Accreditation a Hands on Approach for Principals

Leadership is an art form that has been practiced since the beginning of time, however it is not an exact science in which any person with a certain amount of education and some type of a checklist can guarantee student academic success. The highly recommended solutions from great educational leaders of yesterday (such as Plato, Aristotle, Jefferson, Washington, and Socrates) do not work in all situations. These successful leaders did not just lead their followers; they taught them various leadership principles for given situations. Successful principals learn through experiences what works in a particular situation and what does not work. Remember, one can learn from a failure as well as through accomplishment. Each time you fail, it provides you with the opportunity to learn and be successful. Building principals who have mastered the art of leadership do not rely on trial and error. This Hands-On Approach for Principals provides a small resource for continuous improvement in the art of building-level leadership. The small summary of my experiences may serve as a springboard for each principal's self-awareness and discovery. This resource will assist you with the analysis of leadership situations in your building and in systematically choosing a leadership style which best fits the situation (Reflective, Relational, Collaborative, Communicative or Visionary). When you have developed an understanding of these various techniques, situations will dictate the application of each technique. You will make better decisions and that will lead to a motivated faculty and student body. This gives you a much greater chance of leading your building to student academic success. Leadership is about change; embedded in your leadership is the hope of the students. You are standing on the shoulders of great educational leaders of yesterday, looking into the future, and seeing possibilities. Face change with a smile; embrace change with determination unseen by those around you. I believe it was Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King who said, "The best leaders are determined, bold, and reject inhibitors imposed by old traditions and habits." Moving your school to full accreditation will not be easy; your goals must be clearly stated. Remember, the simplest approach will prove to be the most effective. Respect all points of view and do not set your standards too low. Find one thing in your school where all stakeholders, even the extremists, can visualize the school climate and culture better because of its success. The goal of this book is to aid you in your attempt to accreditate your school. Do not allow misguided teachers the opportunity to rob students of their academic successes and joy at the completion of your mission.