The Principal: three Keys to Maximizing Impact, By Michael Fullan

The Principal: three Keys to Maximizing Impact

Michael Fullan

• Criticises over emphasis on Principals leading the learning
• Importance of building capacity, rather than micro-managing
• Refers to researchers who conclude that Principals as having an indirect, yet important influence on student learning:
• Viviane Robinson - BES (leading teacher learning and development), with principals learning alongside and from
• Helen Timperley - "Who is my class?"
• Ken Leithwood - focus on instruction and ensuring collaborative working conditions, such as time for collaboration
• Tony Bryke - professional capacity (individually and collectively), school climate (ensuring safety and orderliness in the aid of learning),parent and community ties  and instructional practices that engage students in relation to key learning goals.
• Hire teachers who have at least four core qualities;
1. High moral commitment relative to the learning of ALL students - regardless of background
2. strong instructional practice
3. desire to work collaboratively
4. commitment to continuous learning
• - If some of these qualities are waning at first, it is the principal's job to foster them in people, once hired
• relational trust
• Appraisal should:
• be well organised - based on best standards and effective ways of assessing them
• focus on development rather than and evaluative, punitive stance
• make the learning culture of the school the main event - performance appraisal serves this shared work
• ensure professional development and learning are fundamental, on-going features
• feedback that is built into purposeful interaction between and among teachers and the principal - eg collective analysis of student learning and practices that lead to greater learning