Chapter 11: Support for New and Experienced Middle Level Principals: A Proposed Model for Professional Development

This chapter proposes a model for the professional support and development of middle level principals, focusing on what the literature identifies as appropriate strategies as well as the recommended content. The model emanates from a belief that support for new as well as experienced middle level principals must be focused on on-going assessment, highly individualized, and closely tied to the improvement of student achievement. The need for such a model is based on the unparalleled challenges and accountability issues middle level principals will face in the 21st century as well as the potentially disabling number of administrative retirements and principal shortages anticipated in the next five years. The need is also validated through research that indicates that many current principals have little or no academic background or professional training in issues specific to middle level schools, and that a number of these principals have never taught or been an assistant principal in a middle level school. Effective professional support systems will be essential to the retention efforts of new principals, as well as critical for the enhancement of persons already in the field.