February 22, 2012

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Requirements for Principals

June 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many teachers may aspire to leadership or administration positions, especially given the increased authority, responsibility and salary potential that principals enjoy. However, becoming a principal may be more difficult than one might think. Consider the skills that are necessary to succeed with this job title and compare these skills to those demonstrated by the best teachers. There seems to be very little overlap. Principals need to be able to consider the needs of the faculty, staff, students and the school as a whole. In addition, becoming a principal may be easier if planned for during one’s own education.

In addition to a teacher’s certification and related bachelor’s degree, most candidates for a principal position must also hold a master’s degree in educational administration. This requirement adds another year or two onto the already-stringent coursework and may also include an internship. Interns are asked to assist existing principals in their administrative duties while they learn on-the-job about meeting state requirements and managing staff.

The educational requirements for principals may vary considerably from state to state, and even from one school district to the next. Students who are considering a career in education and believe that they may eventually decide to pursue a principal position should plan accordingly. Working the required courses in to the curriculum while in the undergraduate years is much easier than beginning a master’s degree program while in the workforce. Also, these students will have a much better picture of what being a principal really means if they are aware of the additional challenges early on.

 


 

Filed Under: Administration, Discipline Tagged With: , ,

Dealing with School Violence

May 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Change Begins Here. 

Image by Self-portrait Girl via Flickr

There is no escaping it. For reasons that may sometimes be difficult to understand, school violence is prevalent. School violence has taken the lives or destroyed the futures of several youngsters as well as education providers. While many would like to point fingers at a faulty education system, the fact is that the social environment, home atmosphere and the child’s own psychological makeup can be contributing factors. If one were to try to deal with this issue, it has to be on multiple levels – it is the responsibility of the school, parents, teachers, members of society and all who live together in a community.

Schools have taken several steps to help deal with school violence in an effective manner. Teachers and education providers have to be sympathetic to students to a certain extent. They are at a volatile age and are undergoing many changes both physically and mentally. Life can be a series of turmoil for them and during school hours, it is up to the teachers to spot those that need some extra attention.

As parents, you must try to recognize violent tendencies in your child and address them. This does not mean just admonishing your child and forbidding them to do things. Rather, you should try to talk to them about what could possibly result in such violence. Anger management is not just for adults but for children as well.

For those who have already suffered the brutality of school violence, coping is just as important too. This must be done personally with family members as well in school among staff and students.

Filed Under: Administration, Discipline, School Violence Tagged With: , ,

The Power of School Boards

May 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

School boards are an important aspect of the education system. Rules, regulations, and administration of schools are decided at this level. This is also a singular means of allowing the public to get involved in the process of education and shaping the people of tomorrow. The decisions made at school board levels are those that influence the education policy at higher levels. These school boards have also played integral roles in shaping student testing means as well as graduation needs.

As far as the workings of school boards go, there are certain aspects that are a given. All school boards have the responsibility of creating a vision for their school. This allows schools to have a better perspective going forward. Once this has been put in place, the next step would be to develop a mission for schools to work towards. This is where the beliefs and values of an educational institution can be developed.

These school boards also develop certain standards for each of the schools to function with. Schools can be tested on a regular basis to ensure that they live up to these expectations. It is how a certain level of accountability is placed on parents as well as educational institutions.

School boards also carry a responsibility towards ensuring that the area around a school and the culture in a school are well maintained. Considering the number of ethnic groups studying in schools today, keeping an eye on possible cultural influences is of vital importance. In order to be able to do all this and more, school boards are vested with legal and administrative powers of several kinds.

 

Filed Under: Administration, Education Tagged With: , ,

A Principal Responsibility

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As the leadership of the school goes so goes the school, could be an accurate statement as to the importance of the position held as that of principal of an educational institution.

School violence is not a rare occurrence any longer and must be an issue that is addressed early and at every level of grade within the educational system.

Being concerned, attentive and taking the pulse daily of the school is a necessary part of the duties of well connected principal.

Understanding the socio-economic structure of the community will help the principal in their ability to assess the potential for violence within their schools but cannot be taken as a sole indicator of it.

Violence in schools is and should be a concern of that of every educational institution where there is evidence of students being continually bullied.

Some children are singled out early on and bullied; this should be of concern and helped deal with the situation before the escalation of feelings become irreversible.

The initiation of hotlines is a tool and resource of information for a principal and can help diffuse potential problems.

Providing student programs that encourage talking and opportunities for expressing their emotions, issues and situations is a step in the right direction.

The responsibility of a principal as the leadership of the educational institution is not one of warden but of educator and example. But with the changing and sometimes volatile world we live in a principal’s responsibility is that of accountability where the safety of the children are concerned.

Addressing specific issues quickly and effectively will be an important factor in keeping the environment of the school one of a safe place. Staying in touch with faculty and listening closely to the students will help the principal to provide the strong leadership.

Filed Under: Administration, Education Tagged With: , ,

The Effects of Property Management on School Systems

February 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A city’s property management strategy often has a significant impact on how well its school system functions. Without a good property management strategy, school systems can become divided and ineffective.

The Effects of Improper Property Management

Ineffective property management can lead to inequality in a town. Some areas become known for poverty and crime while others become known for wealth and safety. Poor management can also cause urban sprawl, which makes it difficult for residents to move about the city efficiently. It can also cause white flight by encouraging affluent families to leave certain areas so that they can relocate in gated communities. As these problems become more pervasive, schools become segregated with poor minorities attending schools that do not receive much funding and white, affluent students attending schools that give them better opportunities to succeed.

The Effects of Improved Property Management

Schools serve their communities best property is managed well. Instead of letting white flight leave behind empty houses that quickly fall into disrepair, a Long Beach property management firm can make sure that the buildings stay in good shape. This encourages new residents to move into the empty homes.

Good property management also encourages people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities to live in the same area. This increases diversity within the schools and creates more opportunities for minorities and poor students to thrive.

As schools improve from effective property management, better opportunities are created for teachers that want to devote themselves to teaching children from all types of backgrounds. This, in turn, gives better options to individual students and creates a better educational system overall.

Taking Advantage of Good Property Management

It isn’t always easy for cities to implement good property management techniques. Without them, though, they often continue to struggle with unemployment, poverty and crime. Taking a rational approach to property management could offer so many benefits to residents throughout the city that it is worth going through the initial growing pains.

Filed Under: Administration, School Violence Tagged With: ,

Classroom Discipline and Cultural Differences

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Teaching a class comprised of students from many different cultures can be a challenge for a teacher. Not all cultures communicate or address conflict the same way. In some cultures, loudly and aggressively reprimanding a child is considered normal. In other cultures, the behavior of children is corrected through subtle suggestions and even mild teasing. For a teacher who is addressing a culturally diverse group of students, understanding these differences can make for a more manageable classroom.

Understanding Cultural Differences in the Classroom

In societies where people are all from the same culture, cultural sensitivity is a given. The norms are understood and agreed upon. However, in other societies where in a single classroom a teacher may be working with students of a dozen different nationalities and ethnicities, classroom management requires greater sensitivity to and understanding of individual cultures. When a teacher doesn’t make an effort to do this, his or her effectiveness as a disciplinarian can be greatly reduced. In these cases, possibilities for misunderstandings are also increased.

Diversity Training to Increase Order in the Classroom

Providing diversity training to teachers and administrators is an important part of creating order in the classroom and in the school. A teacher from a homogenous area who has moved to a more diverse inner city to teach might find herself unaccustomed to certain modes of communication. She might find that children are loud or more talkative than they were in her old area. Some of this has cultural roots and when a teacher does not know this, she might draw unfair assumptions about her students. Making sure that teachers have a solid understanding of the cultural backgrounds of their students helps to eliminate judgments and misunderstandings.

Developing cultural sensitivity, in general, is an important skill for teachers and administrators. When they show an appreciation and respect for various cultures, they set a good example for their students.

Filed Under: Administration, Discipline Tagged With: , ,

Crowd Sourcing for Volunteer Hours

February 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 10: Seventy-three-year-ol...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Many schools today are requiring their students to give back in some way. Whether your school requires a set number of volunteer hours to be put in before graduation, or it is only highly recommended that a student give back to the community, there are many ways that the students themselves may choose to help others in need. In the past, this was mostly done in person, at a shelter or other community service center. Today, though, students can even go online to help others in need.

There are many options to raise money to help people. With a micro charity, your students can set up a profile on a website that does crowd sourcing and raise money for the charity that they want to support. In some cases, this may be a well known charity, but in others, it may be that they choose to raise money for a specific charitable project that they want to do.

When you are choosing to allow this type of volunteer work and charity fundraising, you may want to set some boundaries with your students and teachers. Make it clear what will and will not count, how many hours each part of their project will count for, or whether they need to raise money for a traditional charity or a new project. No matter what rules you set in place, you will find that the students in your school are much more likely to give back with micro funding, rather than with traditional volunteering. With traditional volunteering, your students may not have the resources to do what they want to help out. With crowd sourcing, they will not need to find a ride, or give hours at a time. This gives them much more freedom to help others and give back to the community.

Filed Under: Administration, Discipline Tagged With: , ,

The Steps Involved in Becoming an Educational Administrator

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Educational administrators work in a variety of positions. They can become school principals, develop and evaluate curriculum for schools, or work for school boards administering and assessing educational programs. Becoming an administrator in an educational environment requires dedication and the completion of several requirements.

First Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

In almost all cases, educational administrators must first earn a bachelor’s degree to take on leadership roles in schools, colleges and universities. Majoring in education is a logical first step. However, you can study other topics for your bachelor’s degree and still become an educational administrator.

Get Teaching Experience

In many cases, teaching experience is first required before you can go on to become a school administrator. This type of experience is valuable for making you a stronger administrator. You will generally need a teaching certificate and, in many cases, a master’s degree. If you know that you definitely want to become a school administrator, focus on educational administration at the graduate level.

Gain Experience as an Administrator

To be a good educational administrator, you must develop leadership qualities. Although these qualities are innate in some people, most people need practice before they can effectively lead others. If you take the teaching route, ask the administrator of your school if you can serve on committees or serve in other leadership and administrative roles. Also, choose a graduate program in educational administration that has a hands-on approach and is well-connected with local school programs where you can gain important experience.

Look for Jobs as an Educational Administrator

If you have taught for several years, have a master’s degree and have taken on leadership roles, it’s time to pursue your ambition of becoming an administrator. Look for job opportunities in your community, nearby cities, and network as much as possible. Ask your school principal and other school administrators if they know of positions that would be a good fit for you.

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The Role of Educational Administrators in Online Learning

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Online learning is becoming an increasingly viable way for students to meet their learning needs. In some cases, studying online is more cost-effective for learners. A good online program pays close attention to the administrative aspects of delivering information and assessing student needs. An educational administrator plays a large role in ensuring that students are learning and the teaching system is truly effective.

Delivering a User-Friendly Platform

The role of students is to learn and teachers are tasked with teaching. Educational administrators in online learning environments have as their roles the responsibility of ensuring that all learning obstacles are eliminated. Choosing a user-friendly platform is an important role of educational administrators. A quality administrator will become familiar with a variety of online learning tools and choose the ones that ensure ease of use and clarity of communication.

Evaluating Programs and Processes

An educational administrator who is overseeing an online learning program must regularly evaluate the educational program and the effectiveness of the process for teachers and students. Are the students learning and excelling in the program? If not, are there programmatic or process changes that can be made to make sure they can get the most out of the learning environment? It may be that the program or mode of delivery is too stale or dull, leaving students bored and uninspired. A quality administrator can do his part to introduce new components into the program to increase learner enthusiasm.

Facilitating Communication Between Students and Teachers

Another role of an educational administrator in online learning is to make sure that sufficient communication is taking place between teachers and students. An administrator sometimes needs to step in to resolve any complaints or disagreements between students and teachers. In some cases, administrators also step in to clarify the roles and responsibilities of both teachers and students. In the event of online platform malfunctions, administrators are generally responsible for resolving matters.

Filed Under: Administration, Education Tagged With: , ,

Coping Strategies for Educational Administrators

February 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Working as an educational administrator is no easy task. Keeping a school running smoothly can create intense stress for even the most competent administrators. Demands from the school board, parents, teachers and students can sometimes mount to uncontrollable levels. You want to address the most essential issues on a regular basis. Here are a few coping strategies for managing the stresses of your job.

Prioritize Your Tasks

The ability to be organized and prioritize your tasks on a day-to-day basis is of the utmost importance.  On any given day, you may have to deal with complaints from parents, safety hazards in the school environment, student disciplinary issues and urgent questions from teachers. Some leaders struggle with trying to meet everyone’s needs at the same time. In many cases, this is not possible.

You have to strengthen your powers of discernment to know which tasks require your attention at any given moment. A parent’s plea for your attention may have to be sidelined as you deal with a more pressing issue that impacts the entire student body. Get in the habit of asking yourself on a regular basis whether the task you are focused on is truly a priority.

Delegate to Competent Individuals

Tasks that are not a priority can often be delegated. Identify staff members in the school who can help you. The school secretary may actually be an excellent problem solver. Consider assigning her more responsibilities in filtering student demands and teacher requests. Some school teachers may have aspirations to eventually become administrators. Empower them by delegating administrative tasks to help them build their skill sets.

Take Time Out

Even with prioritizing and delegating, stress can sometimes be unavoidable in educational settings. Be sure to take lunch breaks and vacations to help you recover. A relaxed administrator can often be much more effective than someone who is badly in need of a vacation.

Filed Under: Administration, Teachers Tagged With: , ,
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