Finding the Time for Instructional Leadership ─ Management Strategies for Strengthening the Academic Program

"Connecting the tenets of shared leadership with the importance of instructional goals, this book brings to the foreground a clear and well-articulated approach to instructional leadership for today's school, focusing the reader on practical examples of challenges and problems faced as a principal, and then applying a key strategy in a process that demonstrates the power of a Value Added Unified Leadership Team (Vault). This is a must-read for the student in principal preparation and for the principal who is serious about being a student of instructional leadership."---Patrick M. Jenlink, professor of doctoral studies in educational leadership, Stephen E. Austin State University

"In my twenty-one years as a superintendent of schools, I have observed that the most successful principals seemed to have a `gift' to get everything done. In his book, Finding the Time for Instructional Leadership: Management Strategies for Strengthening the Academic Program, Dr. John C. Leonard has unlocked the keys to how these successful principals could accomplish so much, From a true scholar/practitioner point of view, Dr. Leonard shares a message of hope for both new and experienced principals as they face the day-to-day challenges of campus-level leadership. This book should be required reading for both sitting principals and those who aspire to the position."---Ralph Marshall, assistant professor, Educational Leadership Department, Eastern Illinois University

"John C. Leonard has captured the most elusive element necessary for the successful school principal---time management for effective team-building and organizational efficiency. This is a must-read for every principal, staff development administrator, and professor who prepares future school leaders. Leonard clearly takes the reader step-by-step to advise principals toward better use of time through differentiated leadership for building higher teacher morale and student performance."---John R. Hoyle, senior professor of educational administration and future studies, Texas A&M University

Finding the Time for Instructional Leadership is centered on the principalship and is designed to offer busy school leaders strategies for finding the time to be genuine instructional leaders. John C. Leonard provides a set of tactics---or "keys"---that will guide readers' reflection on the issue of instructional management. These seven keys offer principals suggestions for overcoming the daily barrage of secondary responsibilities that redirect valuable time and energy away from academics. The keys offered are not in a prioritized must-do list, nor are they intended to be an all-or-none approach. Principals searching for time solutions are encouraged to consider each of the keys and adopt, adapt, or reject the suggestion as it applies to their personal leadership circumstances.

John C. Leonard is an associate professor of educational leadership at Stephen E. Austin State University (Stasu). Prior to joining the Stasu faculty, he was employed for twenty-nine years as a public school teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools.