Principalship

Principals have the power, authority, and position to impact the climate of the school, but many lack the feedback to improve. If principals are highly skilled, they can develop feelings of trust, open communications, collegiality, and promote effective feedback. Effective leaders must not forget the parable of The Blind Men and the Elephant. If principals are blind to critical information about their schools, then they could make erroneous decisions. In the complex and dynamic environment of schools, all principals need to understand effective leadership behaviors and teachers' perceptions of their behaviors. Principals must know and understand how to provide the foundation for creating an atmosphere conducive to change. Leaders must be able to correctly envision the needs of their teachers, empower them to share the vision, and enable them to create an effective school climate.