Sunday, November 18, 2007

What’s Important from the Fall 2007 Edition of The Principal News?

The Association of Washington School Principals does a stellar job with their thrice-yearly magazine. Very professional, very polished, and a good resource for anyone with an administrative frame of mind. The editor is Jocelyn McCabe, who also does yeoman work keeping up their blog. Interesting things from this issue:

“I look forward to a day when everyone in this country truly values principals for the critical role they play not only in the future of each child but in the future of this nation.”—Mary Kay Sommers, NAESP President
Discussion question—what’s more important, a good principal or a good teacher? While the teacher works directly with their kids in their learning, a bad principal can take out a good teacher. A bad teacher has a chance of improving in the hands of a good principal. Bad on both ends, you’re pretty well screwed. If they’re both good, though—there’s power there that can change lives for better, forever.

Jerry Bender turns in a nice piece about the Simple Majority. It’s much nicer to read now than it was a week ago.

Greg Schwab and Vincent DeMiero of Mountlake Terrace High write two nice columns about student newspapers and the freedom they should be accorded. For more information about the topic I highly recommend Nuss’s website at the Washington Journalism Education Association.

The last great article I’ll highlight comes from Cheryl Boze, principal of Odyssey Elementary in Mukilteo, who turns in a great piece on how schools can connect with parents and the community at large, particularly those who speak a different language. It's worth tracking down for anyone having ELL issues at their school.

My school leadership class so far has been a lot of fun. Dr. Alvy is pretty remarkable, and one of the books we’re using (School Leadership and Administration, by Gorton, Alston, and Snowden) has a great section on case studies that’s lead to some thoughtful discussions in class. Next quarter is school law, which is supposed to be a bear of a course, but it should be interesting in it’s own way.

The winter break will be a welcome one.

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1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the kind words. I am very impressed with the AWSP and its desire to work with me and other members of the WJEA to further the traditions of excellent student journalism in this state.
I have been exceedingly privileged to have worked with many excellent administrators during my teaching career. Greg Schwab, the current principal at Mountlake Terrace High School, is a wonderful educator and strong leader whose commitment to student journalism is inspirational.

12:49 PM  

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