Examining the

Principal’s Role

How do principals influence student achievement, motivate others, and maintain good relationships with parents, students, and staff? Those are some of the questions explored in Principals and Student Achievement: What the Research Says by the late Kathleen Cotton, an acclaimed research associate at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.

The concise but thorough book, recently published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, provides a synthesis of nearly 30 years of research findings. Cotton identifies 26 essential traits and behaviors of effective principals, showing how they achieve success as instructional leaders. The book also reviews differences between elementary and secondary principals, as well as male and female principals and those in high- and low-socioeconomic schools.

"At a time when principals are being asked to do more and be more accountable, this book provides solid information about what principals should do to improve academic achievement for all of the students they serve," according to Bob Blum, director of NWREL’s Center for School and District Improvement. "As districts and schools move forward to improve academic achievement and meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind, this book will be an invaluable resource."

The publication, priced at $23.95 ($18.95 for ASCD members), is available through www.ascd.org, the Association’s Web site.