Principal Evaluation As A Tool For Growth

IDEAS

Principal Evaluation As A Tool For Growth

How to help principals lead and learn

By Donna J. Micheaux and Jennifer L. Parvin

April 2018

Vol. 39 No. 2

How can we use principal evaluation as a tool for growth? We grappled with this question as we worked with principals and principal supervisors who were implementing new principal evaluation systems across the United States. As we progressed, one thing became clear: Principal evaluation systems without explicit and aligned professional learning simply re-create a system of compliance and fail to improve leadership capacity. Although there have been concerted efforts at the national, state, and local levels to develop more comprehensive and rigorous principal evaluation systems, few address the huge investment in learning that is needed to improve practice. Given the complexity of the role of today’s principals, they must learn a new set of skills and knowledge to create innovative learning environments. The intent of

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Authors

Donna J. Micheaux and Jennifer L. Parvin

Donna J. Micheaux ([email protected]) is a senior consultant for Learning Forward, adjunct trainer for new leaders, and former deputy superintendent and chief of schools officer.

Jennifer L. Parvin ([email protected]) is an executive coach and educational/organizational consultant.

This article is sponsored by The Wallace Foundation, www.wallace.org.

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