Practices of Influential Principals – Two Decades of Research

Principals play a crucial role in hiring, recruiting, retaining teachers and supporting them in creating learning environments where students thrive. Two decades of research regarding How Principals Affect Students and Schools: A Systematic Synthesis identifies four practices, or leadership behaviours, as essential to effective leadership.

Building a productive climate.

Effective principals cultivate a positive school climate with deep trust and open communication among teachers, students, parents, and the broader community. They foster a collaborative atmosphere where everyone is committed to continuous school improvement. Effective Principals empower teacher leadership, provide mentorship and professional development opportunities, and promote collaboration. Most critically, they prioritise the social-emotional well-being of both teachers and students, ensuring that support systems are in place.

Engaging in instructional-focused interactions with teachers.

Good principals help teachers improve their jobs by watching them in their classrooms, giving helpful feedback, coaching them on how to improve their teaching methods, and assisting them in using data to understand and meet their students’ needs.

Facilitating collaboration and professional learning communities.

Effective principals create the necessary frameworks to establish and sustain professional learning communities where educators collaborate and utilise data to attain student learning objectives.

Managing personnel and resources strategically.

Effective principals utilise staff and resources skillfully to enhance teaching and learning by dedicating their time to supporting teachers’ instructional practices and fostering collaboration. Moreover, they make strategic decisions regarding educators’ hiring, placement, and retention.

At Aspire2, we focus on placing middle to senior leaders in education, including; heads of school, deputy principals, curriculum leaders, and principals. The importance of the “right fit” is critical.

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