learn to have a backup for every planned observation, just in case the “pri-
mary” teacher is absent or conducting a type of lesson previously seen.
The post-observation conference is penciled into a slot where the teacher
has no assignment, to allow for quick and convenient feedback.
The timeliness of the items in the last column will vary. The Career Fair
might be months away, so the school leader would only be looking at the
early preliminaries at this point. The cabinet meeting might be the next
Friday, so he would want the agenda printed and out by the next day. The
Comprehensive Education Plan would be due in mid-May, so this would
be a long-term project that at this stage would involve seeking the input
of the School Leadership Team.
In his first year, the new school leader is often unaware of his long-term
responsibilities. Let’s look at what a newly appointed principal might face
when he first walks into his office in late August. He should find a weekly
planning calendar on the desk. His secretary will have filled in some items
for the fall semester, such as any meeting previously scheduled. As he
completes his daily plan sheet at the end of each day, he will check this
calendar to determine if some items are already scheduled. He will also
begin to write in items as they occur and to use this calendar more and
more in his own management scheme.
School years are cyclic. If there are monthly Parent Association (PA)
meetings in 2011–2012, barring any changes in basic policy, there will be
Figure 5.2. Sample Plan Sheet
Period Day: Thursday Date: 10/07 During the Day
Pre
1 OBS Smith 402—Back up Jones 407 Plan for career fair
2
3
4 Post obs conf.
5 Create agenda for cabinet
meeting
6 Academic Affairs Committee
7
8 Walk about (see deans, admissions coor.)
9 Work on comp educational
plan
Post Write obs report
Evening Parent Association meeting, 6:00–7:30People Are More Important than Paper 57