Goals & Objectives:

By the end of this course the students should be able to:

• • • Describe the changes that have taken place in the roles of the school principal and vice-principal. Particular focus will be how COVID has impacted schools and leadership ( i.e. both good and bad)

    • Identify the many roles and responsibilities of the school leader and describe the skill set required to be effective in each of these roles.

    • Identify personal goals and devise action plans that will prepare them to assume the many facets of the leadership role in schools.

    • Appreciate the responsibility of the school leader for the professional development of all staff members (i.e. co-learner)

    • Develop a comprehensive professional development plan for a staff members. (GSE 571)

    • Understand the impact the school leader has on student well-being and achievement.

    • Appreciate the various factors that help determine a leader’s action.

    • Determine a particular course of action given various contexts. 

Course Requirements (updated Dec. '23 ~ pending class approval)

• • Perusall readings and annotations (25%)

  • Collaborative Work (25%)

    • • Small group discussion  (15%)

      • Twitter (5%)

      • Mid-term case study (10 marks)

  • Group Presentation 25%

    • • presentations starting in class 5

      • includes 5% for webizine (Adobe Express)

  • Final Reflection (25% ) 

    • • My Principles of Becoming a Leader (Due Apr 6th)

        • a five  or six page reflection on the 'big' ideas in the course. What did you think a principal's job was when you started the course? What do you think the job now involves? What surprised you about the job?  If you were hoping to become a principal do you still want to be one?  If you're not going to be a principal how can you apply the skill set required into your work environment... etc. etc

        • Please submit via email either in a Word or Google Doc document no later than December 10th. If you graduate you may have to submit sooner. This may also be post #number on Mighty Networks

Class routines:

• • • Open Questioning & Group Discussion

      • • Professional Conversation and Personal Reflection on... 

          • • Readings, Previous Class Topics, with a focus on the ‘principal’

            • Discussion Leadership 

    • Concepts and Skills Development: 

      • • Development of Concepts, Skills, and Understanding

        • Working Group Tasks: Exploration of Key Questions in regular small group

        • Large Group Sharing

    • Practical Considerations:

      • • Topics for Reflection

        • Readings for Next Class

    • Processing the Class:

      • • Review of the Day – What’s working, what’s not?

        • Open Question Period

Here are some quick links to help get you started. 

Ideally, make sure you read whatever is posted on Perusall (due Jan. 13) In-class activities will be based on these readings.

Step 1: Complete survey ASAP~ so we can better prepare to meet your needs. (coming Dec. 20).  Replaced with leadership questionnaires throughout the course.

Step 2: Sign up and introduce yourself on Mighty Network (class blogs):

• •  please post a pic and tell us what you want to be called (i.e. nickname? if any) & anything else that comes to mind. What's your passion or hobby? Where do you hope to be in 5 years.

Step 3: Go to Flipgrid (link given in class 1) ---> Introduce yourself. Who you are? Why you are taking the course? What do you hope to learn from the course? Your degree? Other courses you have taken...  etc. etc.

Step 4: The course includes readings from articles & the following texts. Please purchase the course texts by logging into the class Moodle page ---> you may be asked to create an account on  @Perusall.

• Use the following Perusall student help files if you have difficulties. You can also contact Perusall directly; they typically respond the same day.

Required course texts: 

The library will probably purchase ONE of the following texts ~ this way you only have to pay for one book. I will know by the first class on Jan. 13th)

The class is will be taught in LLC 106. Absolutely love the library commons learning space!!! Can't wait to have coffee and chat in this area !