EDAD 651 Principalship and School Improvement

About the Course

Everything rises and falls on leadership (Maxwell, 2007). That’s how important leadership is. When you are the principal, whether your school succeeds or fails largely depends on you. Do you want to be remembered as one who brought about positive changes in at least one school and made a difference? This class is designed to help you become just that kind of principal.

The study of leadership and its dynamics as it applies to the school administration of elementary and secondary, highlighting planning and implementing change for school improvement. The course explores the principal’s role in providing moral, relational, instructional, and administrative leadership within the context of a school’s culture and potential resources.

Who Needs This Course?

• Graduate students:
  • MA Education
  • PhD Education
• This course may also be taken by
  • Teachers for continuing education
  • Teachers as non-degree courses for professional development
  • Graduate students from other schools can use transfer credit

Time Investment

For every 3-credit course, a student should count on at least 9 hours spent reading and reflecting, for discussion forums, application papers, projects, and other requirements. Instead of the face-to-face meeting, the three hours of the class meeting will be spent participating in online forum discussions. This means that students should plan on spending 6 hours a week.

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Discuss the roles and responsibilities of a school principal.
2. Analyze school leadership theories and describe how they impact schools in their own contexts.
3. Assess the culture and climate of a school and effect change towards a safe and healthy learning community functioning as an integral part of society.
4. Manage, develop, and align the resources available to a school to lead it towards fulfilling its mission and realizing a vision for school improvement.
5. Manage the development of the curriculum and instructional effectiveness of a school.
6. Value effective communication with the various stakeholders of the school community.

Topics to Cover

Week 1 – Perspectives in School Leadership

Week 2 – The Principal as a Spiritual Leader

Week 3 – The Principal as a Culture Builder

Week 4 – The Principal as a Curriculum and Instructional Leader

Week 5 – The Principal as a Resource Manager

Week 6 – The Principal as an Advocate of Professional Development

Week 7 – The Principal as a Communicator

Week 8 – The Principal as an Administrator

Week 9 – Final Examination