Effective Strategies for New School Administrators' First 100 Days

1. A Leader’s First 100 Days Strategies and Suggestions for Beginning School Administrators By MacArthur Jones Rosanna Loya Michael Saenz Fall 2011

2. Objectives • Identify tips and strategies used in the business and political world to assess the effectiveness of a new administrator upon completion of the first 100 days of leadership. • Link tips and strategies to the Texas Principal Competencies to assist the beginning school administrator.

3. Campus Culture • Brainstorm with all stakeholders to find simple changes that could enhance school climate and culture. • Be visible. • Make people comfortable with your presence. • Build a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the campus community. • Competency 002 The principal knows how to communicate and collaborate with all members of the school community, respond to diverse interests and needs, and mobilize resources to promote student success.

4. Campus Vision and Goals • Establish goals and policies that are based on student data, school and community needs. • Clearly articulate, as well as promote, a common vision of success. • Competency 001 The principal knows how to shape campus culture by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.

5. Advocate, Nurture and Sustain • Encourage risk taking and reward innovative ideas and thinking. • View all ventures as learning opportunities, as opposed to possible failures. • Competency 005 The principal knows how to advocate, nurture, and sustain an instructional program and a campus culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

6. Acknowledge Achievements • Celebrate all accomplishments and contributions made by students, faculty and staff. • Competency 004 The principal knows how to facilitate the design and implementation of curricula and strategic plans that enhance teaching and learning; ensure alignment of curriculum, instruction, resources, and assessment; and promote the use of varied assessments to measure student performance.

7. Make Data Driven Decisions • Set high expectations and goals based on student data. • Challenge students, faculty and parents to meet pre-established goals and vision. • Competency 005 The principal knows how to advocate, nurture, and sustain an instructional program and a campus culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

8. Nurture and Sustain the Campus Vision • Reinforce established expectations for positive behaviors and academic success. • Competency 005 The principal knows how to advocate, nurture, and sustain an instructional program and a campus culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

9. Celebrate and Promote Risk-Taking • Advocate highly innovative teaching strategies and support teacher collaboration. • Competency 006 The principal knows how to implement a staff evaluation and development system to improve the performance of all staff members, select and implement appropriate models for supervision and staff development, and apply the legal requirements for personnel management.

10. Include All Stakeholders • Encourage parents, family and community members to become active participants in the daily operation of the school. • Competency 002 The principal knows how to communicate and collaborate with all members of the school community, respond to diverse interests and needs, and mobilize resources to promote student success.

11. Colin Powell’s 13 Rules of Leadership http://youtu.be/C-vve55FDaU

12. Resources http://www.amanet.org/training/articles/A-Leaders-First-100-Days-Be-Aware-of-Scrutiny-Beware-Mutiny.aspx http://blogs.hbr.org/watkins/2009/03/why_the_first_100_days_matters.html#.TpcO-CYUNs4.email