Professional Development for Principals: Seven Core Beliefs
by Paula Evans and Nancy Mohr
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Overview
In this Phi Delta Kappan article Paula Evans and Nancy Mohr suggest that teaching principals how to lead schools by giving them “predigested ‘in-basket’ training” rarely leads to new thinking about leadership, teaching, or learning.
Reinforcing old patterns and hearing speakers who mouth familiar platitudes about the “effective” principal may make people feel comfortable, but it does not lead to substantive change.
They describe a year-long professional development programme which they run for principals at the Annenberg Institute in the US. The programme takes 35 principals each year from a range of schools. Principals in the group meet four times during the year, and are involved in various professional learning activities between meetings. The programme is consciously shaped by a set of seven beliefs about how principals best learn. These are:
- Principals’ learning is personal and yet takes place most effectively while working in groups.
- Principals foster more powerful (teacher) and student learning by focusing on their own learning.
- While we (value) principals’ thinking and voices, we want to push them to move beyond their assumptions.
- Focused reflection takes time away from “doing the work” and yet it is essential.
- It takes strong leadership to have truly democratic learning.
- Rigorous planning is necessary for flexible and responsive implementation.
- New learning depends on “protected dissonance” (a safe environment in which to take risks with ideas and ask tough questions).
Reflective questions
These reflective questions might guide your reading of this article:
- Look at the seven beliefs outlined in the article. Which, if any, underpin or reinforce your beliefs about your own professional learning?
- Honestly reflect on the professional learning you have planned for yourself this year. Have you planned learning that will challenge and stretch you, or make you feel “comfortable”?
References
Evans, P., & Mohr, N. (1999, March). Professional development for principals: Seven core beliefs. Phi Delta Kappan, 80(7), 530–532.
NOTE: Paula Evans and Nancy Mohr work at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University in the US.
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