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!
