Full Description
Principal Presence is a practical, no-nonsense guide for school leaders who want to sharpen their focus on what matters most—improving teaching and learning. Designed for busy principals juggling competing demands, this book cuts through the noise to spotlight the five foundational systems every school needs to thrive: Communication, Collaboration, Lesson Planning, Instructional Snapshots, and Data Monitoring.
Grounded in real-world leadership and built for immediate application, Principal Presence offers a clear framework for establishing and sustaining these systems to drive instructional excellence. Readers will learn how to create structures that support teacher growth, foster accountability, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
In addition, the book provides actionable strategies for managing a professional calendar that aligns with instructional priorities. By building predictability into the school day and ensuring regular monitoring of instruction and data, principals can reclaim their time and amplify their impact.
Whether you're a new or veteran school leader, Principal Presence equips you with the tools to lead with intention, build systems that stick, and stay consistently present where it counts most—inside classrooms.
Contents
Introduction
Principal Presence, Principal Mystique
Section One: Becoming a Principal
Chapter 1: When I'm Principal
The Confident Teacher
Assistant Principal: From Firefighter to Lifeguard
I'm Ready! Put Me In!
Chapter 2: You're Named Principal. Now What?
And the New Principal Is
Prepare Your Family and Remember to Put Them First!
The "OH CRAP" Moment
Chapter 3: Learn About What You Have Inherited
The Transition
Two Ears, One Mouth
Principal Honeymoons Are Short, So SWOT Early
Chapter 4: The Role of the Principal
Established Roles in Current School Leadership
Leveraging Autonomy as a Principal31
Five Systems for an Effective School—An Overview
Communication
Collaboration—PLCs
Lesson Planning
Managing and Monitoring Data
The Instructional Snapshot
Chapter 5: First Things First—Organize Your Organization
Organize Your Staff
Who Takes Care of the Parents and Community?
Nurture Your Students
Empower Your APs and Provide Principal Access
Section 2: How We Do School
Chapter 6: Communication
Know Your Stakeholders
The Three-Pronged Plan for Communication
The Staff Monday Memo
The School Newsletter (Parents and Community)
Communication with Students
Chapter 7: Collaboration
Collaborate or Co-blaborate
Good Is the Enemy of Great
Administrators in PLCs
A True PLC Culture
Chapter 8: Lesson Planning
Nothing New
Lesson Plan Essentials—The Heading
Lesson Plan Essentials—Learning Activities
Sample 4th Grade Math Lesson
Lesson Plan Essentials—Feedback
Chapter 9: Instructional Snapshots
High Reliability Schools
HRS Level 2—Effective Teaching in Every Classroom
Instructional Model
Instructional Snapshots
Chapter 10: Data Monitoring
Eating an Elephant
Data Management
Inspect What You Expect
Attendance, Discipline, and Grades
PLC Data (Formative and Summative)
Interventions
State and National Norm-Referenced Assessments
Asking Questions of Your Dat
Red Bears
Knowing Students by Name and Need
Predicting Your Accountability
Section 3: The Predictable Principal
Chapter 11: Your Consistency
Being Predictable
Being Unpredictable
Catchphrases Lead to Predictability
Chapter 12: Your Time
Schedule Your Priorities
Sample Week
MONDAY (MEETINGS DAY)
TUESDAY (OPEN DAY)
WEDNESDAY (DISTRICT DAY)
THURSDAY (OPEN DAY)
FRIDAY (CATCH UP AND PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK)
Not Everything Is an Emergency
Chapter 13: Your Legacy
Personal Legacy
Institutional Legacy
Conclusion
References
