The School Principalship

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Explain 21st Century principals’ changing responsibilities, including strategic, instructional, managerial, human resources, cultural, external development, ethical/micropolitical, and equity-driven leadership.
• Understand how principals plan and collaborate to develop a shared vision of a successful, democratic school.
• Describe various strategic leadership roles, including long-range planning, ethical decision-making, collaboration, public relations, communication, and conflict resolution.
• Recognize school culture and climate as a larger and overarching umbrella related to student activities, student supervision, discipline, safety, social justice, anti-racism, and services for second language and special needs students.
• Distinguish and develop the individual leadership traits, skills, and dispositions necessary to become an effective rural school leader.
• Understand and articulate both the unique sets of challenges and assets that are often encountered in rural school settings and how these affect/intersect with the principalship.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Assignment #1 – Vision, Mission, Strategic Goals, Shared Values, and Norms in a Quality School	20%
Assignment #2 - Principal Interview and Shadowing Reflective Project	20%
Assignment #3 - The Effective Principal - Capstone Project	20%
Assignment #4: Submitted Written Prompts (Approx. 3 points each assignment) – 10 assignments across the semester	30%
Assignment #5: Class Attendance, Participation, Professionalism	10%

Grade Points Description

Percentage	Letter Grade
93+	A
90	A-
87	B+
83	B
80	B-
77	C+
74	C
0	F

Note:  Failure to submit any of the assignments on time may negatively affect a student’s course grade and pursuit of principal licensure.

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance, participation, and professionalism account for 10% of the course grade.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

• Bennis, W. (2009). On becoming a leader: The leadership classic (2nd ed.). Basic Books.
• Brooks, J. S. & Normore, A. H. (2018). Foundations of educational leadership: Developing excellent and equitable schools. Routledge.
• Deal, T. E., & Peterson, K. D. (2016). Shaping school culture: Pitfalls, paradoxes, and promises (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
• Fullan, M. (2008). The six secrets of change:  What the best leaders do to help their organizations survive and thrive. Jossey-Bass.
• Gratto, J. (2021). Inside the schoolhouse: What great principals know and do. Rowman & Littlefield.
• McFalone, D. (2019). Uncommon leadership: Live well, lead strong for courage and integrity. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Publication manual of the American psychological association. (2021, 7th Ed.). Appearance.
• Robbins, P., & Alvy, H. (2014). The principal's companion: Strategies to lead schools for student and teacher success (4th ed.). ASCD.