In 2003, Southmoreland was a seventh- and eighth-grade junior high school in the warning category under NCLB for failing to make adequate yearly progress. Scores on state tests were grim--only 39% of the students were proficient or advanced in math and 55% in reading. Two years later, the combined improvement in reading and math scores resulted in…

This article presents an interview with Michael Foran, the 2012 MetLife/NASSP National High School Principal of the Year. In the interview, Mr. Foran explains what it means to be a school leader and how it has influenced his work at New Britain (CT) High School. He also describes the ways he is working toward getting all students at New Britain…

Students who are in foster care need principals who are informed about policy, aware of their needs, and willing to be advocates for them. Multiple school placements often result in significant gaps in the education of students in foster care. If they also have disabilities, they may lose special programs and services when they change placements.…

This article shares the author's experience in writing a school improvement plan. The author and other department chairs were charged to develop a plan that would guide their decision making and professional development throughout the school year. They were also charged with developing department goals and working with individual teachers to…

Originally drawing from a "country club" community in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Creekland Middle School has undergone significant changes in the past decade. The percentage of students receiving free and reduced-price lunch has risen--and continues to do so. This year, 46% of its student population is economically disadvantaged, up 20%…

Research has shown that students' social, emotional, and behavioral health affects their academic achievement. This has enormous implications for teachers, school mental health providers, and the students themselves. A student who is hungry, disengaged, preoccupied, or behaviorally disruptive simply is not going to respond as well to even the best…

In classrooms and schools across the United States, educators struggle to meet the requirements of standards-based reform that was enacted by federal legislation. Secondary schools can use coteaching with mixed-ability groups of students to meet increased curriculum demands and provide mandated strategies and accommodations for students with…

In May 2004, a group of 25 teachers at Jenks High School in Oklahoma received an invitation to the Summer 2004 Advance. Although many organizations hold retreats for their employees, the administrators wanted to send a different message: we're not retreating; we're advancing! Like many states, Oklahoma suffered a school budget crisis during the…

There is no one intervention that promotes a supportive learning environment in every setting, but research has revealed some of the organizing principles that support substantive school improvement efforts (Cohen, 2006). A school climate assessment provides an opportunity to engage in many of these school climate improvement efforts, although it…

As the principal of Baruch College Campus High School in New York City, the author wanted to help her teachers communicate with one another and put structures in place to develop the vision of the school while giving teachers opportunities for input and growth. After conducting a needs assessment, she found that teachers who had an ally in the…

If a school's goal is to improve the quality of the educational environment that it provides for its students--one that encourages creative thinking and problem solving, cooperative learning, and higher levels of thinking--then a principal must create the same type of atmosphere for those individuals most directly responsible for the success of…

As principal of Ernest Everett Just Middle School in Mitchellville, Maryland, the author has fostered a management philosophy that draws from the unity and simplicity of two different cultures: village life in Africa and the gemba kaizen business philosophy of Japan. Blended together, the African and gemba kaizen activities have transformed the…

In an organizationally competent school, everyone has a role that defines his or her obligations and everyone is part of a reciprocal relationship that spells out mutual obligations. Reciprocal role relationships enable informal communities of practice to bubble up and institutionalized collaborative cultures to trickle down. When such informal…

A recent survey found that 67% of principals believe that school of education leadership programs are out of touch with what it takes to run a school district. Only 4% praise their graduate studies, and a majority say that mentoring and guidance from people they work with has the greatest benefit for them. In this article, the author asked three…

Nationwide, school district administrators are puzzling about how to increase the number of high quality principal candidates. Some districts have started programs to grow their own administrators. These districts, sometimes in conjunction with university programs, are providing training and mentoring for future school leaders. Some districts are…