What Great Principals Do Differently

by Ellen R. Delisio

Great principals set themselves apart by leading by example, setting clear and high expectations, and surrounding themselves with great people. "People are the problem and people are the solution. "If teachers don't know a behaviour is wrong, tell them at the first faculty meeting of the year. Once you make clear what is right or wrong, most people will try to do what's right."
BE GREAT, AND FIND, CREATE GREAT PEOPLE
One characteristic that sets apart great principals is the ability to know how they come across, Rarely do teacher assessments of a principal and the principal's self-assessment match, he said. "Almost all principals think they're good." Principals should strive to hire great teachers, or teachers with the potential to be great, by investigating their training. "If a student teacher trains with exemplary people, the chance of that student teacher being an exemplary teacher increases exponentially."
Besides hiring great teachers, another way a principal can cultivate an effective staff is by modelling effective behaviour. "You can't learn from ineffective people.” "The most valuable gift a principal can give teachers is confidence," he said. Modelling appropriate behaviour can include never arguing with a teacher and never arguing with a student. "And never yell, It's ineffective."
Great principals should never use sarcasm, and should instruct their staff members never to use it either, he said. Ten days out of ten, great principals need to treat every student with dignity. "You don't even have to like kids. Just act like you like them." Then in making decisions, principals should base their actions on their best teachers. As part of the decision-making process, great principals should ask themselves:
• What is the purpose of this?
• Will this actually accomplish the purpose?
• How will the most positive and productive people feel about this?
SEEING THE WHOLE PICTURE
Great principals also are visible, and are able to look at the big picture. "Principals should be in classes every day. When it comes to problem behaviour, quickly zero in on the problem and save your energy for everyone else. "By addressing negative behaviour to a group, you let the guilty people off, The least important kid is the one in your office. You have to worry about all the others. "You also never want a kid to leave the office mad. You want him to leave different."
Problem staff members can drain resources as well. Often when a school has a difficult teacher, an assistant principal or another administrator has to spend time and effort running interference for that teacher. Educators also need to remember that they work in a field where the potential for change always is present. "We start undefeated every year."