Did Beatrice ignore the work remaining to be done? Of course not. But unlike Beatrice, I believe that sometimes when leaders are faced with situations that are not outright successes, they tend to focus only on the failure to the detriment of their work together with teachers and staff. — I have even observed principals missing the opportunity to celebrate unqualified successes with their staffs. What a sad circumstance for the teachers and staff members who worked so hard to achieve them! Every school has many small achievements that deserve praise It can be easy to forget that there are many important measures besides high stakes testing to be celebrated. These can include: who have been reclassified •English learners education students who no longer need special education •Special education students who are being mainstreamed •Special and special education teachers who are teaching collaboratively •Regular who have reduced or eliminated tardies •Students who have reduced or eliminated absenteeism •Students who have improved their grades •Students school students for college eligibility •High taking classes (“a-g requirements”) Quick wins improve student learning in many ways Anecdotal successes are also important. A struggling teacher who finally masters a new set of instructional strategies after extensive professional learning and coaching deserves the private kudos. principal’s What has been are important to celebrate after the staff as a whole has termed “quick wins” undertaken a new instructional initiative. Whether public or private, the most effective principals are those who regularly celebrate successes large and small for teachers and staff, students, — — and the school as a whole.
Did Beatrice ignore the work remaining to be done? Of course not. But unlike Beatrice, I believe that sometimes when leaders are faced with situations that are not outright successes, they tend to focus only on the failure — to the detriment of their work together with teachers and staff. I have even observed principals missing the opportunity to celebrate unqualified successes with their staffs. What a sad circumstance for the teachers and staff members who worked so hard to achieve them! Every school has many small achievements that deserve praise It can be easy to forget that there are many important measures besides high stakes testing to be celebrated. These can include: •English learners who have been reclassified •Special education students who no longer need special education •Special education students who are being mainstreamed •Regular and special education teachers who are teaching collaboratively •Students who have reduced or eliminated tardies •Students who have reduced or eliminated absenteeism •Students who have improved their grades •High school students taking classes (“a-g requirements”) for college eligibility Quick wins improve student learning in many ways Anecdotal successes are also important. A struggling teacher who finally masters a new set of instructional strategies after extensive professional learning and coaching deserves the principal’s private kudos. What has been termed “quick wins” are important to celebrate after the staff as a whole has undertaken a new instructional initiative. Whether public or private, the most effective principals are those who regularly celebrate successes — large and small — for teachers and staff, students, and the school as a whole.
Principal-as-Instructional-Coach.docx