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Role of the Principal

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Effectiveness in the principal-ship is the extent to which all learners in the school are doing as well as they should be doing (Webster , 1 , 1994

The public education system has perhaps never faced more challenges than it does today . With increasing diversity in the school system , teachers and administration have to be prepared to teach students with minimal English . Increased violence

in schools has created a situation where providing security for students takes precedence to learning . Drug use among students and domestic violence place teachers and administration in a social services role , rather than focused on education . Increased accountability standards with an ever-shrinking budget challenges teacher 's time to be responsive to individual student needs . Each of these challenges are faced by the school as a whole , with increased pressure placed on the role of the principal to meet these needs . The role of the principal has changed over the past twenty to thirty years Ideally the principal should be responsible for creating a climate of learning , and assuring that teachers have the resources they need to do their job effectively

The principal establishes a climate for excellence , puts forth a vision for continuous improvement in student performance , promotes excellence in teaching , and commits to sustained , comprehensive professional development for all staff members . The principal ensures that curriculum , instructional strategies , and assessment of student progress are coherent components in the teaching and learning process In short , the principal engages herself or himself as an instructional leader (Tirozzi , 1 , 2001

Educational research , focusing on school effectiveness , often examines the concept of the

principal as leader as one of the critical factors . Research indicates that the role of principal as

leader in creating a climate that can lead to higher student academic performance , conditions

such as setting high standards and goals , planning and coordinating with staff , having an

orientation toward innovation , frequent monitoring of staff and student performance , and

involving parents and the community (Blank , 1 , 1987 ) This increased emphasis on the

principal as a leader , has ultimately changed the role of the school principal . Historically

principals wereelected and played the role of educator . The increased need for the principal to

take the part of leader requires the principal to also take on the role of administrator . Along with

this role , there is a increased emphasis on the principal as a primary contributor to the

educational effectiveness of the school . This expanding role of the principal has created a new

set of expectations , including fulfilling the role of leader as both educator and administrator

including responsibility for the school curriculum . During the 1980s school districts introduced

programs to increase school effectiveness , including greater instructional leadership by

principals (Blank , 1 , 1987

According to Elaine Fink and Lauren Resnick , there is widespread appeal for principals

to assume the role of leaders in education , but...

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