What Great Principals Do Differently
Eighteen Things That Matter Most
Editorial Review
This book frames the landscape of school from the perspective of great principals. What do they see when they view their schools and the people in them? Where do they focus their attention? How do they spend their time and energy? What guides their decisions? How can we gain the same advantages? There is no one answer; if there were, surely we’d all have it by now. Education is extremely complex, and so is school leadership. But we can work toward understanding what the best principals do. We can gain insight into how effective we are as leaders. Most of all, we can continue to refine our skills.
Book Reviews
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Wisdom to Share
Rule#1: Great principals never forget that it is people, not programs, who determine the quality of a school.
Rule#2: Great principals have clarity about who they are, what they do, and how others perceive them
Rule#3: Great principals take responsibility for their own performance and for all aspects of their school.
Rule#4: Great principals create a positive atmosphere in their schools. They treat every person with respect. In particular, they understand the power of praise.
Rule#5: Great principals work hard to keep their relationships in good repair—to avoid personal hurt and to repair any possible damage.
Rule#6: Great principals consistently filter out the negatives that didn’t matter and share their positive attitude.
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