Educational Discourse

"Bryan Goodwin, chief operating officer at McRel wrote an article in the April issue of Educational Leadership entitled, "A Principal's Success Requires People Skills." He states, "Principal's success, job satisfaction, and willingness to see the job through appear to hinge on their people skills." This is true for superintendents as well. The Met-Life Survey of the American Teacher reported that teacher morale is low, principals report they under tremendous stress, and most teachers are not interested in moving into the principalship. Particularly in times like these, classrooms need stellar teachers, and buildings and districts need inspired leadership. Pre-service teacher education programs are bursting with students who are expecting to enter our classrooms as new teachers; simultaneously, we are abolishing positions because of diminishing resources. What a state we are in. Where will the next generation of school leaders come from? They probably won't come from the private sector nor from non-profits nor the professions. Most likely they will come from where they historically have...our classrooms. Teachers in most states are now required to change the way they teach. The content is new, the tests are new, technology must be newly used and resources are dwindling. Within this environment those of us concerned about the next generation of leaders have choices. We can continue to encourage those who have demonstrated success in the past or we can discover and encourage those who are showing creatively and agility, who are not losing heart, and who have competence and people skills that will engage followership."