Model Leadership: Discovering Successful Principals' Skills, Strategies, And Approaches For Student Success

Urban schools are traditionally linked with low student performance perpetuated and sustained by ineffective leadership. However, some urban school principals have been overcoming mediocrity, low expectations, and other hindrances and their schools are ranking well. Middle and high school principals from these schools in Southern California were identified as successful and were invited to participate in this study. The focus of the study was to identify the skills, strategies, and approaches that make principals of these schools successful. The perspectives of selected superintendents and principals were sought through surveys and interviews. Surveys were quantitatively analyzed and interviews were qualitatively analyzed. The study found that the skills, strategies, and approaches that successful principals use are manifold, interrelated, interconnected, and that they are acquired rather than inherent. All of the skills are needed and each must be used according to the context, environment, and situation existing in the individual schools. The study found that successful principals have skills, strategies, and approaches that make them effective leaders. They influence student success by designing and building structures for teachers, students, parents, and the community to work together for student success. They are innovative leaders who create a culture and climate for learning by building healthy relationships with all stakeholders. They are humble enough to ask for and receive support from the district and superintendent and often credit their success to others, thereby actually enabling others to be successful.