As you sit at your desk behind the door ominously marked “Principal’s Office,” you are suddenly struck with a feeling of terror: What have you gotten yourself into? Being a principal and essentially being the leader of a school is a difficult job filled with responsibility and stress. Before you panic, you should know that most principals survive the first year. However, Your First Year as a Principal will help make the first year easier, providing you with all the information you did not learn in school.
In this new, extensively researched book, first-year principals will learn how to deal with teachers, how to step out from behind the previous principal’s shadow, how to make changes without changing too much too soon, how to deal with parents and students, how to deal with the feelings of loneliness and unpopularity, how to handle the piles of paperwork that never seem to shrink, how to become accustomed to the workload, how to find a mentor, how to write important letters, how to plan for public relations, and how to obtain feedback.
Additionally, you will learn the common mistakes first-year principals make. You will learn about how everything falls on your shoulders and how to handle that responsibility. You will also learn how to build strong relationships with teachers and staff, how to pick your battles, how to have confidence in yourself, how to boost staff morale, how to discipline students, how to use the staff to your advantage, and how to deal with conflict.
Ultimately, you will clearly understand what comes with being a principal. You will be able to clarify and define your roles, expectations, and responsibilities. We will provide you with advice and tips from novice and veteran principals who have all been in your position. Whether you are the principal of a small, large, public, private, urban, rural, or suburban school, Your First Year as a Principal will be an indispensable companion. With the help of this book, you will not only survive, but you will enthusiastically look forward to your sophomore year.
Interesting and Informative
Entering the principal’s office for the first time, as the head administrator of a school, can be an intimidating experience. But thanks to this book, everything (yes, everything!) has been covered in detail, leaving no room for a lack of confidence. The author has clearly spent a great deal of time analyzing the challenges a new principal faces, and has outlined a clear and concise plan of action. Although the book is divided into sections for easy reference, it’s best to read the pages in order. There is a progressive series of events and issues that may follow the first days in the role of principal. These suggested and proven strategies stand ready to be put to immediate and effective use.
While the focus of the principal is on the education and safety of the students, a myriad of other responsibilities often threaten to change this view. The author truly understands the often overwhelming thoughts that race through a principal’s mind in a single day, and offers pertinent advice. Specific subjects like dealing with the staff, creating a vision, prioritizing problems and enacting a richer communication between faculty and students are all examined, with possible solutions suggested. A bibliography is also included for further study.
Yet, perhaps the best part of this book is the advice of other principals. While quotes from these administrators are scattered throughout the book, the author includes an in-depth interview with several former and acting principals. They all contribute their combined years of actual experience, speaking confidently and compassionately. After reading this segment of the book, the reader will know beyond a doubt that while the office of principal is demanding, it’s also doable. The courses of action that these principals have taken show both the pros and cons, carving a path for the new administrator to walk.
Tena Green’s book is refreshingly honest, giving new principals both the encouragement and the exhortation they will need.
Comment by Joyce Handzo — April 8, 2009 @ 9:40 am
The first time a new principal sits in his or her office an overwhelming sense of responsibility takes over, and they can feel as if they’re tackling school administration alone. Tena Green’s book explores the necessity of creating a proactive team of teachers, parents, and community in order for a principal to work effectively. She uses keen insight to touch upon personal feelings and emotions of first year principals, and discusses ways to overcome insecurities. Her book strongly stresses that a large part of a principal’s job is forming and maintaining relationships with teachers, students, parents, community leaders, school administrators, and the media. College courses don’t usually cover interpersonal skills for principals, so Tena Green gives insight and advice on how to form and maintain these relationships.
As a former teacher’s assistant, intervention specialist, and school secretary, Tena has experienced many of the situations discussed in the book. Tena discusses curriculum and student achievement and how new principals can best assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current curriculum and teaching methods. The information about how school budgets affect a principal’s ability to fire a poor performing teacher is very insightful. The ideas and tips for teacher improvements are practical and easily put into action by a first year principal.
The last chapter of the book is a question and answer session with new and veteran principals. This chapter is great because it gives advice and stories straight from the source. The questions she asks cover a wide range of topics, from how principals determine that their school is a success to questions about crises, such as school shootings or bomb threats. Any new principal reading this book can finish the last chapter feeling like they learned something, if not many things, that they didn’t know before.
Comment by rhyahcf — April 15, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
In this book, Tena Green takes readers on an inside tour of the personal trials and tribulations of a new school principal. The power, control and authority that so many associate with school principals is often times a myth. Just like everyone else—the principal has his or her first day of school as well. The halls are longer than they seem, classrooms are a challenge to find and faces all seem mesh together—these are some of the thoughts rushing though a new principals mind—much like that of a new student or teacher. Tena Green offers a refreshing view on what it’s really like fitting in with both students, faculty and a community as a whole in this eye opening book “Your first year as a Principal: Everything you need to know that they do not teach you in School.”
Who are these leaders that guide faculty with sound advice and direct students into their future? Explore in-depth interviews with veteran principals, educational leaders and learn from their tips as well as their mistakes. This book also takes a personal look into the everyday challenges that a principal must face, including living up to the expectations of prior principals and leaders in the school district. This book is a must read for principals fresh out of college, those transferring from another school or students and teachers who wonder what the qualities are that make a good principal.
This book also covers important, yet helpful elements pertaining to new principals. Examples include tactical tasks involving classroom and student/teacher observation, long and short term goals for the school and establishing public relationships throughout the community.Tena Green also gives new principals the tips and techniques that they need to succeed and have a successful career in education. Safety, communication and emergency preparedness are also important elements that are covered in this book.
For those who want to gain a solid insight into the world of a principal—including the ups and downs and how to cope with everyday challenges—this book will close the gap on many misconceptions and theories. This book offers an insightful read for not only school principals but those who are a part of the educational community.
I give this book three stars. I feel the book is both informative and personal—exploring the inside career life of a school principal. This is the perfect coffee table book for principals and educators as a source of sharing and reflection.
Comment by Julie Boehlke — April 29, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Here former substitute secretary, teacher’s aide, and intervention specialist Green, who also is a novelist (The Catalyst, A Woman’s Touch, X-30), provides first-year principals and some principals in their positions longer with a guide to surviving and making their first years as school leaders easier and more effective. Green attempts to present new school executives with all the information that they did not learn in school as well as with the advice of veteran principals. In Chapters 1-3, she lays a plan for new school administrators, discussing how they need to assess the situations in which they find themselves, analyze the gaps between where their schools are and where they should be, and move forward to initiate and effect changes. In Chapter 4, Green briefly covers laws and litigation affecting the administration of schools, including the No Child Left Behind Act (2007), the Individuals with Disabilities Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She includes a section on politics in education and the influence of various entities such as legislatures, special interest groups, tax payers, the media, superintendents, teachers unions, parents, private enterprises, and more. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 encompass various topics not limited to the responsibilities of principals– dealing with teachers, parents, students, and the media—closing the gap, and end results. Chapter 8, the longest chapter, organized in a question- and- answer format, enables Green to set forth the advice of veteran principals in response to her questions on many subjects. Not a how- to- or step- by- step manual, this book provides new school leaders with the general overview and preliminary guidelines that they need to get their jobs done and be successful. It also presents some great advice from experienced school leaders. Well- researched and concisely written by a non-educator who has worked in schools in a variety of roles, this publication will serve as a useful companion to providing valuable insight and peace-of-mind. New principals should read it from cover-to-cover and learn as much as they can from it. While some new school administrators may wish to keep a copy of this publication on or close to their desks, the format and content may make this book slightly unwieldy as a reference tool or handbook. Recommended for first- year principals as well as for school and public library book collections (4 stars).
Comment by C. A. Lajos — May 4, 2009 @ 7:33 pm
Much of what school principals know about how to be successful in their role is not covered in initial training, and generally learned the hard way. Having a resource to understand how to communicate with students, teachers, staff and other constituencies, as well as deal with the challenges, and situations principals often find themselves facing is a good reason to pick up this book.
“Your First Year as Principal: Everything You Need to Know that They Do Not Teach You in School” offers valuable insights into what is expected of today’s new principals.It provides clear, practical instruction on how to meet the needs of students, develop academic standards, maintain an informal atmosphere, establish priorities, set school goals, start leadership mentoring programs, and work closely with teachers on developing curriculum programs and school objectives. The book also includes ways to manage time and stress in challenging academic environments, and also balance work demands with having a personal life. I highly recommend this book for every aspiring school principal, current school principal, and any prospective school leader considering such work. You must also read this book if you are a parent, teacher and general reader who needs to understand how school principals embrace lifelong learning. Exceptionally well written, the book combines advice and plenty of real-life cases with analyses by experienced, knowledgeable and exceptional school leaders. I was particularly impressed with the following parts of the book: “It’s important as a leader to be seen. Don’t hide in your office sitting behind your desk. Make yourself visible. Walk the halls. Introduce yourself. Watch. Observe. Learn. Get to know the atmosphere. Be a role model. On the whole this book provides some very valuable information, even for someone with previous professional educational experience. You won’t be disappointed.
Comment by Kathryn Radeff — July 29, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
Because of my education background, I’m intrigued by books for those in the industry. I like the engaging title and cover image of Your First Year as a Principal. School administrators bear a heavy load on their shoulders, and with the “safety of the students” as their top personal priority in schools today, I do not envy their enormous task.
Principals make a lasting impression. I remember one of my elementary principals; Miss Little, whose stature mirrored her name. She was a stern, small woman but deeply loved us kids.
Your First Year as a Principal is a practical, book of wisdom written by one who has “been there, done that.” The author provides a good explanation and insight into the ripple effect of the No Child Left Behind Act. As for standardize testing, he says, “The best leaders have shown that if they ignore the panic button about standardized testing and screaming department heads insisting they bring test scores up, and simply continue to assure that their students have the best education they can possibly give them, the test scores fall into place naturally.”
I appreciate the admonition for principals to share the workload and not try to micro-manage, “…let your personnel know that you not only need help but you welcome it.”
From outlining good staff and how to rid the school of bad staff to knowing your limits to measuring success, Your First Year as a Principal is a tome principals would be wise to keep with them as reference throughout their first years as a school leader.
Brenda Nixon, M.A.
Author of the award-winning The Birth to Five Book: Confident Childrearing Right from the Start
Comment by Brenda Nixon — September 23, 2009 @ 1:59 pm