Holding on to Our Principals
If you’re unfamiliar with Larry Cuban, I highly recommend a look at his somewhat-too-modest biography page on his blog. His various perspectives on American education combine to give him that rare ability to understand and present issues with breadth and depth.
In a recent blog post, Larry Cuban examines the issue of Principal Turnover: “Burn and Churn” Strategies and Student Academic Achievement. He notes that the pressure on teachers and schools at the moment certainly does not spare principals. His post includes many references, and reminded me of a recent article from the San Francisco Chronicle that detailed how principals are losing their jobs as part of dramatic school turnaround programs.
Cuban writes,
In a recent blog post, Larry Cuban examines the issue of Principal Turnover: “Burn and Churn” Strategies and Student Academic Achievement. He notes that the pressure on teachers and schools at the moment certainly does not spare principals. His post includes many references, and reminded me of a recent article from the San Francisco Chronicle that detailed how principals are losing their jobs as part of dramatic school turnaround programs.
Cuban writes,
In a number of states and districts, half of all beginning principals leave within five years. Such attrition means that relationships between teachers and students and between teachers and principals, based on competence and confidence in doing the job well, has too little time to ripen into mutual trust . Without those solid relationships, kiss gains in school and classroom achievement goodbye. “Churn and burn” may work in the telecommunications and hospitality
