Applying the ISLLC Standards and the 11 Top Ten Most Wanted Strategies for school culture by Sorenson & Goldsmith, to transform the Earl Roloff Elementary School, in Combes Public School System, into a model school using a $150,000 grant will be a worthwhile challenge! When the new superintendent demonstrated a collaborative leadership style by forming a Principal interview team that included both veteran and new teachers to choose the new principal, it well-received; therefore, as the new principal, following through with a similar collaborative style would likely be successful.
In my perspective, the principal needs to develop a strategic plan that creates a shared vision and goals with a variety of stakeholders, provides professional development for the staff to achieve those goals, and reaches into the community to develop partnerships and positive relationships.
Initially the principal needs to apply ISLLC Standard 2 which “promotes the success of every student by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and …show more content…
Teachers should be supported, coached, and guided by their educational leader, who should be modeling the importance and relevance of staying current with teacher practice and connection professional development to the school’s instructional plan and student learning goals. By embedding time for PD, the principal is validating its purpose and importance for learning. The investment of this time, for the principal and the staff, is a wise decision for connecting people, talent, and instructional practice to impact an effective learning environment. DuFour’s book, Whatever It Takes: How PLCs Respond When Kids Don’t Learn, promotes PLCs as the “most powerful conceptual model for transforming schools to meet their new challenges,” (p. 2) would address the low test scores, and the low expectations teachers are holding for students at