The Principal as Instructional Leader

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I just finished reading Thomas R. Hoerr's "What's an Instructional Leader?" and I am fascinated by some of the questions posed by the author. How important is it for the principal to be an instructional leader? Or is it important? And if it is important, is it realistic?  As an aspiring principal and current classroom teacher, I find it hard to believe that the principal is the most knowledgeable person in the building regarding student learning. However, I do believe it is part of a principal's responsibilities to be knowledgeable about current teaching and learning trends in the classroom for both student and adult learners.
The principal should insure that great teaching is occurring in the building at all times. The belief that your principal is the most gifted or talented teacher in the building is just unrealistic. The principal should foster a belief in his/her faculty that assessment, curriculum, instruction, and pedagogy is important and each must be addressed daily in our instructional lives.    

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 29, 2015 at 7:54 PM

    Chris I agree with you. I do feel principals set the tone of the school's culture. You are correct in saying principals can not know everything but they can set the tone of an effective learning community As we know actions speak louder than words. Staff will take their lead from the principal. When a principal sets the tone and communicates honesty of not knowing everything, the sky is the limit. After all an effective leader understands everyone on staff is important and brings forth a skill set that will build on the strengths of the school.

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  2. Phyllis FavorsSeptember 30, 2015 at 2:13 PM

    Chris,
    When principals have a “know-it-all” attitude, this can lead to a disaster! Instead, I believe principals should foster a culture of collegiality. Teachers need to know that their principal welcome their input and count on them to share their strengths and to help grow other teachers. Moreover, principals should purposely draw on the expertise of teachers to support new initiatives and programs. I recommend a book I read a couple of years ago entitled, Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D. By purchasing this book, I was allowed access to the StrengthsFinder Profile on the Internet. I was presented with my five most powerful signature themes, and I totally agree with each one.

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  3. Giles October 3, 2015 at 2:42 PM

    I believe that the principal is the instructional leader. At the end of the day, they are held accountable for the success of the students in that building. They need to understand the latest research concerning instructional strategies and hold the teachers accountable as well. They should designate time for professional learning communities and the norms for those meetings. It is good for the principal to have a leadership team to help monitor teaching and learning. The instructional leader has the final say in many decisions. The expectations can only go as far as the expectations of the leader.

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  4. UnknownOctober 4, 2015 at 8:43 PM

    The principal is the instructional leader in our building. He is in classrooms informally and formally observing various classrooms at various grade levels all day. We often have roundtable discussions about the work students are doing and what we see in the classrooms to ensure that the Assistant principals are also on the same page. We also choose classrooms to observe together to talk about the work we are observing. He uses every opportunity to model instructional practices for the teachers and leaders in our building.

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