Chapter 2: The Judgment Of Principals: A Key to Understanding Tough Calls and Instructional Leadership

Wilma Williams faced a tough choice. As the newly appointed principal of Keswick Elementary School, she was charged with raising student achievement and “turning the school around.” Williams understood that the School Board, the superintendent, and the community expected quick results. Unable to replace faculty members, she would need to gain the trust of teachers who had been at Keswick during its decline. These teachers had spent several years implementing Montessori teaching methods and curriculum units. Several teachers had received advanced graduate training in Montessori pedagogy. They believed that this approach to instruction was a good fit for Keswick students, most of whom were from poor families. Wilma Williams did not share this opinion. When she looked at student performance on state reading tests, she felt that a more structured approach to teaching literacy was required.