Most New efforts to help local school councils pick good principals Priming the pump by Linda Lenz Probation and reconstitution for low-scoring schools. No promotion for low-scoring students. These get-tough prescriptions to remedy educational failure have thrust the Chicago public schools into a national spotlight and generated hope at home. Called the Partnership to Encourage the Next Century's Urban Leaders, the project is aimed at getting Chicago schools the best principals possible.
Principals are pivotal in school improvement.
Without good ones, highly skilled teachers are frustrated, clock-watching teachers fester, and the resources of parents and community members go untapped. Even an outstanding superintendent can't get very far without principals who motivate, support and push their staffs. FRAC's mission is to help local governments improve their financial and management operations. However, it's extremely difficult for someone who is part of a particular workplace culture to change that culture. In many Chicago schools, cultural change is precisely what's needed.