Making Time to Lead

Richard A. Simon has been a high school principal for the past twenty years in three states. He is currently the principal of The Wheatley School, an 8th-12th grade public high school in Nassau County, Long Island. He has also served as principal at Allentown High School in Allentown, New Jersey, Amity Regional High School, in Woodbridge, Connecticut, and at Cherry Hill High School West, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Mr. Simon holds a Master's in Education from Harvard University. He has received a Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Fellow for School Leadership Award and a National CBE Fellow for Independent Study in the Humanities grant. Mr. Simon serves as a chair for the new Accreditation For Growth Middle States process and is the co-author of The High School Principal's Calendar (Corwin Press 2000). James F. Newman has been an educator for over 25 years, working both as a teacher and a principal. He has been the principal of North Side elementary school in East Williston, New York, for the past 14 years. Prior to his current position, he was the principal of Centre Avenue School in East Rockaway for 2 years and an elementary teacher in a number of districts on Long Island for 12 years. Dr. Newman holds a doctorate from Columbia University in the education of the gifted, and he holds 2 masters' degrees from Hofstra University, one in elementary education and one in educational administration. The title of Dr. Newman's doctoral thesis was "The Metacognitive Abilities of Gifted Educational Leaders". Dr. Newman has been an invited speaker at a number of national conventions, and will be presenting in February 2003 at the AASA convention in New Orleans. The topic of this presentation will be, "The Top Ten Ways to Land the Administrative Job of Your Choice". Dr. Newman is a longtime resident of New York, currently residing in Long Beach, Long Island. He is a partner in an educational consulting firm called, "Leading By Example" that helps prospective candidates find administrative positions. His firm also works with Boards of Education in the selection of superintendent's and other administrative positions.

Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction 1. Organizing Setting Up Your Organizational System Make To-Do Lists Keep Up With Mail Make Special Folders Clip, Post, and Save Those Articles Creating Your Own Filing System Carry Your Desk With You Technology Can Set You Free Copying Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery Be Your School's Historian Be Ready For Prospective Parents Note Cards: The Best Invention Since Sliced Bread The Master Key Is a Must Student Planners 2. Time Building Your Calendar Being in Two Places at Once Meetings Getting Started Coffee Shop Time Telephone Time Save Your Calendars Accreditation 3. Communication How to Use a Telephone Visibility: Leading by Walking Around The Working Lunch Parents as Partners Public Presentations 4. Delegation Questions to Ask Use Your Staff Faculty Meetings Can Be Fun 5. Summer Staff Selection Save Those Resumes Student Placement Records Student Placement Procedures Keeping Your Files Active Getting Ready for the Year Remember Your Own Professional Development 6. People Know Your Faculty and Staff Learn Those Student Names Break Bread Together The Little Things Do Matter Buy Stock in Hallmark Everyone Values a Break Let Them Eat Ice Cream 7. Self Keep a Journal Conferences Study Groups Portfolios Preparing Future Principals Administrative Retreats Pamper Yourself Teach a Class Reading and Sharing Resource A: Today's Agenda Resource B: Yearly Task List Resource C: Faculty Note Cards Resource D: Student Planner Memo Resource E: Aspiring Administrator Training Brochure Resource F: Administrative Retreat Memo

This book would be a wonderful guide for someone new to the profession. The practical strategies and ideas will truly help that first year principal. -- Rick Doss, Principal The examples and suggested activities are great with lots of simple suggestions that are real and practical--very effective! -- Kevin Peterson, Principal "This is not your ordinary time management tome. Making Time to Lead is a geared to the specialized needs of principals and will help you 'find the time to lead--as well as manage--schools.'" -- Principal, September/October 2004