Urban School Principalship

The National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality just published a new research brief, Paving the Path to the Urban School Principalship. It's solid work, highlighting findings from focus groups of aspiring principals in three urban districts and making a number of policy recommendations. It's a good reminder of some of the basics, such as:

1. There is a shortage of quality future leaders.
2. The job is stressful.
3. There are many different types of leadership.
4. Preparation matters.

GLISI gets a nice shout-out (page 9) and there is a neat graphic showing a pathway that goes step by step. Click here to read the full report online.

The report concludes with some recommendations, which we've seen before:

1. Divide managerial and instructional responsibilities.
2. Support principal networks.
3. Pair empowerment with accountability.
4. Increase principal salaries.

The authors note that these recommendations are "not new, but they remain untested." True. From GLISI's perspective these steps may be necessary for a performance culture but they are not sufficient. Without a systemic succession strategy that clearly defines and supports performance at all levels of leadership, we'll still be tinkering around the edges.

Finally, this report begs the question: What about the rural and suburban principalship? You can't ride the subway to most of this nation's high-needs schools.