Survival Skills for the Principalship

John Blaydes - Association of California School Administrators

Other Titles in:
Leadership & Management Development | School Management

March 2004 | 256 pages | Corwin

Survival Skills for the Principalship provides over 500 powerful tips, short-cuts, time-savers, ideas, strategies, and a collection of sample letters and forms shared by award-winning principals nationwide. This treasure chest allows principals, assistant principals, and aspiring principals to pick and choose from a variety of valuable resources as befits his or her school. Each chapter in this book is designed to provide timesaving and efficient survival skills, which can be implemented immediately. The materials in this book attempts to reduce the isolated job of the principalship by sharing what has worked and what hasn't worked for award-winning, highly successful principals from across the nation.

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Introduction

1. Blueprint for Leadership in 21st Century Schools: Matering the Changes, Challenges, and Complexities of the Principalship

Mastering the New Three R's of School Leadership

Framing the Power of the Principalship

Laying The Foundation of Your Principalship

Treasure Chest Sample #1: Dance Card Partners

Treasure Chest Sample #2: Professional Responsibilities

Holding a Grand Conversation

Mastering Resiliency

Treasure Chest Sample #3: Candy-Grams

Treasure Chest Sample #4: Parent-School Climate Questionnaire

Treasure Chest Sample #5: Assessment of Staff Morale

Treasure Chest Sample #6: Day of the Teacher Remembrance Book Parent Memo

Treasure Chest Sample #7: Sample Elementary Classroom Behavior Management Plan

Treasure Chest Sample #8: Discipline Problem-Solving Record Card

Strengthening Your Infrastructure

Putting the Home Back in Homework

Treasure Chest Sample #9: Parent Homework Brochure

Homework Survival Kit for Teachers

Treasure Chest Sample #10: Homework Survival Kit for Teachers

Treasure Chest Sample #11: Homework Alert

Treasure Chest Sample #12: Principal's Homework Letter to Parents

2. Mastering the Skills of Resiliency

Resiliency

The Rock of the Principalship

Survey Results - Stressors

Treasure Chest Sample #13: Stress Inventory

Tuesdays With Me

Time Management Tips From Award-Winning Principals

Building the Parent-School Partnership

Treasure Chest Sample #14: Parent Volunteer Survey Letter

Treasure Chest Sample #15: PEP Classroom Volunteer Survey

Treasure Chest Sample #16: School Volunteer Survey

Treasure Chest Sample #17: Volunteer Handbook Welcome Letter

Treasure Chest Sample #18: Parent Classroom Observation Procedures

Treasure Chest Sample #19: Parent Education Survey

Treasure Chest Sample #20: Parent Invitation to Kindergarten Orientation

Treasure Chest Sample #21: Parent Handout: Kindergarten - A Statement of Philosophy

Treasure Chest Sample #22: Parent Handout: Kindergarten Goals - What Your Child Will Learn

Treasure Chest Sample #23: Parent Handout - Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten

Treasure Chest Sample #24: Kindergarten Welcome Conference Agenda

Treasure Chest Sample #25: Parent Handout - Back to School Night

Creative Models - Special Needs Students

Timesavers for Referrals and Interventions

Treasure Chest Sample #26: Special Needs Interventions Inventory

Treasure Chest Sample #27: Special Needs Student Background Form

Treasure Chest Sample #28: New Parent Invitation for School Tour

Treasure Chest Sample #29: Parent Letter to Invite VIP to School Open House

Treasure Chest Sample #30: VIP Neighbor Invitation to Attend Open House

Treasure Chest Sample #31: Heroes of the Heart Award Invitation

Tips for Building Community Involvement in Your School

3. Mastering the Skills of Renewal

Renewal

Tips for Keeping a Balance in Your Life From Award-Winning Principals

Tips for Bringing Humor to Your School Culture From Award-Winning Principals

Enhancing Peak Performance

Building Your Dream Team

Treasure Chest Sample #32: Professional Information Survey

Treasure Chest Sample #33: Teacher Interview Questions

Treasure Chest Sample #34: Teacher Candidate Interview Record Sheet

Treasure Chest Sample #35: Candidate Progressive Ranking Sheet

Treasure Chest Sample #36: Telephone Reference Call Form

Enhancing Peak Performance

Teacher Evaluation

Treasure Chest Sample #37: Exceptional Elementary Tenured Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #38: Excellent High School Tenured Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #39: Excellent Elementary Tenured Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #40: Average Elementary Tenured Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #41: Average High School Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #42: Outstanding Elementary First-Year Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #43: Marginal Elementary First-Year Teacher

Letters of Recommendation

Treasure Chest Sample #44: Marginal Elementary Tenured Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #45: Exceptional High School Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #46: Exceptional Elementary Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #47: Excellent High School Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #48: Average Elementary Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #49: First-Year Marginal Elementary Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #50: Substitute Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #51: Math Teacher Award

Treasure Chest Sample #52: Science Summer Institute

4. Mastering the Skills of Reflection

Reflection

Touch the Wisdom Within

The M&M Game - A Culminating Learning Activity

Treasure Chest Sample #53: The Survival Skills M&M Game

Letter-Rip!

Sample Letters

Treasure Chest Sample #54: Changing Classroom Assignment - New Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #55: Mid-Year Classroom Teacher Replacement

Treasure Chest Sample #56: Teacher Leaving for Maternity

Treasure Chest Sample #57: Attendance Concerns

Treasure Chest Sample #58: Follow-up Letter - Strong Concerns About Continuing Poor School Attendance

Treasure Chest Sample #59: Concerns Regarding Student Tardies

Treasure Chest Sample #60: Follow-up Letter - Strong Concerns About Continuing School Tardies

Treasure Chest Sample #61: Requesting Business Donation

Treasure Chest Sample #62: Thank-You Letter - Business Donation

Treasure Chest Sample #63: Thank-You Letter - Community Service Organization Gift

Treasure Chest Sample #64: Thank You for Positive Letter About a Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #65: Thank-You Letter - Parent Donation of Gift

Treasure Chest Sample #66: Thank-You Letter - Music Teacher

Treasure Chest Sample #67: Thank-You Letter - Teacher Presenting Inservice

Treasure Chest Sample #68: Thank-You Letter - Consultant Presenting Inservice

Treasure Chest Sample #69: Thank-You Letter - Classroom Volunteer

Treasure Chest Sample #70: Thank-You Letter - Parent Volunteer School Event

Treasure Chest Sample #71: Thank-You Letter - PTA President

Treasure Chest Sample #72: Letter of Congratulations to PTA Honorary Service Award Recipient

Treasure Chest Sample #73: Parent Letter - Classroom Volunteer Who Didn't Show Up

Treasure Chest Sample #74: Parent Letter - Congratulations on Student's Good Citizenship Award

Treasure Chest Sample #75: Student Letter - Congratulations on Election to Student Council

Treasure Chest Sample #76: Student Letter - Consolation Letter, Not Elected to Student Council

Treasure Chest Sample #77: Parent Letter - Failure to Pick Up Child After School in Time

Treasure Chest Sample #78: Parent Letter - Suspension of Disruptive Parent From Coming on Campus

Memo-abilia

Treasure Chest Sample #79: Staff Memo - Welcome Back to New School Year

Treasure Chest Sample #80: Staff Memo - Open House Expectations

Treasure Chest Sample #81: Staff Memo - Congratulations on Successful Open House

Treasure Chest Sample #82: Staff Memo - Thank You, Day of the Teacher Appreciation

Treasure Chest Sample #83: Staff Memo - Procedures for Recess Time-Out

Treasure Chest Sample #84: Staff Memo - Classified Staff Appreciation Week Thank You

Principal's Message for Parent Newsletter

Treasure Chest Sample #85: Parent Letter - Welcome Back to New School Year

Treasure Chest Sample #86: New Student Survey About Special Needs Services

Treasure Chest Sample #87: Home-School Communication - The Key to Our School's Success

Treasure Chest Sample #88: The Joy of Reading Alout at Home

Treasure Chest Sample #89: Getting to School on Time in a Safe Manner

Treasure Chest Sample #90: Taking Time for Conversation and Consistency

Treasure Chest Sample #91: Creating a Climate for Learning

Treasure Chest Sample #92: A Parent's Guide to Teenage Parties

Treasure Chest Sample #93: Just a Little Bit of Heaven

Treasure Chest Sample #94: Character Education - Teaching Our Children the Attribute of Perseverance

Treasure Chest Sample #95: Avoid Interrupting Classroom Instruction

Treasure Chest Sample #96: Celebrating Our School Year - A Special Thank You

Treasure Chest Sample #97: One Good Parent

Treasure Chest Sample #98: The Season of Joy

Treasure Chest Sample #99: Emergency Preparedness Bulletin

Treasure Chest Sample #100: Middle School Report to Parents

Treasure Chest Sample #101: Parent Survey - A School Evaluation Tool

Treasure Chest Sample #102: School Organization for Next Year

Treasure Chest Sample #103: Weh Report Cards Don't Make the Grade

Treasure Chest Sample #104: Parent Letter - Responding to Parent Request for a Specific Teacher

Summary

The Last Word

Order Form - Survival Skills for the Principalship CD

Index

"A great book designed to lighten the load of school administrators—filled with practical, easy to implement strategies, short-cuts, time-savers, and sample forms and letters. A valuable reference guide for effective school leadership."

Fran Madison-Cohee, NAESP California State Representative

Principal, White Oak Elementary, CA

"If you are looking for insight, rejuvenation, and thoughtful, practical strategies for success in your role as a school leader, look no further. John Blaydes helps us remember why we became educators, why we want to continue, and why inspirational leadership is essential to schools."

Jane Foley, Vice President, National Educator Awards

Milken Family Foundation, Santa Monica, CA

"Educational leaders will treasure this handy leadership guide full of powerful strategies and meaningful examples that are easily implemented. School administrators will find practical suggestions for motivating staff, preparing correspondence, and handling difficult situations. This is a must for your professional library."

Deborah Jenkins, Executive Assistant

Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore, MD

"Clearly, Blaydes planned well as he linked the themes from one chapter
to the next. It will no doubt be a valued tool for school administrators."

Daniel P. Gaffney, Principal

Howard R. Yocum Elementary School, NJ

"This book is very readable for the practitioner. The examples presented are excellent and I think principals and superintendents could use this material for staff development of teachers, paraprofessionals, and for community members."

Ronald P. Weiss, Associate Professor

Minnesota State University

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Survival Skills for the Principalship
A Treasure Chest of Time-Savers, Short-Cuts, and Strategies to Help You Keep a Balance in Your Life

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