The selection of a good principal plays more into this than any other factor. Those autocrats coming out of Leadership and other programs have no idea how to run an organization that includes teachers, parents and students as stakeholders. Yes a principal should be firm, but fair. Klein wants results within the first year, yet real organizations need time to develop. SLT has become a joke! As for giving tenure, I truly believe that this should be a staff decision too. We know who the good ones are and where improvement is needed. This is why on-going staff development and mentoring is needed those first 3 years. I worked with people who never followed through on my suggestions or modeling. Thankfully, the left, but I also worked with tenured teachers who did not show any willingless to improve.
A stronger case needs to be made against them too by a committee of teachers (voted by the teachers and pro-union) who would be far more effective in reaching these teachers. A pro-union teacher would be more likely to address other areas such as class size and class behavior. The teacher in question should also be able to select someone on the committee too. We would work one on one with these teachers without any interference from the admins. Then we will report to the principal our findings.
I have had principals who seemed to enjoy evaluating teachers and finding things that they do wrong. That being said, I must admit I like McDonald's fries and devour them if my grandsons don't eat them first.
I like McDonald's fries too, but not those principals. I've seen them too and it's enough to put you off the fries.
I agree with schoolgal. The selection of a good principal who can work with the staff is the most factor in running a successful school. It is also helpful that the teaching staff be a mix of veteran, mid-career, and newbie teachers. Each group brings strengths to the table and can help the others in overcoming their weaknesses. Too many of these Leadership Acadamy principals seem to hire the newbie teachers because of their own insecurities and shortcomings in the classroom. It is little wonder that they can't understand why their school is not successful.
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