy
The New England Models
Community Conformity
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Chapter 6: Keeping the Leadership in Your Practice
Advocating for Effective Practice
Developing District Level Support for Instructional Leadership
Educating and Working with Policy Makers
Working with Institutes of Higher Education and Professional Development
Providers.
Pausing the Conversation
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
References
Biography
Linda L. Carrier, Ed.D., is Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Graduate Program Advisor at Plymouth State University, USA.
