WHAT MAKES A GOOD PRINCIPAL?
Christopher C. Orcutt
Hello. My name is Christopher Orcutt and I am a student at the
University of Maine at Machias.
As a part of my certification program, I have to develop a presentation
package that addresses a controversial topic in education. My group
chose the role of the principal.
Specifically, we are looking for responses from principals to the
following questions. After initial research, we have narrowed our
definition of a good principal to one who performs well in four areas: 1)
in interaction with parents, 2) in supervision, curriculum leadership,
and evaluation of teachers, 3) in involvement with students, and 4) in
intergrating new technology (computers, the Internet) into the
principal's daily work and the school's educational programs.
Teachers, feel free to answer the questions if you like. If you respond,
however, please note that you are a teacher, the subject you teach, and
the number of years you have taught. Thank you.
The questions:
1) What kinds of programs or activities can principals set up that would
make them more accessible by parents?
2) How important are parent-principal conferences?
3) Do you know of any interesting things principals (maybe yourself or
your building principal) have done to establish stronger rapport with
parents?
4) Describe the principal that both teachers and students respect.
5) What role do you as principal play in curriculum? If you are a
teacher, what role does your principal play?
6) Are most principals you know "desk jockeys" or are they active
principals?
7) How much of the principal's job should disciplining students be?
8) Point out some interesting ways that you have seen principals
implementing technology.
Thank you all for your time. Please e-mail your responses to: