The author of Six Secrets of Change describes how and why the principal's role must change to maximize student achievement *** FREE Professional Development Guide Included *** Principals are often called the second most crucial in-school influencers (after teachers) of student learning.

Preface ix Acknowledgments xi About the Author xv CHAPTER ONE: Outmoded 1 Gasp! 6 Leading Learning 8 Maximizing Impact 9 This Watershed Moment 10 The Chapters That Follow 13 Still Worth a Struggle 14 CHAPTER TWO: Vices and Virtues 17 Panic Time? 21 Four Wrong Choices for Driving Policy 22 Too Broad, Too Narrow: The Transformative Versus Instructional Leader 38 Principal Autonomy and Micromanaging: Other Roadside Attractions 42 Time to Retune 46 CHAPTER THREE: The First Key—Leading Learning 51 What Key Research Tells Us 56 Professional Capital—a Framework for Leading Learning 67 Foster and Integrate 86 The More Powerful Way 88 CHAPTER FOUR: The Second Key—Being a District and System Player 93 Looking Out to Improve Within 98 Intradistrict Development 100 Beyond the District 107 Not You Alone 115 CHAPTER FIVE: The Third Key—Becoming a Change Agent 119 Change Agency 124 Distorted Mirrors 135 CHAPTER SIX: The Future Is Now 141 The Unplanned Digital Revolution 145 Planned Change: Common Core State Standards 154 Time to Change Careers? Or to Change Gears? 157 A Final Word 160 References 161 Index 169

Praise for The Principal "At a time when the role of school leader is simultaneously vital to the success of teachers and students and yet at its most complex, Fullan offers a new view. In the way that only Fullan can—sensibly, with slight irreverence, and ahead of the curve—he challenges us to think about the principalship as not only 'realistically doable,' but scalable: music to those of us who want to see students perform to greater heights and teachers given the support they need to be their best." —Vicki Phillips, Director of Education, College Ready, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation "Principals are being called upon to serve as instructional leaders who supervise and evaluate teachers into better performance, one at a time. Fullan reveals this strategy for what it is—'a bloody disaster.' He redefines the principalship and provides the specific, high-leverage steps leaders can take to improve their schools. This should be required reading for all principals and those interested in improving education." —Richard DuFour, education author and consultant "Fullan has done it again! The Principal has reignited my passion for education the way the What's Worth Fighting For trilogy did twenty-five years ago. This book takes the principal into a wonderful new space with insights and tools to lead learning—never more crucial than now." —Avis Glaze, Edu-quest International Incorporated; former Chief Student Achievement Officer of Ontario "Fullan challenges the status quo and opens up a new and exciting future by systematically laying out what truly effective principals should do to have maximum impact on learning, and on the system as a whole." —Margery Evans, chief executive officer, Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Melbourne

“This revealing and powerful book comes just in time, as we launch the biggest education reform in the past fifty years. It should be required reading not only for principals, but perhaps even more importantly for those who support and lead them.” —Laura Schwalm, CaEdPartners; former superintendent, Garden Grove, California “After decades of studying, working with, and enhancing the lot of principals . . . Fullan’s conclusion? Principals are needed now more than ever, and he’s smack on target. He doesn’t mince words, yet instills hope and confidence. Simply great . . . this book should be on every leader’s desk. Another bull’s-eye!” —Willam Parrett, director, Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies, Boise State University, Idaho “I just read The Principal and I am on fire and in love. I couldn't put it down! Fullan's uniquely succinct brilliance for soaring above the noise and clutter that bogs us down is incredibly energizing and inspiring.” —Alice Thomas, president and CEO, Center for Development and Learning, Metairie, Louisiana