Educational Leadership - November 2011

the idea is merely that these people be available and helpful. Other school administrators might be in this group;

they’d certainly understand and empathize. There are advantages, though, to looking to people with different backgrounds and training. I routinely talk about my challenges to an architect, an attorney, and a human resources manager, for example, along with a friend who is also a principal. They each see things a bit differently than I do, and their perspectives help me craft my solutions.

Third, recommend a chicken salad plate instead of something hot. We find ourselves in win-lose clashes when the positions are staked out and people are entrenched. The key to solving this sort of dilemma is to avoid it. It’s always beneficial to anticipate what will cause people to get upset and to work to change the situation, or at least to talk about it before positions are hardened.

Recently, for example, we had a difficult

You are1degree away from changing your world.

Which 1 will it be?

You are1degree away from changing your

79 affordable degrees of distinction – 100% online, including:
world. Which 1 will it be? Y ou are one degree away from achieving more. American Public University has 85 online degrees. Our tuition is far less than other top
M.Ed., Guidance & Counseling
M.Ed., Teaching – Instructional Leadership online universities so you can further your education
M.Ed., Teaching – Special Education
M.Ed., Teaching – Elementary Reading without breaking the bank. You are one click away
M.Ed., Teaching – English Language Learners
Elementary Teachers

M.Ed., Teaching – Curriculum & Instruction for from making it happen.

Graduate level courses start monthly at only $300 to $325 per semester hour.

Graduate level courses start monthly at only $325 per semester hour.

Start learning more at studyatAPU.com/education Learn more about one of the best values in online education at studyatAPU.com/EL

APU was recognized in 2009 and 2010 for best

Text “APU” to 44144 practices in online education by the prestigious Sloan Consortium.

for more info. Message and data rates may apply.

proven PATH a

CENTRAL OFFICE POSITION. to a

situation dealing with food allergies at my school. Finding the right solution took longer than we expected, but part of that was because we kept discussing it and involving more people in the conversation. Working to make everyone part of the solution—raising trial balloons, incorporating input, and letting people know they were heard—helped us avoid a situation that was too hot to handle. Had we crafted a policy without taking all this time to talk about it, we might have created unnecessary anger

SETON HALL UNIVERSI TY’S EXECUTIVE ED.D.

• This nationally recognized doctoral program for practicing K- 12 administrators has prepared over 450 education leaders representing 28 states and 6 countries.

• Complete your studies in just two years, with 10 weekends and two summer sessions.

• Now accepting applications for the April

2012 cohort.

• Loans available to cover the entire cost of the program, regardless of financial need.

• Start work on dissertation from day one.

that would have been difficult to work through.

Just as the waitress’s arm wrap anticipates and protects against the heat, planning for challenges is the best

“The knowledge and skills acquired at Seton Hall and the network of cohort colleagues were essential elements to my career advancement.”

For more information, call

1-800-313-9833, email execedd@shu.edu, or go to www.shu.edu/go/excedd.

protection of all. Good leaders don’t avoid heat—they can’t. But they can look ahead and prepare for it, reducing the likelihood that they’ll get burned. ;L