| News for the Education Profession |  |
| ASCD SmartBrief Special Report: Developing School Leaders (Part II) |
State budgets cuts. Tough school conditions. Students in need of help.
Schools need strong guides, but no one ever said being a school leader was easy.
This two-part ASCD SmartBrief Special Report, "Developing School Leaders," explores how educators can become good school leaders as well as nurture their colleagues.
Part II of this special report reviews how to lead during tough times and how to train future leaders to run classrooms and schools. Part I of the report, published Tuesday, looked at what makes a good leader and how educators working together can improve schools.
If you don't receive ASCD SmartBrief on a daily basis and find our report on Developing School Leaders useful, we urge you to sign up for our timely e-newsletter. ASCD SmartBrief delivers the stories making news in your profession directly to your inbox -- for FREE. |
| At a Glance |  |  |
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- Urban principals should focus on situation at hand
Principals at urban schools face unique challenges but also have the ability to transform student lives, education professor Kathryn A. Riley writes in a reflection on her observations of school leaders in multiple countries. To be effective in an urban setting, principals should take stock of the realities they face physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. "Gaining clarity about these realities strengthens leaders' capacity to tackle challenges with vigor and to spearhead changes that improve students' lives," she writes. Educational Leadership
(10/2009)
    
- School leaders should not be handcuffed by the status quo
School leaders should break through what are often perceived obstacles to school reform by trying new things and seeing opportunities for change even within existing rules and statutes, writes education expert Frederick M. Hess. He offers five strategies for administrators hoping to move beyond the status quo: look beyond the usual boundaries of what is allowed; promote transparency; make laws a tool of reform; encourage nontraditional leadership; and honor change while accepting that some ideas could fail. Educational Leadership
(10/2009)
| Leading in Tough Times | | |
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- Top leaders can buck trends in low-income schools
The effective use of targeted interventions and a better use of learning time are two of the keys to achievement in the country's low-income schools, write William Parrett and Kathleen Budge, two Boise State University education experts. Leaders of schools serving disadvantaged students can increase achievement by asking important questions regarding leadership capacity, student learning and school environment. Educational Leadership
(10/2009)
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Join the discussion: Read a guest blog post on high-poverty, high-performing schools by William Parrett and Kathleen Budge on the ASCD Inservice blog.
- Teachers are asked to cut costs during tough times
As they lead schools with tighter budgets, New York City public-school principals are asking teachers to contribute additional effort, time and resources. One principal asked teachers to look for cheap supplies, work on grants together and expect to take on multiple duties. Principals say that the pressure to cut costs while maintaining high academic standards has trimmed all extras, and they are worried about the academic effect on students. The New York Times (free registration)
(9/14)
| Community Support | | |
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- Job shadowing connects principals with business leaders
Some Nebraska principals and educators are shadowing business professionals to learn about careers in fields such as architecture and network with business leaders. "We don't want to work in isolation. We want to work together because, ultimately, we're working to try to provide the best educational experience that we can," Principal Lisa Wood said. "And I need to continue, as a leader, to be a learner. This is giving me opportunity to be part of the community and also to gain some new insight." Omaha World-Herald (Neb.)
(9/24)
- Fellowship fosters leadership at districts and Capitol Hill
Two dozen teachers are spending the year working at federal agencies or as Capitol Hill staffers helping to draft legislation as part of a fellowship program. Teachers gain experience in leadership and are able to offer feedback on legislation that will have a direct effect on the classroom. "Education is usually done by folks who have no idea what the classroom is like; that element is missing in developing policy," said U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, a former science teacher. The Washington Post
(10/5)
- Communities come together to encourage good attendance
Schools, medical professionals and businesses are collaborating in Wisconsin to improve student attendance and curb chronic truancy. The "Yes, School Counts" action plan focuses on building relationships with students and tracking attendance data in many districts. Business leaders are encouraged to ask for attendance records when hiring, and medical leaders are working to schedule doctor's appointments around school hours or ensure that students return to school after short appointments. Green Bay Press-Gazette (Wis.)
(9/27)
| Training Future Leaders | | |
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- How can schools increase the number of minority principals?
Existing school leaders should do more to recruit minority principals to keep up with an increasingly diverse student population, write Jafeth E. Sanchez, Bill Thornton and Janet Usinger, all of the Educational Leadership Department at the University of Nevada, Reno. "Because minority principals share experiences and cultural understandings with students who come from the same background, they can link students, parents, and other educational stakeholders while modeling success for everyone," they write. Educational Leadership
(10/2009)
- Harvard to groom top-level education administrators
The Harvard Graduate School of Education has announced its first new degree in 74 years -- the Doctor of Education Leadership. The program is geared toward people who want to be top-level administrators, and Harvard officials hope they will play a role in education reform. Officials say tuition will be free for students, and the program will culminate with the completion of a "high-priority" project at a school district or partner group. MSNBC/The Associated Press
(9/15)
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