More than 50% of America's schools today exist in rural settings. This book addresses the distinctiveness of rural school leaders, identifies issues encountered by administrators, faculty, and students, and concludes by proposing new standards for rural schools in general and their leaders. This book will be of special interest to everyone involved in the operation of a rural school district.

Examining the critical first days and weeks of the school year, this book is directed to the new and aspiring headteacher. It addresses key issues of succession, socialization, and leadership. It also provides qualitative feedback from new and seasoned headteacher, identifying common mistakes to avoid, and discussing critical skills acquisition.

To combat the growing challenge of teacher attrition, induction experts Brock and Grady offer a multiyear and step-by-step induction program that is not only aimed at orienting beginning teachers to the profession, but also outlines how to retain and develop these promising teachers for career long success.

"As I read this book, I found aspects of myself?my personal and professional behavior?on almost every page! I was able to put the coping strategies in the book to immediate use with little effort and great results! A must when our time is so limited."
Kaye L. Peery, Administrator
Springer Municipal Schools
Springer, NM

A unique and useful new guide that offers school leaders at all levels an important opportunity for professional development and personal reflection.

20 Biggest Mistakes Principals Make and How to Avoid them is specifically designed for principals as a means of reflecting on their personal behaviour and experiences as principal. The mistakes reported in this book reflect a collection of conversations with teachers, administrators, and the author's own personal experiences as both a teacher and a principal. The scenarios concern mistakes that a principal can and should avoid, and suggests strategies for avoiding some of the mistakes other principals have made. The book divides these mistakes into six categories: People Skills, People, Principal, Job, Tasks, Personal Issues, and Fatal Attractions. Each of these scenarios is designed to illustrate the mistakes that can occur in each area.

Designed to promote effective leadership, this book is packed with practical tips and key strategies for new and experienced principals. Each of the tips includes practical ideas, research-based information, fresh perspectives gathered from interviews with successful principals, and suggested action steps. The book is divided into four sections of strategies: Section 1- Personal, Section 2- Managerial, Section 3- Community, and Section 4-Teaching and Learning.

'A straightforward and easy read about what it takes to become a tech savvy leader in today's educational setting.' - Nathan Flansburg, Principal Valentine Hills Elementary School, Arden Hills, MN 'The topic is timely and this book is practical and relevant to K-12 schools across the country. The tables, checklists, rubrics, research-based models, and websites are terrific.' - Minjuan Wang, Associate Professor of Educational Technology San Diego State University Don't just ride the technology train - drive it Today's children would rather text than talk, use "apps" instead of maps, and carry their phones, computers, cameras, and stereos in their palms. They need an active classroom, interdisciplinary curriculum, and project-based instruction that mirrors their lives outside the classroom. This book offers a cut-to-the-chase approach for busy principals who want to successfully lead with technology for enhanced student learning. This helpful resource shows school leaders how to Develop a technology leadership team Implement professional development Assess technical needs, student learning, and teacher performance Address cyber safety effectively Included are field-tested tools in digestible "bytes" that bridge theory and practice, including tips on how to build capacity by investing 15 minutes each day. Staying ahead of the technology curve is essential. A variety of vignettes from principals will show you how to guide the way as your school's chief instructional leader.

Praise for the Second Edition:'Finally, a book that is realistic and provides superb assistance. A must for every principal.'uRonald Jockel, Executive Director, Phi Delta Kappa International'Compelling rationale and practical steps for developing a firstuyear teacher induction program.'uLinda L. Lyman, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Leadership and Human Development, Bradley UniversityHelp new teachers be the best they can be!Beginning teachers are often filled with selfudoubt and questions regarding school culture and principals' expectations. From FirstuYear to First-Rate: Principals Guiding Beginning Teachers, Third Edition helps you answer teachers' questions and gain strategies to prevent the isolation that many new instructors experience.Updated to meet the challenges facing new teachers today, this revision of the bestseller helps administrators develop a firstuyear induction plan to help teachers succeed. This vital resource provides:Ideas for initial orientationStrategies for measuring program successA greater focus on practical applications for the classroom You hold the key to the professional development of your teachers. Use it to unlock their potential for growth!

To combat the growing challenge of teacher attrition, induction experts Brock and Grady offer a multiyear and step-by-step induction program that is not only aimed at orienting beginning teachers to the profession, but also outlines how to retain and develop these promising teachers for career long success.

"Refreshing and enlightening! This book is for the teacher concerned about his career, the school administrator concerned about staff morale, and the college instructor concerned about the preparation of aspiring educators. Finally, it is an excellent book for school board members and state level policy makers in understanding the challenges facing school administrators."
Jack McKay, Interim Dean
College of Education and Professional Studies
Central Washington University, Ellensburg

Any administrator concerned about keeping good teachers motivated will want this book. It is an essential guide for principals, school administrators, staff development programs, graduate courses in educational administration?and an inspiration for every teacher!

'This book reflects a true understanding of the different personalities administrators face and clearly outlines what each leader can do to establish a positive environment for their employees and students. This is one book no administrator should be without'-Patricia Bowman, Retired Principal, Los Angeles Unified School District, Adjunct Professor, University of California, Los Angeles Unconstructive staff behaviours can disrupt a thriving school environment. School leaders need positive, generative communication strategies that can defuse negativity and inspire teachers to change their behaviour and become contributing members of the learning community. From Difficult Teachers...to Dynamic Teamwork examines the underlying basis of problematic behaviours and provides proactive, proven strategies for building teamwork and a positive school culture. Leaders will discover strategies for enhancing their interpersonal skills, determining if their own behaviour is contributing to the problem, and encouraging behaviour change in teachers and staff. Based on interviews with more than 50 experienced principals, this valuable resource connects content to practice via: - Key tools, practical resources, organizational charts, and behaviour assessment forms - Sage advice and quotations from experienced educators - Sample dialogues to help identify behaviour challenges - "Take Action" sections for specific implementation strategies Maximize the effectiveness of your staff by building a culture of shared leadership, collegiality, and teamwork.

"As I read this book, I found aspects of myself?my personal and professional behavior?on almost every page! I was able to put the coping strategies in the book to immediate use with little effort and great results! A must when our time is so limited."
Kaye L. Peery, Administrator
Springer Municipal Schools
Springer, NM

A unique and useful new guide that offers school leaders at all levels an important opportunity for professional development and personal reflection.

'In one relatively small volume, the authors have organized information on just about everything a school leader needs to get a well-designed program off the ground and make sure it will get better as time goes on' - Harriet A. Egertson, Early Childhood Consultant Early Childhood Assessment Consortium, Council of Chief State School Officers Prepare our youngest students for future learning success with effective ECE programs! To ensure that young children are ready to enter kindergarten, elementary schools are becoming increasingly involved in early childhood education (ECE), and more and more principals have to deal with ECE issues. Now this practical manual shows principals what successful ECE programs look like-and how to achieve quality results in their schools and communities. The authors provide an inside view of the field, touching on key areas of operation and discussing ways to avoid common pitfalls. Blending research-based content with practical applications, this accessible guide helps principals and other administrators: - Gain a foundational understanding of how very young children learn - Create quality environments and practices for teaching early learners - Provide the kind of feedback staff need to improve - Work successfully with ECE agencies and providers - Easily implement the strategies outlined using reproducible forms, templates, and checklists This comprehensive resource presents the information principals need to become key players in educating our nation's youngest learners!