1. Written By: Todd Whitaker
Presented By: Allison Page
WHAT GREAT
PRINCIPALS DO
DIFFERENTLY

2. 1. It’s people, not programs that
made the difference.
2. Get better Teachers
3. Improve the teachers you have
4. Sometimes administrators
focus on ‘buying into’
programs to fix our problems
1. It is never about programs, it should
ALWAYS be about people.
18 THINGS THAT MATTER
MOST

3. 5. All principals are aware that
the students in their schools
have individual needs. GREAT
principals are even more aware
that their teachers have
individual abilities.
6. Nothing makes the difference
than the quality of our
teachers.
7. That main variable in the
classroom is the teacher.
-what do teachers expect of themselves?
-what do principals expect of themselves?

4. 8. How do you treat people in
your building? ALL people?
Not just teachers…
-praise must be authentic
-We never have too much nice.
9. Our behavior sets the tone.
-Consistently filtering
out the negatives that do not
matter and sharing a positive
attitude, we can create a much
more successful school.
WE DECIDE THE TONE OF OUR
SCHOOL

5. 10. Recognize and use your most
effective teachers as positive role
models
-multiply their
productivity and maximize other
teachers’ talents
11. Hire GREAT teachers
-Want the school to
become the best teachers I hire.
12. Standardized tests measure only
a part of what schools should be
doing
-focus on the behaviors
that lead to success, not the beliefs
that stand in the way of it.

6. 13. Focus on behavior, then beliefs
-a change in behavior
leads to a change in beliefs.
“Effective principals
maintain a professional respect
for others’ beliefs…But in certain
situations, beliefs are irrelevant;
what really matters is behavior.
In other situations, a change in
behavior paves the way for a
change in beliefs. In these
situations, effective principals
focus on behaviors, not on
beliefs.”

7. 14. GREAT principals are loyal to their
students, their teachers, and school.
15. Base every decision on your BEST
teachers.
-What will my best
teachers think?
-Draw from your
superstar teacher role models in your
school and the change of expanding
acceptance and implementation will
grow
(LESS effective principals
focus on their most resistant teachers)
“Our superstar teachers
will always be effective teachers, BUT
if we do not value their
contributions, they will limit their
influence to their individual
classrooms.”

8. 16. Effective principals understand
high achievers, are sensitive to
their needs, and maximize
their abilities.
-High achievers are
the first to leave when they do
not feel valued and important!
17. Set expectations at the start
of the year.
-Clearly established,
focus on the future, and
consistently reinforced.

9. 18. CLARIFYING YOUR CORE:
-Without a core of
firmly held beliefs, it’s difficult to
steer a steady course.
-With a core, we feel
secure and confident and in
turn, so will our teachers and so
will our students!