ED477731 2002-12-00 Professional

Development of Principals. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Development Team

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Professional Development of Principals. ERIC Digest...................... 1

MODELS OF PRINCIPAL PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT/IN-SERVICE......................................... 2

PRINCIPAL CENTERS........................................................ 4

CONNECTING PRINCIPALS' PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO

THE.......................................................................... 5

ERIC Identifier: ED477731

Publication Date: 2002-12-00

Author: Fenwick, Leslie T. - Pierce, Mildred C.

Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Teaching and Teacher Education Washington DC.

Professional Development of Principals. ERIC

Digest.

THIS DIGEST WAS CREATED BY ERIC, THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION CENTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ERIC, CONTACT

ACCESS ERIC 1-800-LET-ERIC

THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE PRINCIPAL

Societal changes have stimulated new pressures on schools and those who lead them.

Technology, demographic shifts, redefinitions of "family," testing and accountability,

decentralization and site-based management, violence, changes in the economy, new

ED477731 2002-12-00 Professional Development of Principals. ERIC Digest. Page 1 of 8
court mandates related to desegregation, various legislative initiatives such as school

vouchers, and the press to privatize have created a web of conflicting demands and

expectations for school principals. These changes have resulted in "a turning of the role

of principal 90 degrees from everywhere" (Prestine, 1994, p. 150).

Contemporary models of school reform acknowledge the principal as the passport to

school success. The modern principal is no longer the "principal" teacher, but rather the

manager of an increasingly complex organization. Principals today are expected to

create a team relationship among staff members, acquire and allocate resources,

promote teacher development, improve students' performance on standardized tests,

and build effective community linkages (Drake and Roe, 2002; Pierce, 2002).

Additionally, principals are supposed to interact with teachers, parents, community

members, and students. Strong collaboration and instructional skills have replaced

strong bureaucratic skills as important attributes of effective principals (Drake and Roe,

2002; Neufeld, 1997). In many respects, the demands on principals mirror those on

teachers who are attempting to become facilitators of children's learning and are

rethinking their notions of content, pedagogy, and assessment (Neufeld, 1997).

Principals need continuous professional development opportunities to support their

efforts toward school improvement and revitalize their commitment to creating and

sustaining positive learning communities (Foster, Loving and Shumate, 2000; Evans

and Mohr, 1999; Neufeld, 1997).

MODELS OF PRINCIPAL PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT/IN-SERVICE

Over the years, three different philosophical orientations have guided the education and

professional development of school administrators: traditional/scientific management,

craft, and reflective inquiry. The traditional model is characteristic of preparation

programs at universities. Principals select this model based on their desire to pursue

additional coursework in an area of professional interest; to obtain an advanced degree;

to renew or upgrade their administrative licensure; or a combination of these objectives

(Daresh, 2002; Fenwick and Pierce, 2002).

Traditional Model

The traditional model exposes the principal to the research base on management and

the behavioral sciences. She or he learns the general principles of administrative

behavior and rules that can be followed to ensure organizational effectiveness and

efficiency. The participant is often the passive recipient of knowledge and the source of

professional knowledge is research generated at universities. Learning activities are

institutionally defined and generally not tailored to the specific learning needs of the

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principal or reflective of his specific school context.

In more recent years, many school districts, professional associations, and other

education agencies have created in- service academies and workshops/seminars.

These academies and workshop/seminar series often have course delivery systems

similar to universities, and thus can be characterized as modern versions of the

traditional model. Content is changed periodically, usually on the basis of needs

assessments administered to potential academy participants. This approach is distinct

from other in-service models because of its short-term duration and because it tends to

deal with a narrow range of topics, or highly focused topics (Daresh, 2002). Unlike

university-based programs, academies and seminars/workshops are more client-driven.

Involvement in these types of learning activities normally comes from a principal's

personal motivation and desire to learn and grow professionally, not from a need to

meet certification or degree requirements (Daresh, 2002).

Craft Model

In the craft model, the principal is trained by other experienced professionals. Here, the

principal is the recipient of knowledge from seasoned administrators whom she or he

shadows in internships and field experiences. The purpose of shadowing is for the

principal-observer to see how another principal interacts with school personnel and the

public, deals with problems, and responds to crises. The observer learns another way of

handling school concerns. In the craft approach, the source of professional knowledge

is the practical wisdom of experienced practitioners and the context for learning is a real

school setting (Daresh, 2002; Fenwick and Pierce, 2002).

Reflective Inquiry Approach

In the reflective inquiry approach to professional development, the principal is

encouraged to generate knowledge through a process of systematic inquiry. The focus

is to create principals who are able to make informed, reflective and self- critical

judgments about their professional practice. Here, principals are active participants in

their learning and the source of knowledge is in self-reflection and engagement. The

goal is to encourage principals to reflect on their values and beliefs about their roles as

school leaders, take risks and explore new skills and concepts, and apply their new

knowledge and skills in real school contexts. Networking, mentoring, and reflective

reading and writing are key components of this approach (Daresh, 2002; Fenwick and

Pierce, 2002).

The use of networking for professional development of principals is based on the belief

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ED477731 2002-12-00 Professional Development of Principals. ERIC Digest. Page 3 of 8
that collegial support is needed in order to be an effective school leader. Literature

(Owens, 2000) on organizational effectiveness indicates that the presence of norms of

mutual support and collegiality results in greater leadership longevity and productivity.

Networking involves linking principals for the purpose of sharing concerns and effective

practices on an ongoing basis. Networks tend to be informal arrangements that emerge

when principals seek out colleagues who share similar concerns and potential solutions

to problems. However, rather than being periodic social gatherings, true networking is

regular engagement in activities that have been deliberately planned by the principals

themselves, as a way to encourage collective movement toward enhanced professional

performance (Daresh, 2002; Neufeld, 1997; Clift, 1992).

One of the most powerful approaches to professional development is mentoring. A

mentor is a professional colleague and critical friend who helps the principal understand

professional norms and job expectations, and provides helpful advice about

professional challenges and career ascension. More than half of the nation's states

require that all beginning principals receive at least a year of mentor support when they

assume their first administrative post (Daresh, 2002).

Reading and journaling are fundamental practices in the reflective inquiry approach to

professional development. Principals read critical professional literature as well as other

relevant writing (novels, plays, poetry). Reading selections grow out of the principal's

mentoring and networking experiences and professional and personal interests. The

assumption underlying this practice is that reading enlightens the principal about the

human condition, leadership, and teaching and learning. In this approach, principals are

also encouraged to engage in reflective writing via journaling. Here, journals are records

of personal reflections about professional challenges, successes and failures, and "aha"

moments. Principals can then share reflections from their journals and about their

readings in order to obtain feedback from peers and mentors that will encourage further

reflection and shape future action plans.

Professional development programs for principals typically reflect one of the three

aforementioned philosophical orientations. In most cases they are an amalgam of all

three approaches. One professional development model that reflects the best of each

approach is the principals' center.

PRINCIPAL CENTERS

Just like teachers, principals' professional development must be planned, long-term,

embedded in their jobs, focused on student achievement, and supportive of reflective

practice. It needs to include opportunities to work, discuss, and solve problems with

colleagues (Drake and Roe, 2002). Principal centers were designed to provide

practicing and aspiring principals the chance to meet in settings to explore and reflect

on current school and leadership topics. Their programs are varied and meet the unique

needs of principals through conferences, forums, study groups, workshops, seminars,

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Page 4 of 8 ED477731 2002-12-00 Professional Development of Principals. ERIC Digest.
institutes, and grants to pursue self-designed school based projects. Many of the

centers are modeled after The Principals' Center at the Harvard Graduate School of

Education, the first of its kind dedicated to the professional development of school

leaders. Founded in 1981, the Center is the springhead for 150 principal centers

existing today throughout the United States. Many of these centers are connected to the

International Network of Principals' Centers, where members are also linked with

educators throughout the world.

CONNECTING PRINCIPALS' PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT TO THE

EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AGENDA AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTAccording to a

policy brief issued by the National Institute on Educational Governance, "preparing

current administrators for new modes of leadership will require changes in content and

delivery of professional development" (U.S. Department of Education, 1999, p. 10). If

the education charge of the new millennium is to deliver on the promise of a quality

education for all children, then a different understanding should guide principals'

preparation and professional development. In order to truly "leave no child behind" and

reduce the racial achievement gap reform efforts should structure schooling as "an

opportunity structure" and not as a sorting machine. Toward this end, embracing a

social reconstructionist orientation toward principal preparation and professional

development would encourage school leaders to create greater equality and social

justice both in schools and the larger community (Fenwick and Pierce, 2002).

The goal of the social reconstructionist approach is for the participant to learn strategies

for the eradication of structures of inequality such as racism, classism and sexism.

People of color and the poor are systematically undereducated in this country.

Leadership can play a powerful role in getting the underserved educated. The new

professional development model should center learning activities on a conscious equity

agenda. According to Evans and Mohr (1999), "Reinforcing old patterns and hearing

speakers who mouth familiar platitudes about the 'effective' principals . . . does not lead

to substantive change" (p. 532). When the "real problems of real schools" is defined as

improving educational outcomes for the lowest performing students, professional

development for principals looks different. How different?

First, those who structure and facilitate professional development programs and

opportunities should come from diverse backgrounds. Second, professional

development programs should encourage principals to gain at least a conversational

level of fluency in the second or third most prominent language spoken by students in

the school district in which the principal serves. Third, scholarship by Black, Asian,

Hispanic/Latino and other typically marginalized scholars should be a prominent piece

of professional development reading and reflection (Fenwick and Pierce, 2002). Fourth,

principals should learn the knowledge base and technical skills from practitioners,

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ED477731 2002-12-00 Professional Development of Principals. ERIC Digest. Page 5 of 8
policymakers and academics who have been successful in resolving educational equity

concerns, advancing a social justice agenda, and improving outcomes for underserved

children and their communities (Fenwick and Pierce, 2002).

Successful professional development takes time. Principals, just like their teachers,

benefit from professional development that examines best practices, provides coaching

support, encourages risk-taking designed to improve student learning, cultivates team

relationships and provides quality time for reflection and renewal. In the end, principals

and teachers should leave these experiences with a renewed sense of faith in the

transformative power of schools in children's lives.

REFERENCES

References identified with an EJ or ED number have been abstracted and are in the

ERIC database. Journal articles (EJ) should be available at most research libraries;

most documents (ED) are available in microfiche collections at more than 900 locations.

Documents can also be ordered through the ERIC Document Reproduction Service:

(800) 443-ERIC.

Clift, R., Johnson, M., Holland P., and Dyck, N. (1993). Developing the potential for

collaborative school leadership. American Educational Research Journal, 29, 877-908.

EJ 460 524

Daresh, J. (2003). What it means to be a principal: Your guide to leadership. Thousand

Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. ED 457 601

Drake, T. & Roe, W. (2003). The principalship. 6th ed. Columbus, OH: Merrill Prentice

Hall.

Evans, P., and Mohr, N. (1999). Professional development for principals. Phi Delta

Kappan, 80(7), 530-533. EJ 581 591

Fenwick, L. (2002). Who will lead? Crisis in the principal's office. Cambridge, MA: The

Principals' Center, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Fenwick, L. and Pierce, M. (2002). To train or educate: How should the next generation

of principals be prepared? The Principal Advisor, 2(1), 1-2.

Foster, E., Loving, C., and Shumate, A. (2000). Effective principals, effective

professional development schools. Teaching and Change, 8(1), 76-98.

Fullan, M. (1990). Staff development, innovation and institutional development. In

Changing School Culture through Staff Development. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Hallinger, P. and Greenblatt, R.B. (1989). Principals' pursuit of professional growth: The

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Page 6 of 8 ED477731 2002-12-00 Professional Development of Principals. ERIC Digest.
influence of beliefs, experiences, and district context. Journal of Staff Development,

10(4), 68-74.

Hilliard III, A. (1997). Do we have the will to educate all children? Educational

Leadership, 44(1), 31-36.

Hilliard III, A. (1991). The structure of valid staff development. Journal of Staff

Development, 18(2), 28-34.

Neufeld, B. (1997). Responding to the expressed needs of urban middle school

principals. Urban Education, 31(5), 490-510. EJ 538 676

Owens, R. (1987). Organizational behavior in education. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

ED 464 419

Prestine, N. (1994). Ninety degrees from everywhere. In Reshaping the principalship:

Insights from transformational reform efforts, edited by J. Murphy and K. S. Lewis.

Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Pierce, M. (2000). Portrait of the "super principal". Harvard Education Letter

(March/April). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Letter.

Sparks, D. and Hirsch, S. (2000). Learning to lead: Leading to learn. Oxford, OH:

National Staff Development Council.

U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Educational Governance. (1999).

Effective leaders for today's schools: Synthesis of a policy forum on educational

leadership. Washington, DC: USDOE.

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This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U. S.

Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, under

contract number ED-99-CO-0007. The content of this publication does not necessarily

reflect the views of or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of

trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U. S.

Government.

Title: Professional Development of Principals. ERIC Digest.

Note: Contains small print.

Document Type: Information Analyses---ERIC Information Analysis Products (IAPs)

(071); Information Analyses---ERIC Digests (Selected) in Full Text (073);

Available From: ERIC Clearinghouse on Teaching and Teacher Education, American

Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, 1307 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite

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Fax: 202-457-8095; e-mail: query@aacte.org; Web site: http://www.ericsp.org.

Descriptors: Administrator Role, Elementary Secondary Education, Equal Education,

Inquiry, Inservice Education, Principals, Professional Development

Identifiers: ERIC Digests, Reflective Thinking

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