The Principal's Guide to Instructional Improvement: Theory to Practice - Softcover

As a principal who was committed to building rapport/relationship with my teachers in an effort to motivate professional growth, improve instruction, and build a community of 'leaders and learners,' I utilized the clinical supervision model daily in my practice. As a result of our determined, collaborative efforts, our Title I, low socio-economic school received numerous awards and recognitions: the National Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence, Title I Outstanding Performance, and Exemplary status in the State of Texas rating system. It is appropriate and timely that Bob Krajewski's book would enter the educational arena. Administrators and campus leaders need an in-depth and thorough knowledge and understanding of how to guide teachers in this demanding time of accountability. The students are our primary focus and rightly so. But, if we do not take care of our teachers and provide the necessary guidance and direction, they will not be equipped to carry out their charge. -- Melva Matkin, former principal of Gregorio Esparza Accelerated Elementary School, San Antonio, Texas -- Vincent Murray, principal of Henry W. Grady High School, Atlanta, Georgia; adjunct professor at Central Michigan University, Atlanta, Georgia; winner of the 2006 Harold McGraw Prize in Education Having successfully opened two large elementary schools, I find Krajewski's book to be extremely practical, but in my life, a bit late. There are few works, if any, that so effectively bring together the key historical and conceptual perspectives of education and practical applications in such a timely and useful format. The book supports the premise that supervision and improvement of instruction are together a journey, not isolated events along the way. Krajewski's work interrelates a variety of tools into a comprehensive system focused on the improvement of instruction. This valuable tool provides for administrators a solid foundation for working with teachers. -- Darrell Barringer, principal of the award-winning Carolina Springs Elementary School, Lexington, South Carolina

Beginning with an abridged history of administrative and clinical supervision, The Principal's Guide to Instructional Improvement offers principals both background information, as well as comprehensive models and examples, to analyze and improve teacher instruction. Based on the principle of teacher growth, rather than teacher evaluation, this book explains both content and process, allowing for the establishment of principal-teacher rapport, the very foundation of successful school supervision. The book offers six supervision models that translate the theory to applied practice. All models can be used separately or together, and they are thoroughly explained with sufficient examples for easy implementation. Beneficial for both novice and veteran principals, this guide will systematically improve the hierarchy within schools, allowing for vast improvement within the classroom.