Chapter 3: The Other Side of the Desk: The Beliefs and Behaviors of Star Principals at Turnaround Schools

Recently, I completed a research project that attempted to determine what beliefs and attitudes were commonly held by principals in the greater Kansas City area. I wanted to know how teachers were selected and how these beliefs and attitudes guided principals within this process. My prior research indicated that there was a gaping hole in our knowledge of the work of Dr. Martin Haberman; most of what is written on his scholarship emphasizes the impact on student achievement in urban settings. In addition, many of us are already familiar with Haberman’s research on interviewing and selecting teachers and principals. So, while we have documented studies on outcomes and selection, a chasm still exists in the literature for understanding what star principals know, believe, and do in their professional environments.