21st Century Principal

For this week’s post, I wanted to think about what will the role of principal look like during the next 20 years.   What will be some of the challenges principals will face, and how the position of principal will evolve.

Today’s instability both locally (Wisconsin, New Jersey) and abroad (Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, etc) are ultimately going to lead to dramatic changes in education.  We are still in the midst of an economy that has the strength of a newborn foal struggling to stand up.  Every state government is going to figure out the best way possible to survive, and everything is up on the chopping block.  

Education is always an easy scapegoat in troubled times.  All educators are given the stigma that:  “Those who can do, those who can’t teach.”  The general public is jealous of our “summers off” and “snow days,” despite the fact that they could easily teach if they wanted to.  Depending on who you talk to, people believe that teachers are underworked and overpaid, and therefore hate to see their taxes increase for a mediocre performer.  That being said, school districts are going to be given less money by the governments, but still maintain the level of service they currently provide.  The 21st century administrator is going to have to be a fiscally sound individual.  They are going to need make wise decisions when it comes to how funds are to be allocated.  

The principal is going to have to lead by example.  He or she will need to practice what they preach in order to get the staff to support them.  Principals will have to find efficient ways of communicating with both staff and the community.  Whether they use email more than copying hundreds of pages that will either be trashed or recycled immediately.  Create a website that anyone can go to for updates or possibly use twitter to update people on changes in the schedule.

I would also like to see that principals teach one class per year.  I know that this idea is utopian, and one that has many hurdles to overcome before being implemented.  However, I feel that this would help keep administrators relevant on best teaching practices.  Furthermore, by teaching a class, students will think about them in a different light.  Principals will also have a better understanding about what changes could be effective.  More importantly, they will be considered lead teachers, someone who could mentor younger, inexperienced educators.  

Below is a video I found on YouTube featuring Joel Klein, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, discussing what makes a good principal.