What Great Principals Do Differently Twenty Things That Matter Most

What are the attitudes and actions that make great principals stand out? In this internationally renowned bestseller, Todd Whitaker reveals the 20 keys to effective school leadership. This essential third edition features helpful new strategies for recruiting talent through better interview and reference questions, as well as tips for retaining talent. It also offers a new section on how leadership is not an event, but rather requires a consistent approach to affect the climate and eventually shape the culture of your school. Perfect for new and experienced principals, for independent professional reading or for leadership courses, this practical book will leave you feeling inspired and ready to do the things that matter most for the people who ultimately matter most—the students.

Acknowledgments Meet the Author Introduction Chapter 1 Why Look at Great? Chapter 2 It’s People, Not Programs Chapter 3 Develop an Accurate Sense of Self Chapter 4 Who Is the Variable? Chapter 5 Treat Everyone with Respect, Every Day, All the Time Chapter 6 Be the Filter Chapter 7 Teach, Don't Tell Chapter 8 Hire Great Teachers Chapter 9 Recruiting and Retaining Talent Chapter 10 Understand the Dynamics of Change Chapter 11 Standardized Testing Chapter 12 Focus on Behavior, Then Focus on Beliefs Chapter 13 Loyal to Whom? Chapter 14 Base Every Decision on Your Best Teachers Chapter 15 In Every Situation, Ask Who Is Most Comfortable and Who Is Least Comfortable Chapter 16 Understand the High Achievers Chapter 17 Make It Cool to Care Chapter 18 Don’t Need to Repair—Always Do Repair Chapter 19 Deal with Negative or Ineffective Staff Members Chapter 20 Set Expectations at the Start of the Year Chapter 21 Leadership Is Not An Event Chapter 22 Clarify Your Core

Todd Whitaker (@toddwhitaker) is a leading presenter in the field of education and has written more than 50 books including the bestseller What Great Teachers Do Differently. He is a professor of educational leadership at the University of Missouri.