Needed:

There is strong evidence and little debate about the impact of school leadership in creating effective schools with excellent student outcomes. It has been known for decades that school leadership is second only to teaching as the most influential variable affecting student outcomes. However, while much attention has historically been focused on defining quality instruction— learning what effective teachers do and replicating those actions—much less attention has been given to understanding what effective principals do. For too long, leadership in schools has been viewed much like charisma— some have it, and some do not.

Over the last decade, however, the indispensable actions of principals that have the greatest impact on student learning have been demystified. We now know that leadership skills can be developed and good principals can become great— and, just as important, we know which skills principals should prioritize in order to best improve student outcomes.