Leadership Preparation Publications

SREB Learning-Centered Leadership Program: Developing and Assisting Effective, Learning-Centered Principals Who Can Improve Schools and Increase Student Achievement   (2007)       NEW
The SREB Learning-Centered Leadership Program is an effort to redesign educational leadership preparation and professional development programs. SREB recognizes the key role leadership plays in creating and sustaining schools that help all students achieve high standards. This brochure describes the initiative's goals, critical success factors, research and modules.
(07V54);  8 pages;  2007;   free

SREB Learning-Centered Leadership Program: Developing and Assisting Effective, Learning-Centered Principals Who Can Improve Schools and Increase Student Achievement   (2007)       NEW
The SREB Learning-Centered Leadership Program is an effort to redesign educational leadership preparation and professional development programs. The trifold brochure describes SREB’s critical success factors; outlines the basic principles of the leadership program; describes leadership publications objectives; and explains the leadership curriculum modules.
(07V51);  2 pages;  2007;   free

Schools Need Good Leaders Now: State Progress in Creating a Learning-Centered School Leadership System   (2007)       NEW
This report calls for states to designate school leadership as a visible state, district and school priority, focused on the principal’s role in leading schools toward higher student performance. It describes the progress that states should make to ensure that they have the learning-centered school leaders they need to succeed in the 21st century.
(07V48);  36 pages;  2007;   $5

Good Principals Aren’t Born — They’re Mentored: Are We Investing Enough to Get the School Leaders We Need?   (2007)       NEW
Good Principals Aren’t Born — They’re Mentored draws on survey data from a sample of seasoned principal mentors who have guided interns in university-based principal preparation programs in the SREB region. This report describes the present condition of mentoring for aspiring school leaders and lays out a course of action for policy-makers and the leaders of universities and school districts to ensure that every beginning principal comes to the job fully prepared to make a difference in teaching and learning. This report also describes the necessary investments required to create internships that can help aspiring school principals become transformational school leaders.
By Cheryl Gray, Betty Fry, Gene Bottoms and Kathy O’Neill
(07V05);  96 pages;  2007;   $7.50;    $5 each for 10 or more

Schools Can't Wait: Accelerating the Redesign of University Principal Preparation Programs   (2006)  
Better-prepared school leaders are essential for implementing school reform, maintaining continuous school improvement and realizing higher student achievement. This report highlights the redesign process for principal preparation programs, and it recommends a course of action for states to follow in planning and implementing successful program reform.
(06V04);  96 pages;  2006;   $8;    $5 each for 5 or more

A District-driven Principal Preparation Program Design The Providence School Department and the University of Rhode Island Partnership   (2005)  
This case study describes how the Providence School Department in Providence, Rhode Island, and the University of Rhode Island (URI) collaborated to develop a principal preparation program that trains aspirants within the school system to become effective school leaders who are focused on improving student achievement. This collaborative effort began with the creation of a new leadership preparation program supported by the district’s research-based school reform framework, rather than a reworking of the traditional university-based model. The study outlines the curriculum and major strands of study for the program, the importance of field-based learning experiences and internships, and the indicators of program quality.
(05V05);  40 pages;  2005;   $3;    $1.50 each for 10 or more

The Principal Internship: How Can We Get It Right?   (2005)  
This report presents the results of SREB’s survey to measure the quality of internships provided to aspiring principals in university leadership programs in the Southern states. The survey probed the extent to which principal interns are required to observe, participate in and lead activities that focus on improving curriculum, instruction and student achievement. The lack of opportunities to engage in instructional leadership and the wide disconnect between the work of today’s principals and the internship experiences provided are discussed, and actions for improvement in the programs are recommended.
By Betty Fry, Gene Bottoms and Kathy O’Neill
(05V02);  40 pages;  2005;   $3.50;    $2 each for 10 or more

Preparing a New Breed of Principal: Leadership from the University President's Office   (2004)  
Under the leadership of President Paul Stanton, East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is demonstrating the power of higher education partnerships to improve the quality of life in local communities and to accelerate school improvement and student achievement. In this interview, Stanton describes how participation in the SREB Leadership Initiative supports ETSU's efforts to redesign its educational leadership programs to meet the leadership needs of today's schools.
(04V15);  4 pages;  2004;   This publication is available only online.

Progress Being Made in Getting a Quality Leader in Every School   (2004)  
This report, a part of the Challenge to Lead education goals series, documents SREB states' progress in redesigning the preparation and development of school principals. The analyses are based on information collected in interviews with state agency personnel on six key indicators. The report also outlines actions that states can take to make progress on each indicator, describes promising practices being implemented by some states and identifies challenges states face in creating new policies that can drive more effective programs and practices.
By Gene Bottoms, Betty Fry and Kathy O'Neill
(04E12);  26 pages;  2004;   $5

Academies in the Lead: Redesigning Leadership Academies for Student Achievement   (2003)  
This semiannual newsletter reports on the progress and activities of SREB's Leadership Academy Network. This issue looks at how some states are redesigning their leadership academies to help teams from low-performing schools develop improvement efforts in curriculum, instruction and school achievement. Academy leaders, an academy participant and SREB's curriculum designer offer insights on the importance of changing the traditional view of leadership preparation and development. Also included is a brief description of SREB's Leadership Modules.
(03V59);  28 pages;  2003;   free

Good Principals Are the Key to Successful Schools: Six Strategies to Prepare More Good Principals   (2003)  
SREB recognizes that effective leaders are essential if all students are to achieve at high levels. The SREB leadership goal is very ambitious: “Every school has leadership that results in improved student performance — and leadership begins with an effective principal.” This report defines six strategies that state and local leaders can use to achieve that goal: 1) single out high performers; 2) recalibrate preparation programs; 3) emphasize real-world training; 4) link principal licensure to performance; 5) move accomplished teachers into school leadership positions; and 6) use state academies to cultivate leadership teams in middle-tier schools.
By Kathy O'Neill, Betty Fry, David Hill and Gene Bottoms
(03V03);  32 pages;  2003;   $3;    $1.50 each for 10 or more

Leadership Newsletter - Universities in the Lead: Redesigning Leadership Preparation for Student Achievement   (2002)  
This semiannual newsletter reports on the University Leadership Development Network's progress in changing how future school leaders are taught, what they are taught, and how universities and school systems work together to prepare effective school leaders. Articles describe current research and outstanding practices in leadership preparation.
By John Norton, Kathy O'Neill, Betty Fry and David Hill
(02V55);  28 pages;  2002;   This publication is available only online.

SREB Leadership Initiative: Creating Effective Principals Who Can Improve the Region’s Schools and Improve Student Achievement   (2002)  
The SREB Leadership Initiative is an effort to redesign educational leadership preparation and development programs so that they are aligned with the new accountability systems and standards instituted by the states. SREB recognizes the key role leadership plays in creating and sustaining schools that help all students achieve high standards. This brochure describes the initiative's goals, activities, services and publications.
By Kathy O'Neill
(02V51);  8 pages;  2002;   This publication is available only online.

Are SREB States Making Progress? Tapping, Preparing and Licensing School Leaders Who Can Influence Student Achievement   (2002)  
School leaders who can change curriculum and instruction are essential to increasing the economic and cultural progress of the South and the nation. States are moving in the right direction, but they need to take aggressive actions to tap, prepare, place and keep an effective leader in every school. Learn the progress SREB states are making in identifying, preparing and assessing future leaders.
By Andrea Jacobson, Kathy O'Neill, Betty Fry, David Hill and Gene Bottoms
(02V50);  36 pages;  2002;   $3;    $1.50 each for 10 or more

What School Principals Need to Know about Curriculum and Instruction   (2001)  
Superintendents and local school boards can no longer be satisfied with principals who simply place teachers in classrooms, provide textbooks and get students to attend schools. Increasingly, schools and school leaders are being held accountable for the achievement of all students, not just the best students as in the past. This means that school leaders need to have an in-depth knowledge of curriculum, instruction and student achievement. This publication provides guidelines for school leaders to understand and prepare for their changing role.
By Gene Bottoms
(01V51);  4 pages;  2001;   This publication is available only online.

Leadership Matters: Building Leadership Capacity   (2001)  
Building leadership capacity means using effort to elicit effort from others, and every member of the education community plays a significant role in this endeavor. This guide offers strategies for building leadership capacity in schools and helps school administrators find new ways to encourage and support effort. It answers four questions: 1) What do leaders do to push all students to higher levels of proficiency? 2) How do school leaders demonstrate that nearly all students can master challenging curriculums? 3) How do leaders encourage the efforts of others to focus on the success of every student? 4) How can leaders put these ideas into practice?
By Steve Barkley, Gene Bottoms, Caro Feagin and Susan Clark
(01V18);  32 pages;  2001;   $3;    $1.50 each for 10 or more

Preparing a New Breed of School Principals: It’s Time for Action   (2001)  
This report — which was supported by a grant from the Wallace Foundation — is part of an ongoing study of the preparation and development of educational leaders. It reviews findings about the practices of successful leaders and how they are prepared. The report also includes SREB’s recommendations for improvements.
By Gene Bottoms and Kathy O'Neill
(01V17);  32 pages;  2001;   $3;    $1.50 each for 10 or more

Leading School Improvement: What Research Says   (2001)  
This publication was supported by a grant awarded to the Southern Regional Education Board from the Wallace Foundation. This review of the literature presents much of the best thinking about practices that promote student achievement and their connection to educational leadership. It shows that there is a common consensus about what leaders need to know and be able to do to lead schools in which students are successful.
By Gary Hoachlander, Martha Alt, Renee Beltranena, MPR Associates Inc., Berkeley, California
(01V04);  56 pages;  2001;   $5;    $3 each for 10 or more

Making Leadership Happen   (1996)  
The SREB Model for Leadership Development
By Alton C. Crews and Sonya Weakley
(96E02);  1996;   This publication is available only online.