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To America

The Lord bless you and keep you.The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.The Lord lift up His countenance upon youand give you peace.

Numbers 6:24–26

God bless America,All Americans,

The victims’ families of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack,My wonderful family, friends, and students,

And our schools.

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Copyright © 2002 by Corwin Press, Inc.

All rights reserved. When forms and sample documents are included, their useis authorized only by educators, local school sites, and/or noncommercial entitieswho have purchased the book. Except for that usage, no part of this book may bereproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrievalsystem, without permission in writing from the publisher.

For information:

Corwin Press, Inc.A Sage Publications Company 2455 Teller RoadThousand Oaks, California 91320E-mail: order@corwinpress.com

Sage Publications Ltd.6 Bonhill StreetLondon EC2A 4PUUnited Kingdom

Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd.M-32 MarketGreater Kailash INew Delhi 110 048 India

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wilmore, Elaine L.Principal leadership:Applying the new Educational Leadership

Constituent Council (ELCC) standards / Elaine L. Wilmore.p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.ISBN 0-7619-4554-7 ISBN 0-7619-4555-5 (pbk.)

1. School principals—In-service training—Standards—United States.2. Interns (Education)—United States. I. Title.

LB2831.92 .W55 2002371.2´012´07155—dc22 2002001600

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

02 03 04 05 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Acquisitions Editor: Robb ClouseEditorial Assistant: Erin BuchananCopy Editor: Elizabeth BuddProduction Editor: Denise SantoyoTypesetter: Siva Math Setters, Chennai, IndiaIndexer: Kathy PaparchontisCover Designer: Michael DuboweProduction Artist: Sandra Ng

This book is also available in audio through the Recording forthe Blind & Dyslexic. For more information on how to obtain acopy, contact (866) 732-3585 or www.RFBD.org.

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Contents

Foreword ixJohn R. Hoyle

Preface xiAcknowledgments xii

About the Author xv

Part I. Introduction 1

1. Our Changing World and Schools: The Needfor a Learning Community 3

The Role of the Principal 4Expectations 5Is This Book for You? 6The ELCC Standards for School Leaders 7

2. Standards for the Learning Community 8A Brief History: The Standards Story 8The Standards 12Why? 14

Part II. Application of the Standards 17

3. Creating the Vision of a CollaborativeLearning Community 19Standard 1 19

Philosophical Framework 20Case Studies 25Activities for Professional Development 29Conclusions 30

4. Reaching for the Stars: Creating a Culture ThatValues Enhanced Performance 32Standard 2 32

Philosophical Framework 33

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Case Studies 41Activities for Professional Development 49Conclusions 50

5. Steering the Ship: Facilitating theOrganization and Operation of LearningCommunity Resources 52Standard 3 52

Philosophical Framework 53Case Studies 58Activities for Professional Development 63Conclusions 64

6. Together We Build: The Strength of CollaborativePartnerships 66Standard 4 66

Philosophical Framework 67Case Studies 72Activities for Professional Development 77Conclusions 78

7. Taking a Stand: The Moral Dilemma 80Standard 5 80

Philosophical Framework 81Case Studies 83Activities for Professional Development 88Conclusions 90

8. Beware of the Alligators: The Politics ofAdministrative Leadership 92Standard 6 92

Philosophical Framework 93Case Studies 96Activities for Professional Development 99Conclusions 101

9. Trial by Fire: The Administrative Internship 103Standard 7 103

Philosophical Framework 104Conclusions 108

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Part III. Conclusions 111

10. The Hallelujah Chorus: Tying It Together toTransform the Learning Community 113

Final Review 113Conclusions 116Applause! 117Go Forth and Do Well! 117

Suggested Additional Reading 119

References 130

Index 135

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ix

Foreword

Elaine Wilmore has made a major contribution to the preparationof school principals with this book. Since the development of

the 1983 American Association of School Administrators (AASA)Guidelines for the Preparation of School Administrators, severalorganizations have extended and modified the seven competenciesinto standards for the preparation and professional development ofschool leaders. Fenwick English and Betty Steffy collaborated withme in Skills for Successful 21st Century School Leaders (1998) tosynthesize the key standards, skills, dispositions, input and outcomemeasures, and instructional strategies included in standards by theAASA, Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC),National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education(NCATE), National Policy Board for Educational Administration(NPBEA), and the Interstate School Leaders Licensure (ISLLC). In2001, the ELCC, composed of selected individuals representingAASA, AACTE, ASCD, CCSSO, NAESP, NASSP, NCPEA, andUCEA, revised standards for Advanced Programs in EducationalLeadership and presented them to the Specialty Areas Study Board(SASB) of NCATE. These new ELCC standards for principals,superintendents, and other central office administrators were drawnfrom ISLLC, AASA, and NCATE standards for the position ofsuperintendent and other central office administrators. They repre-sent the latest collaboration of professional associations to establishthe vital elements to judge the quality of preparation programs forschool leaders.

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Now Elaine Wilmore has taken a bold step in writing this impor-tant book on principal leadership by focusing on the ELCC stan-dards for the preparation of campus-level principals. Dr. Wilmorebrings to her scholarship successful experience from public-schoolclassrooms and principalships, from the boardroom, and from theuniversity where she has been a leader in the creation of one of thenation’s most respected field-based programs for school principals.In this definitive work, Dr. Wilmore presents multiple examples ofproblem-based teaching and field-based learning to prepareinformed, skilled, and caring principals for the elementary, middle,and high schools of America. Elaine Wilmore’s content masteryblends scholarship with practice to guide program planners in gain-ing ELCC approval and NCATE accreditation and to prepare thebest and the brightest for the demanding role of principal.

Dr. Wilmore has earned the respect of practitioners, state andnational association executives, and her colleagues in higher educa-tion. She is President Elect of the National Council of Professors ofEducational Administration and has the reputation of a dynamic andpositive spokesperson in our discipline. This book is a must for allprogram directors striving for excellence in principal preparationand for those interested in earning NCATE accreditation.

John R. Hoyle

x PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP

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xi

Preface

Principal Leadership: Applying the New Educational LeadershipConstituent Council (ELCC) Standards was written to address

the new standards for the preparation and development of schoolprincipals created jointly by the National Council for the Accre-ditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Interstate SchoolLeaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC). These standards, known asthe Educational Leadership Constituent Council standards, are ofcritical importance in creating, nurturing, and sustaining a cultureand climate that values the soul of the school within its political,social, economic, legal, and cultural context. Although a myriad ofbooks exist on school leadership, climate, and change, this bookis the first to connect the new standards to the philosophy and imple-mentation of the principal as steward of the school’s vision. Princi-pal Leadership addresses these connections from the perspectiveof the school as essential to the essence and success of a schoollearning community.

This book is unique and timely in format. At long last the separateadministrative standards and guidelines of the NCATE and the ISLLChave merged into one set of collaboratively developed and agreed-upon standards for the development of future school leaders and forthe professional growth of existing ones. No book has addressed thesemerged standards, making Principal Leadership both distinctive andopportune. It is written within a context of tying the new standards topractical yet research-based applications for principals and othersinterested in school leadership. Based on eminent leadership and

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management theory and research, Principal Leadership is writtenin an informative manner, yet it is also practical, readable, interest-ing, insightful, and inspiring. Future administrators may use it as atext for university coursework in school leadership. Current adminis-trators can use it for individual or group reflective professionaldevelopment.

Principal Leadership addresses both a global, proactive philoso-phy of school leadership as provided in the ELCC standards and spe-cific treatment of the components within each standard. This is donethrough discussion, case studies, reflective questions and activities,and “The Ultimate Application” for individual or groups engaged inprofessional development opportunities. It is appropriate for preser-vice and current principals, assistant principals, deans of instruction,instructional supervisors, educational and other professional associ-ations, and anyone interested in the development and nurturance ofthe school community. The text is divided into three sections. Thefirst section is introductory in nature. The second focuses on eachof the seven ELCC standards. The final section pulls all the compo-nents together and draws conclusions. A selection of additional read-ings for each standard is provided for supplementary conceptualpurposes.

Principal Leadership is a must-read for those preparing forschool leadership positions as well as for practitioners seekingto stretch beyond their comfort zones in our changing world. Itprovides a framework of the standards and tools necessary to facili-tate school leaders’ work with students, teachers, families, and com-munities in a collaborative partnership. If you are ready to make thiscommitment—knowing it will require hard work, focus, and persis-tence—read on. This is the book for you!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

During the final days of writing this book, terrorists attacked theUnited States, our freedom, and our way of life. All of Americawas shocked by this blatant and violent attempt to harm us. But theattack spawned renewed vision and purpose as all Americanscame together in a shared sense of purpose and patriotism. Other

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societal issues have become blurred as we speak with a single,united voice.

As educators we, too, must develop this sense of urgency andpassion as we speak with one voice for the needs of children andtheir families. This book provides a framework of the newly devel-oped Educational Leadership Constituent Council standards for thepreparation and development of school leaders. It provides a tool touse our unified voice to meet specific standards and goals. This issomething we have needed for a long time.

Many important people in my life have been instrumental infacilitating both the development of the standards and the writing ofthis book. Although I cannot possibly acknowledge them all, thereare some individuals whom I must recognize. As always, my familyhas been wonderful, working to spare me from as many interruptionsas possible so I could focus and write. Thank you, Greg, Mother,Brandon, Brittani, and Brooke. In particular I thank Brittani for herconscientious editing, knowing she offered her time when she wouldrather have been doing almost anything else. Without her, I could notpossibly have completed this work on time. Thank you, sweetie! Youare our wonderful gift.

Thank you to Honor Fede, Folio Coordinator for the EducationalLeadership Constituent Council, for her assistance in preparing thismanuscript. In addition to being one of the nicest people in theworld, Honor is always helpful to the developers of programs under-going review as well as to individuals seeking information. Thankyou, Honor, for being the committed professional that you are, forbeing so knowledgeable, and for being so kind to everyone.

Thank you to the University of Texas at Arlington and particu-larly to my dean, Dr. Jeanne M. Gerlach, for supporting and encour-aging me in every facet of my writing. Thank you for encouragingme always to go beyond any limits in pursuing excellence.

Thank you to Dr. John R. Hoyle, my mentor and friend, forbelieving and expecting the best in me and then showing how proudof me he is. John, you will never know how much it means to my lifeto make you proud.

I don’t know what I would have done or could ever do withoutmy true and sincere friend, Dr. Linda Norman Townzen. Thank you,

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Linda, for always looking out for me, caring about me, being mychampion, and constantly urging me to get some sleep. You are adream of a friend.

Thank you also to all my wonderful friends who stand beside meand encourage me in my quiet revolution to “change the world, oneschool at a time.” Thank you particularly to Dr. Bob and Becky Shawfor their love and continuous generosity in providing me a safe, quietmountain retreat to write, reflect, and refocus on who I am, why I amhere, and what is truly important in my life. There is no way I canever put into words what your generosity and support means to me.You have done this for many years. I hope from the bottom of myheart that you never stop. You are blessings in the lives of so many,especially us. Thank you both so much.

Last, to America, who could say it better than the psalmist:

Restore us, Oh God.

Psalm 80:3

All my love,Elaine

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