The Principal's Field Manual
The School Principal as the Organizational Leader
- Michael B. Ayers
- William A. Sommers - Southwest Educational Development Laboratory
"An extensive and comprehensive resource for aspiring as well as practicing school leaders at every level. For aspiring school leaders, this book provides a multifaceted look at the complexity of school organizations. For practicing school leaders, the design of the content, the broad array of useful information, the action checklists, the quick-read guidelines, and the extensive references provide readers with a useful guide."
—Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director
National Association of Secondary School Principals
An original, proven approach to help you meet challenges head-on!
Research has shown that effective school leadership is a key factor in promoting high student achievement. This very practical, easy-to-use reference draws from leadership lessons learned in both education and business. Written as a field manual for "school CEOs" to facilitate understanding and operating a school as an organization, this book is designed for easy access within a unifying framework to enable flexible use for busy principals.
Based on the Organizational Effectiveness Model, the manual offers a blend of background knowledge and practices that are immediately useful, in the context of five elements that are essential to all organizations:
- Mission, including the central importance of useful metrics
- Strategies, such as the value of seeing the whole system
- Structure, including skill with conflict management
- People, highlighting the usefulness of political savvy
- Leadership, including the fundamental importance of trust
Filled with practical strategies and tools, The Principal's Field Manual is an invaluable resource for helping both new and experienced administrators better understand and effectively operate the school as a vital and dynamic organization.
"An extensive and comprehensive resource for aspiring as well as practicing school leaders at every level. For aspiring school leaders, this book provides a multifaceted look at the complexity of school organizations. For practicing school leaders, the design of the content, the broad array of useful information, the action checklists, the quick-read guidelines, and the extensive references provide readers with a useful guide."
"Principals, regardless of the hat being worn—instructional leader, process manager, school administrator, or organization CEO—will find a treasure trove of tools, processes, models, assessments, and much more. This compendium of ideas represents 'just in time' applications to the authentic, day-to-day realities of the practicing site administrator."
"Leadership is partially about skill and personality, and a whole lot about values. This book takes all the elements of a leader’s journey and provides useful tools for both day-to-day and long-term success. It is simple to use, easy to follow, and actionable."
