School Principalship

SYLLABUS

EDUL 6338

The School Principalship

COURSE SYLLABUS

Fall, 2010

Class meetings:    Monday 4:30-7:00 pm

Location:              EDCC 1.504

Email:                   pablomartinez@myway.com

Phones:                 Cell 735-7629

Office Hours:       By Appointment

Excellence in Schools (6th Ed.). Boston: Pearson and Allyn and Bacon.

Lunnenburg, F.C. and Irby, B.J., The Principalship: Vision to Action (1^st Ed.). 

Belmont, Ca. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Course Description: This course will examine the function, processes and best practices involved in effective PK-12 school principal leadership.

Services for Students with Disabilities: If you require assistance or have special needs due to a disability, please notify the instructor. Additionally the office of services for persons with disabilities (956-316-7005) provides supportive services that meet the educational, career, and personal needs of persons with disabilities.

·         Develop an understanding of the principal’s role within the total school organization.

·         Develop and understanding of various leadership/management theories and styles.

·         Develop a working understanding of group dynamics and the principal’s role in dealing with the psychological and social nature of groups.

·         Develop a working understanding of effective decision-making processes.

·         Develop a working understanding of systematic planning process.

·         Develop an understanding of the principal’s role in developing a positive culture and environment for teaching and learning.

·         Develop an understanding of the principal’s role in curriculum administration.

·         Develop an understanding of ethical and policy issues that impact the principalship.

·         Develop an understanding of issues in the administration of special programs.

·         Develop an understanding of human resource administration as it relates to the principalship.

·         Develop an understanding of the requirements for educator accountability in Texas to include student testing and effective teaching and leadership.

Aug.   30  Introductions general course organization: Purpose and Basis for the course

                 Lecture and class Discussion: “The Principalship we know”

      Aug.   30  Lecture and Discussion: Strategic planning Creating a Vision for Learning.

      Sep    13   Lecture and Class Discussion: Concepts of Leadership

                Bring copies of your Campus AEIS Report and Campus Improvement Plan

                20   Lecture and Class Discussion: Politics, Policy and Ethics

                27   Independent Study on Group Projects

       Oct.    4    Lecture and Class Discussion: The Principal and the Law

   �            11   Independent Study. Attend and analyze a school board meeting.

                18   Lecture and Class Discussion: Budgeting and Auxiliary Services

                 (Bring a copy of your Campus Budget)

                25   Group I - Organizing a School for Effective and Efficient Management.

       Nov.   1   Group II- Developing an Effective Communication System

                 8    Group III- Problem Solving and Decision Making

                15    Group IV- Creating a Positive Climate and Culture

                22    Group V - Human Resources and Community Relations

       Dec.  29    Guest Speaker: Accountability Systems (State and Federal)                             

                   6    Texes Review and review for Final Exam

                 13    Final Exam

         SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT:

         You will write three (3), four page (content) papers on topics related to the School

         Principalship. The papers are due on the specified syllabus dates. Topics can be

         selected from the course outline or from topics agreed upon with the professor.

         Please know that good organization of your ideas and proper grammar are not only

         very important to me, but all educational stakeholders expect their leaders to write

         well. Do your best.

           Papers (3)                 15% each             45%

           Presentation              25%                     25%

           Class Participation    10%                     10%

           Final Exam                20%                     20%

           TOTAL                                                 100%

1.1  create a campus culture that sets high expectations, promotes learning and provides intellectual stimulation for self, students, and staff

1.2  ensure parents and other staff members of the community are an integral part of    

            the campus culture.

1.3  Implement strategies to ensure the development of collegial relationships and   

effective collaboration

1.4  use strategies for involving all stakeholders in planning processes to ensure collaborative development of shared campus vision focused on teaching and learning

1.7 Align financial, human and material resources to support implementation of a  

campus vision

1.8 establish procedures to assess and modify implementation plans to ensure   

      achievement of the campus vision.

1.9 support innovative thinking and risk taking within the school community and  

     view unsuccessful experiences as learning opportunities

1.10 acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of students, staff, parents and  

       community members toward realization of the campus vision.

5.3 create conditions that encourage staff, students, families/caregivers and the

      community to strive to achieve the campus vision

5.10 Analyze the implications of various factors (e.g., staffing patterns, class  

        scheduling formats, school organizational structures, student discipline

        practices) for teaching and learning.

6.7 engage in ongoing professional development activities to enhance one’s own

      knowledge and skills and to model lifelong learning.

9.2 apply strategies for ensuring the safety of students and personnel and for

      addressing emergencies and security concerns.

9.3 Develop and implement procedures for crisis planning and for responding to  

      crises.