THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS Professional Development Suzana Hitrec, Prof. June 11 – 12, 2007, KRK

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 BASIC REQUIREMENTS for the realization of the role of principal Ensured support from the system Program of development Continuous and targeted professional development The exchange of experience of good practice Evaluation and self-evaluation of the work (with the possibility of the promotion to the position of a mentor and adviser)

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 LEVELS OF NEEDS National Regional and local School Personal

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 NATIONAL PRIORITIES Development of schools as a professional community of learning. Principals need to become the promotors/holders of changes, leaders, they need to ensure funds and material improvement, they need to be innovative and, in line with that, they need to develop good communicational skills. FROM: THE EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, 2005 – 2010

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 ANALYSIS OF NEEDS Unit for the implementation of CARDS program, Institute for Education (Zavod za školstvo), Milvija Marković Questionaire was filled in by 197 principals of secondary schools THE MOST IMPORTANT SEGMENTS: Efficient team work (80%) General leadeship skills (79%) Planning and decision-making (64%) Quality management in schools (57%) Human resources development (56%) Change management (56%)

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS USE OF COMPUTERS: For access and browsing/searching for information 66% Text processing 56% Electronic communication 50% FOREIGN LANGUAGES (level of knowledge 3-4-5): English 25% German 20% Italian 10% French 5% DATA OBTAINED FROM QUESTIONAIRE FOR PRINCIPALS ( )

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 NEEDS ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPAL’S EXPERIENCE (1) PRINCIPALS IN 1st MANDATE Legal – normative scope of work of the principal Ways of financing Models of school management and leadership Ways of motivating according to the needs of the employed Quality management PRINCIPALS IN THE 2nd MANDATE Educational management and leading of school Management of the project’s cycle Evaluation and self-evaluation of work Constructive solving of conflicts Prevention of addictions and violations and ensurance of safety Techniques of managing/coping with stress DATA GATHERED BY THE EXPERIENCE GROUP AT CONFERENCE FOR PRINCIPALS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS, November 8, 2005, Opatija

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 NEEDS ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPAL’S EXPERIENCE(2) PRINCIPALS IN 3rd MANDATE Evaluation and self evaluation of work Management of the project’s cycle Ways of cooperation according to situation Educational management Communications PRINCIPALS IN 4th, 5th and 6th MANDATES Use of computers in everyday work (ICT) Techniques of stress management Evaluation and self evaluation of work Creating the vision of the school and monitoring the realization Prevention of addictions and violations and ensuring safety Quality management Management of the project’s cycle DATA GATHERED BY THE EXPERIENCE GROUP AT CONFERENCE FOR PRINCIPALS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS, November 8, 2005, Opatija

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 TOPICS PROPOSED BY PRINCIPALS OF 49 PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN HNOS Management of the schools Management and leadership Team work and planning Development plan of the school Evaluation of work of pupils, teachers, school School – learning community Leading the project Integrated, project-based and interdisciplinary teaching Communication Gifted pupils Children with special needs DATA GATHERED FROM EVALUATION QUESTIONAIRE AT SEMINARS AOO 2005./2006.

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS for principals of European countries Culture of the school Vision of the school Application of new ideas and innovations HR management Strategic policy of the school DATA FROM THE STUDY: EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR IMPROVING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT (2001.) - 12 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 WHAT IS MOST OFTEN EMPHASIZED AS GOOD AT THE SEMINARS Good choice, preparedness and leadership – authenticity of lecturers/ moderators Exchange of experience with colleagues Selection and elaboration of themes Precise and applicable activities, learning based on experience

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 WHAT IS MOST OFTEN EMPHASIZED AS BAD AT THE SEMINARS Selection of lecturers/ leaders Overburdened program, too many contents Unclear expectations from the participants Unadequate dynamics of work at seminars Lack of material Organisation (place, time)

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 PROPOSALS Establish competences and standards Define clear legal regulations with regard professional development Present models of successful work – examples of best practice at seminars and on website Perform exercises /activities For principals and teachers realize the (same) key contents/topics Offer professional development according to analyses of the needs Organize professional development in the form of targeted modules Make use of professional potential of principals and teachers in the organization and implementation of professional development Improve network of cooperation with colleagues and horizontal learning (ŽSV) Improve the production of literature for principals Increase the possibility for on-line professional development Strengthen the connection with faculties, agencies and ministries

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 OPEN ISSUES What type of a principal do we need ? (“lead learner”?) In which ways professional development which will provide answers to all the needs of principal can be organized? How to strengthen the role of principal in professional development of teachers? Which are the key positive experiences in the existing system of professional development ? What can we learn from the experiences of other countries? What can be done immediately in order to enhance the existing system of professional development ? How to monitor the efficiency and sustainability of the system of professional development ?

S.Hitrec - THE NEEDS OF PRINCIPALS June 2007 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN URGENT INTERVENTION, BUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL, THE SCHOOL, AND THE SYSTEM.