Description
Survival Skills for the Principalship provides over 500 powerful tips, short-cuts, time-savers, ideas, strategies, and a collection of sample letters and forms shared by award-winning principals nationwide. This treasure chest allows principals, assistant principals, and aspiring principals to pick and choose from a variety of valuable resources as befits his or her school. Each chapter in this book is designed to provide timesaving and efficient survival skills, which can be implemented immediately. The materials in this book attempts to reduce the isolated job of the principalship by sharing what has worked and what hasn’t worked for award-winning, highly successful principals from across the nation. John Blaydes is one of the nation foremost experts in the field of school administration. He is an inspirational leader, author, motivational speaker, seminar leader and educational consultant. In recognition of his innovative leadership John has been honored with both the National Distinguished School Principal Award and the prestigious Milken Foundation National Educator Award. John also received the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts National School Administrator Award for his dedication to arts education and the California’s School Principal Leadership Award from the California Librarians Association for his outstanding media center program. In his role as inspirational leader he has promoted a culture of excellence at his schools. His school was twice selected as a California Distinguished School and has been honored with multiple awards for his outstanding visual and performing arts, media center and math programs. Staff awards include the National School Nurse of the Year, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching, the California Media Center Teacher of the Year, the Sallie Mae First Year Teacher Award, the Orange County Teacher of the Year and another recipient of the Milken Foundation National Educator Award. John has a broad array of experiences in educational leadership, having been a classroom teacher, school site principal, district office administrator and elected school board member in his community. John believes that the key to educational excellence lies in the ability of our nation’s school administrators to provide their schools with inspirational leadership. Other Books authored by John Blaydes: Enhancing Your Effectiveness As An Elementary School Principal, The Principal’s Book Of Inspirational Quotes, The Educator’s Book Of Inspirational Quotes Acknowledgements About the Author Introduction 1. Blueprint for Leadership in 21st Century Schools: Matering the Changes, Challenges, and Complexities of the Principalship Mastering the New Three R’s of School Leadership Framing the Power of the Principalship Laying The Foundation of Your Principalship Treasure Chest Sample #1: Dance Card Partners Treasure Chest Sample #2: Professional Responsibilities Holding a Grand Conversation Mastering Resiliency Treasure Chest Sample #3: Candy-Grams Treasure Chest Sample #4: Parent-School Climate Questionnaire Treasure Chest Sample #5: Assessment of Staff Morale Treasure Chest Sample #6: Day of the Teacher Remembrance Book Parent Memo Treasure Chest Sample #7: Sample Elementary Classroom Behavior Management Plan Treasure Chest Sample #8: Discipline Problem-Solving Record Card Strengthening Your Infrastructure Putting the Home Back in Homework Treasure Chest Sample #9: Parent Homework Brochure Homework Survival Kit for Teachers Treasure Chest Sample #10: Homework Survival Kit for Teachers Treasure Chest Sample #11: Homework Alert Treasure Chest Sample #12: Principal’s Homework Letter to Parents 2. Mastering the Skills of Resiliency Resiliency The Rock of the Principalship Survey Results – Stressors Treasure Chest Sample #13: Stress Inventory Tuesdays With Me Time Management Tips From Award-Winning Principals Building the Parent-School Partnership Treasure Chest Sample #14: Parent Volunteer Survey Letter Treasure Chest Sample #15: PEP Classroom Volunteer Survey Treasure Chest Sample #16: School Volunteer Survey Treasure Chest Sample #17: Volunteer Handbook Welcome Letter Treasure Chest Sample #18: Parent Classroom Observation Procedures Treasure Chest Sample #19: Parent Education Survey Treasure Chest Sample #20: Parent Invitation to Kindergarten Orientation Treasure Chest Sample #21: Parent Handout: Kindergarten – A Statement of Philosophy Treasure Chest Sample #22: Parent Handout: Kindergarten Goals – What Your Child Will Learn Treasure Chest Sample #23: Parent Handout – Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten Treasure Chest Sample #24: Kindergarten Welcome Conference Agenda Treasure Chest Sample #25: Parent Handout – Back to School Night Creative Models – Special Needs Students Timesavers for Referrals and Interventions Treasure Chest Sample #26: Special Needs Interventions Inventory Treasure Chest Sample #27: Special Needs Student Background Form Treasure Chest Sample #28: New Parent Invitation for School Tour Treasure Chest Sample #29: Parent Letter to Invite VIP to School Open House Treasure Chest Sample #30: VIP Neighbor Invitation to Attend Open House Treasure Chest Sample #31: Heroes of the Heart Award Invitation Tips for Building Community Involvement in Your School 3. Mastering the Skills of Renewal Renewal Tips for Keeping a Balance in Your Life From Award-Winning Principals Tips for Bringing Humor to Your School Culture From Award-Winning Principals Enhancing Peak Performance Building Your Dream Team Treasure Chest Sample #32: Professional Information Survey Treasure Chest Sample #33: Teacher Interview Questions Treasure Chest Sample #34: Teacher Candidate Interview Record Sheet Treasure Chest Sample #35: Candidate Progressive Ranking Sheet Treasure Chest Sample #36: Telephone Reference Call Form Enhancing Peak Performance Teacher Evaluation Treasure Chest Sample #37: Exceptional Elementary Tenured Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #38: Excellent High School Tenured Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #39: Excellent Elementary Tenured Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #40: Average Elementary Tenured Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #41: Average High School Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #42: Outstanding Elementary First-Year Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #43: Marginal Elementary First-Year Teacher Letters of Recommendation Treasure Chest Sample #44: Marginal Elementary Tenured Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #45: Exceptional High School Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #46: Exceptional Elementary Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #47: Excellent High School Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #48: Average Elementary Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #49: First-Year Marginal Elementary Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #50: Substitute Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #51: Math Teacher Award Treasure Chest Sample #52: Science Summer Institute 4. Mastering the Skills of Reflection Reflection Touch the Wisdom Within The M&M Game – A Culminating Learning Activity Treasure Chest Sample #53: The Survival Skills M&M Game Letter-Rip! Sample Letters Treasure Chest Sample #54: Changing Classroom Assignment – New Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #55: Mid-Year Classroom Teacher Replacement Treasure Chest Sample #56: Teacher Leaving for Maternity Treasure Chest Sample #57: Attendance Concerns Treasure Chest Sample #58: Follow-up Letter – Strong Concerns About Continuing Poor School Attendance Treasure Chest Sample #59: Concerns Regarding Student Tardies Treasure Chest Sample #60: Follow-up Letter – Strong Concerns About Continuing School Tardies Treasure Chest Sample #61: Requesting Business Donation Treasure Chest Sample #62: Thank-You Letter – Business Donation Treasure Chest Sample #63: Thank-You Letter – Community Service Organization Gift Treasure Chest Sample #64: Thank You for Positive Letter About a Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #65: Thank-You Letter – Parent Donation of Gift Treasure Chest Sample #66: Thank-You Letter – Music Teacher Treasure Chest Sample #67: Thank-You Letter – Teacher Presenting Inservice Treasure Chest Sample #68: Thank-You Letter – Consultant Presenting Inservice Treasure Chest Sample #69: Thank-You Letter – Classroom Volunteer Treasure Chest Sample #70: Thank-You Letter – Parent Volunteer School Event Treasure Chest Sample #71: Thank-You Letter – PTA President Treasure Chest Sample #72: Letter of Congratulations to PTA Honorary Service Award Recipient Treasure Chest Sample #73: Parent Letter – Classroom Volunteer Who Didn’t Show Up Treasure Chest Sample #74: Parent Letter – Congratulations on Student’s Good Citizenship Award Treasure Chest Sample #75: Student Letter – Congratulations on Election to Student Council Treasure Chest Sample #76: Student Letter – Consolation Letter, Not Elected to Student Council Treasure Chest Sample #77: Parent Letter – Failure to Pick Up Child After School in Time Treasure Chest Sample #78: Parent Letter – Suspension of Disruptive Parent From Coming on Campus Memo-abilia Treasure Chest Sample #79: Staff Memo – Welcome Back to New School Year Treasure Chest Sample #80: Staff Memo – Open House Expectations Treasure Chest Sample #81: Staff Memo – Congratulations on Successful Open House Treasure Chest Sample #82: Staff Memo – Thank You, Day of the Teacher Appreciation Treasure Chest Sample #83: Staff Memo – Procedures for Recess Time-Out Treasure Chest Sample #84: Staff Memo – Classified Staff Appreciation Week Thank You Principal’s Message for Parent Newsletter Treasure Chest Sample #85: Parent Letter – Welcome Back to New School Year Treasure Chest Sample #86: New Student Survey About Special Needs Services Treasure Chest Sample #87: Home-School Communication – The Key to Our School’s Success Treasure Chest Sample #88: The Joy of Reading Alout at Home Treasure Chest Sample #89: Getting to School on Time in a Safe Manner Treasure Chest Sample #90: Taking Time for Conversation and Consistency Treasure Chest Sample #91: Creating a Climate for Learning Treasure Chest Sample #92: A Parent’s Guide to Teenage Parties Treasure Chest Sample #93: Just a Little Bit of Heaven Treasure Chest Sample #94: Character Education – Teaching Our Children the Attribute of Perseverance Treasure Chest Sample #95: Avoid Interrupting Classroom Instruction Treasure Chest Sample #96: Celebrating Our School Year – A Special Thank You Treasure Chest Sample #97: One Good Parent Treasure Chest Sample #98: The Season of Joy Treasure Chest Sample #99: Emergency Preparedness Bulletin Treasure Chest Sample #100: Middle School Report to Parents Treasure Chest Sample #101: Parent Survey – A School Evaluation Tool Treasure Chest Sample #102: School Organization for Next Year Treasure Chest Sample #103: Weh Report Cards Don’t Make the Grade Treasure Chest Sample #104: Parent Letter – Responding to Parent Request for a Specific Teacher Summary The Last Word Order Form – Survival Skills for the Principalship CD Index
