Recently, and regrettably, I’m reading more and more about school principals, their role, and (apparent) inability to ensure that our schools achieve and sustain school improvement.
How are our school principals failing us?
First, there are few that are truly qualified to do the job and (even if they have a hint of natural ability) their training is inadequate. THEY are at the root of our poor schools. We won’t have school improvement without good principals… it’s all in their hands. Wow! IT’S THE SYSTEM… It’s the same system (antiquated, bureaucratic and political) we’ve been using for how long? The U.S. public school system is not designed to take care of the issues that have to be dealt with in the 21st century.
I’m listening to (viewing) a lot of finger pointing:
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Our public schools are failing our students,
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School improvement efforts are failing because of unqualified teachers,
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School improvement efforts are failing because of unqualified principals, and
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School improvement isn’t occurring because our universities are not producing qualified teachers and principals.
If one element of successful school improvement design can be finger pointed, an element, if missing would guarantee school improvement failure, it would be leadership.
Stay tuned for the three part blog series on School Leadership: The Key Element to School Improvement.
The Link to Teachers' Success...
Dr. Kathleen Salzano, Ed.D.
