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Now that I have your attention....

Now that I have your attention....be sure to check out the other story posted today on the Education World ADMINISTRATORS page, The State of Teacher Preparation: 1997.

But first, my reason for this interruption….

I'm looking for a few good principals!

I want to start a series of stories that focus on the principal's job. To that end, I need to have a LARGE group of principals who might be willing to respond to an occasional e-mail. (You'll need to have an e-mail address at which you can be reached.)

From time to time in the months ahead, I'll send out an e-mail question to a random group of 50 principals. If you receive this e-mail, I invite you to respond to a question about the principal life. The question will be straight forward and will require no more than a few sentences in response.

What kinds of questions will I be asking? They'll run the gamut.

Sometimes I'll be doing a survey in search of some random data.

• Does your school have a written school bus discipline policy? Yes or no?
• How many times each year are your students given standardized state or national tests? At what levels are those given?

Other times I might be looking for you to write two or three sentences describing some facet of your job.

• What is the ONE factor that you consider most important in hiring a new teacher to teach in your school?
• What was the biggest challenge you faced on the job today?

If you're contacted, you decide whether or not you have something to say and whether or not you'll respond. There is no obligation to respond. If you don't respond, no problem. You're still on the list and you're bound to receive another e-mail question from me in about a month. That question might be one you choose to respond to.

What will I do with your responses? Sometimes I'll be looking for data only and won't give you any written credit for your response. Other times I'll quote part or all of a bunch of principals' replies. You'll always know in advance whether or not you might be quoted if you respond to a question from me. (Of course, I won't be able to use all replies I get to all questions, so your response to a question won't be a guarantee that you'll see your name in print!)

Interested? Willing? If so, please send an e-mail to me at ghopkins@educationworld.com. In that e-mail's SUBJECT line type WILLING PRINCIPAL. In the body of the e-mail please provide ONLY the following information:

Your full name:
Your school name:
City, State of your school:
Grade levels in the school:

You should hear from me within a month.

Thanking you in advance for your willingness, Have a great school year!

Article by Gary Hopkins, Editor-in-Chief
Education World®
Copyright © 2006 Education World

09/22/1997