Effective administrators must always cling to the notion that they are effective because they are the “Number One Learner” in the school if teachers are to continue learning, and students will learn if teachers continually model the behavior of effective learners as well.
Capasso, R.L., and J.C. Daresh. The School Administrator Internship Handbook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2001.
Selected books recommended for reading as the student proceeds through the principal certification program:
Bennis, Warren G. On Becoming a Leader. 2nd ed. New York: Perseus Publishing, 1994.
Blanchard, Kenneth H. The Heart of a Leader. Tulsa, OK: Honor Books, 1998.
Blasé, Jo, and Joseph Blasé. Handbook of Instructional Leadership: How Really Good Principals Promote Teaching and Learning. Thousand Oakes, CA: Corwin, 1998.
Crow, Gary M., and L. Joseph Mathews. Finding One’s Way: How Mentoring Can Lead to Dynamic Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1997.
Depree, Max. Leadership Is an Art. New York: Dell Publishing, 1990.
---. Leadership Jazz: The Art of Conducting Business Through Leadership, Fellowship Teamwork, Voice, Touch. New York: Dell Publishing, 1993.
Daresh, John C. The Beginning Principalship: A Practical Guide for New School Leaders. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2001.
Donaldson, Gordon A., and G. Marnik. As Leaders Learn: Personal Stories of Growth in School Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1995.
Donaldson, Gordon A., and Michael Fullan. Cultivating Leadership in Schools: Connecting People, Purpose, and Practice. New York: Teacher College Press, 2000.
Hart, Ann Weaver, and Paul V. Bredeson. The Pricipalship. New York: McGraw Hill, 1995.
Hesselbein, Frances, Marshall Goldsmith, and Richard Beckhard, eds. The Leader of the Future. San Fransico: Jolley-Bass, 2000.
Kozol, Jonathan. Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation. New York: Harper Trade, 1996.
---. Ordinary Resurrection: Children in the Years of Hope. New York: Harper Collins, 2001.
---. Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools. New York: Harper Trade, 1992.
Kouzes, James M. and Barry Z. Posner. The Leadership Challenge: How to Keep Getting Extraordinary Things Done in Organizations. San Fransico: Jossesy-Bass, 1996.
Palestini, Robert H. Ten Steps to Educational Reform: Making Change Happen. 2nd ed. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. 2000.
Pellicer, Leonard O. Caring Enough to Lead: Schools and the Sacred Trust. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1999.
Sergiovanni, Thomas J. Rethinking Leadership. Arlington Heights, IL: Skylight Training and Publishing, 1999.
Short, Paula M., and John T. Greer. Leadership in Empowered School. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall, 2002.
Streshly, William A., and Larry E. Frase. Avoiding Legal Hassles: What School Administrators Really Need to Know. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1992.
Villani, Susan. Are You Sure You’re the Principal? On Becoming an Authentic Leader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1999.
Wallace, Richard C., Jr. From Vision to Practice: The Art of Educational Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1996.
Barr, Robert D. and Parrett, William. Saving Our Students, Saving Our Schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2008.
Bauer, Scott and Brazer, S. David. Using Research to Lead School Improvement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2012.
Blankstein, Alan. Failure is NOT an Option. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2010
Blankstein, Alan and Houston, Paul. Leadership for Social Justice and Democracy in our Schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2011.
Blasé, Jo and Phillips, Dan Yon. Handbook of School Improvement, How High Performing Principals Create High Performing Schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2011.
Cottell, David. The Magic Question: A Simple Question Every Leader Dreams of Answering. Dallas, TX: Cornerstone Leadership Institute, 2012.
Crowther, Frank. From School Improvement to Sustained Capacity. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2011.
Davidovich, Robert, et al. Beyond School Improvement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2010.
Fullan, Michael. The Challenge of Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2010.
Fullan, Michael. All Systems Go. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2010.
Gray, Susan P. and Streslily, William. From Good Schools to Great Schools: What their Principals Do Well. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2008.
Howley, Willis. The Keys to Effective Schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2007.
Levin, Ben. More High School Graduates. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2012.
Smylie, Mark. Continuous School Improvements. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2010.
Wiles, Jon. Developing Successful Schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2010.
Kozol, Jonathan. Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation. New York: Harper Trade, 1996.
---. Ordinary Resurrection: Children in the Years of Hope. New York: Harper Collins, 2001.
---. Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools. New York: Harper Trade, 1992.
Kouzes, James M., and Barry Z. Posner. The Leadership Challenge: How to Keep Getting Extraordinary Things Done in Organizations. San Francisco: Jossesy-Bass, 1996.
Palestini, Robert H. Ten Steps to Educational Reform: Making Change Happen. 2nd ed. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2000.
Pellicer, Leonard O. Caring Enough to Lead: School and the Sacred Trust. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1999.
Sergiovanni, Thomas J. Rethinking Leadership. Arlington Heights, IL: Skylight Training and Publishing, 1999.
Short, Paula M., and John T. Green. Leadership in Empowered Schools. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall, 2002.
Streshly, William A., and Larry E. Frase. Avoiding Legal Hassles: What School Administrators Really Need to Know. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1992.
Villani, Susan. Are You Sure You’re the Principal? On Becoming an Authentic Leader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1999.
Wallace, Richard C., Jr. From Vision to Practice: The Art of Educational Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 1996
What the Research Says
The Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) has amassed a trove of research on how leadership can facilitate change in schools.
www.sedl.org/change/leadership/character.htmlGetting help
The federal government’s school leadership program provides competitive grants to assist “high need” school districts with recruiting, training and retraining principals and assist principals.
www.2.ed.gov/programs/leadership/index.html