by
EDD 9100 CRN 35455
Leadership Seminar
Nova Southeastern University
February 4, 2012
Scholarly Articles 1
According to the authors of this article (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009), principals need to concentrate on the development of skills and behaviors in order to be successful in motivating, leading, and changing the direction of a school. The successful principal understands that there exists a fine balance of caring for others and the need to accomplish specific tasks (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).
The following areas are targeted in this article: the need to become an effective consultant, the need to become a mediator and consensus builder, the need to become an individual that values relationships and to step back and reconnect on a regular basis to their core beliefs and values (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). Interwoven through all areas is the need to realize that it takes time to develop the skills needed, experience being the best teacher of what works (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). The underlying theme throughout the article is one of a need for open communication combined with a balanced and caring attitude towards staff.
On the topic of becoming an effective consultant within their school it is pointed out that principals need to be less directive and more collaborative in their push towards improvement and the use of best practice in the classroom (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). It is of primary importance that they possess the ability to listen to the stakeholders and assist in the translation of concerns into practice (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). In order to be able to effectively fill the role of consultant within their school principals need to possess a reasonable level of understanding of educational pedagogy
References: Donaldson,G., Marnik, G., Mackenzie, S., & Ackerman, R. (2009). What makes or breaks a principal. Educational Leadership, 67 (2), 8-14.