School Leadership and Administration

Overview

This text helps prospective and experienced principals, administrators, and supervisors increase their knowledge and skills through concepts, case-studies, and simulations. Part I presents important theoretical concepts and research findings that can improve educators’ problem-solving and leadership effectiveness. Part II consists of over 65 reality-based case studies, “In-Basket Exercises,” simulations, and role-plays to illustrate problems and issues. The case studies, simulations, and exercises stimulate class discussion and reflection on key issues facing today’s school administrator and offer guidelines for thoughtful problem-solving and resolution. The new edition has been updated to include the most current research on areas such as leadership, as well as refocused chapters to more accurately address real life school situations.

Table of contents

PART I: MAJOR CONCEPTS IN ADMINISTRATION AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: CONCEPTUAL TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
Introduction
ISLLC Standard
Chapter 1: Leadership

Chapter 2: Decision Making

Chapter 3: Authority, Power, and Influence

Chapter 4: CommunicationChapter 5: Conflict Management

Chapter 6: Organizational Culture

Chapter 7: School Improvement


PART II: CASE STUDIES AND SIMULATIONS
Chapter 8: Introduction to Clinical Materials and Learning Experiences
Chapter 9: Beginning Challenges
1. Preparing for the Job Search
2. From Teacher to Administrator
3. The New Principal (In-Basket Activities)
4. The New Assistant Principal (In-Basket Activities)
5. Resentment over Appointment
6. Why Does a Woman Need to Act Like a Man?
7. Gimme That Old-Time Discipline
8. Is Being Busy Necessarily Productive?

Chapter 10: Student Problems
9. School Yard Dangers
10. The Underachiever
11. What Should Be the Role of the Student Newspaper?
12. A Complex Discipline Problem
13. The Drop-Out Problem (Simulation Exercise)
14. Students Can’t Take Pressure Any Longer
15. An Issue of Morals and Priorities
16. "Zero Tolerance" for Weapons in Schools
17. Student Drug Problem at Washington School
18. Do Extreme Times Call for Radical Action? (A Leaderless Group Activity)
19. A Different Kind of "Drug" Problem

Chapter 11: Administrator-Staff Relationships
20. Teacher Selection
21. Problems of a Beginning Teacher
22. Faculty Teamwork
23. Who Needs Lesson Plans?
24. Conflict Over Teacher Citizenship Rights
25. Faculty Dissatisfaction and Low Morale
26. Teacher Files a Grievance
27. Teacher Reacts Negatively to Personnel Evaluation
28. Faculty Slowdown
29. Do Women Have Power?
30. Collaboration Woes

Chapter 12: School-Community Relations
31. Curriculum Unit Upsets Parents
32. Communication and Constructed Reality
33. Parental Apathy
34. Wanted: A Plan for Improving Parental and Community Involvement
35. The School-Community Web
36. Developing Student Talent
37. A New Role for the Parents’ Organization
38. How Much Should Parents Be Told?
39. Administrator-Press Relations
40. Public Relations: What’s Really Important?
41. Censorship? Or Parents’ Rights?
42. Financial Crisis!

Chapter 13: Role and Organizational Problems
43. Principal’s Mid-Year Problems and Priorities (In-Basket Activities)
44. Principal’s End-of-the Year Problems and Priorities (In-Basket Activities)
45. Principal’s Dilemma
46. Principal’s Personal Conduct Results in Possible Suspension
47. Intra-Organizational Role Conflict
48. Supervisor-Principal Relationship
49. The Superintendent and the New School Board Members
50. Administrator Evaluation

Chapter 14: Social Justice Issues
51. Can Total School Integration Be Achieved?
52. Minority Parents Are Dissatisfied with Integration
53. We Want Neighborhood Schools, Too!
54. Metropolitan Integration
55. Parents Detect Racial Disparity
56. Teacher Difficulty in a Multicultural Climate
57. Matter of What?
58. Do (Should?) We Treat Them All Alike?
59. Ideas on IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act)
60. Student Formed Gay-Straight Alliance
61. Inclusion of Special Needs Students

Chapter 15: Problems of Change
62. Teacher Tries to Individualize Instruction
63. Effective Schools: How Do We Get There From Here? (A Group Activity)
64. Planning for Improvement
65. School-Based Management
66. Restructuring Staff Evaluation and Supervision
67. Changing the Role of the Building Principal
68. In-Service or Disservice Education? Part I
69. In-Service or Disservice Education? Part II
70. School Choice
71. School District Chips Away at Computer Education Problems
72. When NCLB Meets You at Your School Door
Index