Essentials for New Principals

Dr. Richard Sorenson is professor emeritus at The University of Texas at El Paso where he served as department chairperson and director of the Principal Preparation Program. During his career he has taught school-based budgeting, school personnel, educational law, and numerous other administrative leadership courses.

Dr. Richard Sorenson has skillfully created an introduction for new principals. His compelling and well organized Essentials for New Principals narrative is loaded with interesting stories, captivating case studies, and helpful examples. New school leaders who put Dr. Sorenson’s principles into practice will be successful, respected, and appreciated.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1The New Principal: The Administrative Role – Then and NowThe New Principal of YesteryearThe New Principal – Yesterday and Today: Has Anything Changed but the Date on the Calendar?New Principal Expectations, Skill Sets, and Attributes: A Tale of Then and NowThe Attributes: A Brief IntroductionFinal ThoughtsDiscussion QuestionsCase Study Application: How Are Our New School Leaders Doing, Liz?Application QuestionsChapter 2Step #1 – Advance Critical New Principal Skills: Develop a Plan for SuccessDeveloping a Plan of Action for SuccessCritical Leader Skills Identified: What’s a New Principal to Do?Practical Perspectives for New Principals: Skills AcquisitionHow to Gain the Required New Principal Leadership SkillsKeys to Personal Growth and DevelopmentDelving into the Research LiteratureExamining the Research Literature Requires a Systematic and Logical ApproachPresenting at Conferences: A Method of Advancing Self and Promoting FacultyWriting for Publication: Express Expertise and Inform OthersOvercoming IsolationFinal ThoughtsDiscussion QuestionsCase Study Application: We Need to Set a Few Things Straight!Application QuestionsChapter 3Step #2 – The Leadership Absolutes Vital to Confidently Experiencing Todays Principalship, Part 1: How to Identify, Acknowledge, and Incorporate the Seven Absolutes Essential to New Principal SuccessRecognize and Know the AbsolutesThe New Principalship: Seven Leadership AbsolutesAbsolute #1: The New Principal Serving as Lead LearnerAbsolute #2: The New Principal Directing as Instructional LeaderSpecial Education and the Inclusive SchoolProgram Supervision and EvaluationIt’s a Wild New World Out There and Adaptation is EssentialAbsolute #3: The New Principal Surrounding Self with a “Forward-Thinking,” “Can-Do,” and “Ready-To-Get-It-Done” Leadership TeamAbsolute #4: The New Principal Supervising School PersonnelLeading Personnel is Hard WorkStress Makes for Hard Work and By-the-Way, Who Needs It?Interacting with the BestInteracting with Those in Need of AssistanceSupervision of Marginal TeachersEngaging with Teacher ResistersManaging Personnel and Adverse CircumstancesAbsolute #5: The New Principal Managing School OperationsAbsolute #6: The New Principal Ensuring a Safe and Secure Learning CommunityAbsolute #7: The New Principal Enduring Emergent ForcesA Point to PonderFinal ThoughtsDiscussion QuestionsCase Study Application: Is the Challenge an Opportunity or is the Opportunity a Challenge?Application QuestionsChapter 4Step #2 – The Leadership Absolutes Vital to Confidently Experiencing Todays Principalship, Part 2: Absolute #7 – How to Successfully Endure, Transcend, and Survive the Seven Emergent Forces Challenging the New Principal RoleThe Emergent Forces: What Are They? Who Are They? Why Are They?Seven Emerging Forces1. Pandemic After-Effects2. Teacher Shortages, Quiet Quitting, and the Great Resignation3. Activist Parents4. Incivility, the Lack of Public Decorum, and Survival TacticsNew Principal Survival Guide for Success5. Technology Redefined: The Age of Digital Leading, Teaching and Learning – Innovative Today, Obsolete Tomorrow!6. Social Media Effects7. Controversial IssuesRacism and White Superiority in SchoolsWhat’s a New Principal to Do?Now is the Time!Final ThoughtsDiscussion QuestionsCase Study Application:Standing Firm and Facing the Force of the Emerging WindsChapter 5Step #3 – Learn the Ropes: New Principal Expectations, Position Responsibilities, and Skill Sets to Positively Influence New Principal LeadershipNew Principal Expectations: An In-Depth Description and ExaminationPosition Responsibilities for the New PrincipalThe Difference: Expectations vs. ResponsibilitiesWhat Set of Skills Positively Influence New Principal Leadership?Seven Key Skills to Positively Influence New Principal Leadership The Makings of an Outstanding New PrincipalFinal ThoughtsDiscussion QuestionsCase Study Application: I’m Overwhelmed – The Expectations are Crushing, and the Responsibilities are Inundating!Application QuestionsChapter 6Step #4 – Acknowledge and Understand School Norms, Traditions, and Customs: What New Principals Must Know to SurviveWhat are Norms, Traditions, and Customs from a New Principal Perspective? Each Term Defined, Described, and ExemplifiedWhat a New Principal Must Know and UnderstandWhich Norms, Traditions, or Customs are Institutionally Perpetual? Should They Be Changed?How a Can New Principal Make Changes?How School Norms, Traditions, and Customs Can Dictate a School’s Climate and CultureHow to Change and Improve Culture and ClimateHow a New Principal Can Survive the Changing of Norms, Traditions, and CustomsChanging Norms, Traditions, and Customs by Changing Climate and Culture: Seven Survival TacticsCareer Longevity: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow!Final ThoughtsDiscussion QuestionsCase Study Application: That Nest of Hornets is the Reason the Stinging is so Incessant!Application QuestionsChapter 7Step #5 – Recognize and Value Essential Characteristics of the Learning Community: Factors New Principals Must Know and UnderstandWhat is a Learning Community?Who Makes Up the Membership of a Learning Community? Roles and ResponsibilitiesPosition Responsibilities for the New Principal: A Learning Community MemberPosition Importance is Relative: It All Depends on Who You Ask!What are Essential Characteristics of a Learning Community? How Do Certain Crucial and Fundamental Factors Impact a New Principal’s Relationship with a Learning Community?Developing a Rapport and Establishing a Relationship within a Learning CommunityFive Key Tenets Central to a New Principal Establishing an Effective Learning Community and Building a Great Personal and Professional First ImpressionHow New Principals Fail but SucceedRemember This and Not That!Final ThoughtsDiscussion QuestionsCase Study Application: He Doesn’t Have Enough Sense to Come in Out of the Rain! Or, How Not to Build a Relationship with the Learning CommunityApplication QuestionsChapter 8Step #6 – Appreciate and Incorporate Policies, Regulations, and Procedures: New Principal Legal ResponsibilitiesWhy All the Legalese?New Principal Legal ResponsibilitiesSchool Board PoliciesWhat are School Board Policies?School Board Policies and New Principal ResponsibilitiesAdministrative RegulationsCampus ProceduresFinal ThoughtsDiscussion QuestionsCase Study Application: Yes, I Heard What He Said. But He Said He Followed School Board Policy!Application QuestionsChapter 9Step #7 – Enhance Personal Attributes Critical to a New Principal’s Success: The Leadership ProtocolDirectionsScoringScoring InterpretationsFinal ThoughtsEpilogue: Be Aware, Be Prepared, Never Despair, and Let Your Light ShineReferencesIndexAbout the Author