Study Guide for AZ Principal Exam Part I

The goals that have been articulated for an elementary school include ensuring that all students have equitable access to the curriculum. Which of the following approaches would best help the principal evaluate how well this goal is being achieved?

• interviewing students with varied backgrounds about their learning

• evaluating coverage of diverse perspectives in curricular materials

• examining disaggregated results from recent assessments

• analyzing the cultural profile of the students in each classroom

A principal is working with staff to create and implement plans to achieve goals for improved student learning. In this context, the principal would most appropriately encourage staff members to conduct research into what other schools are doing as a way to facilitate which of the following processes?

• incorporating a variety of diverse perspectives into the school's planning efforts

• interpreting assessment results to determine strengths and needs in the school's current program

• predicting likely impediments to achieving school goals and strategies for avoiding them

• identifying effective action steps to remedy school issues identified through data analysis

A school's guidance counselors present the principal with a proposal for an innovative guidance program that has been used successfully in a number of schools around the region and the country. In making the decision about the proposal, the principal's first priority should be to determine whether:

• the new program would require additional funds beyond those already available to the guidance program.

• the new program would serve to reinforce and enhance the existing knowledge and skills of guidance staff.

• the new program's goals and activities are consistent with the school's current vision and goals.

• the new program would promote increased collaboration between guidance staff and other school staff.

A district's new vision and goals state that students will be able to use a variety of technological tools to promote their own learning. Principals throughout the district recognize that a significant amount of new hardware, software, and teacher training will be needed for this initiative to be successful and that funds currently available are entirely inadequate. Which of the following strategies would likely be most effective and appropriate for the principals to use first in their efforts to gain access to needed financial resources?

• seeking out foundations and grants that provide funding to support this type of initiative

• encouraging students' families to contact local officials about supporting the provision of resources necessary to fund the initiative

• asking local media outlets to publicize the initiative and the need for additional school funding

• seeking the cooperation of the district's state representative in advocating for additional state funding to support the initiative

A recently appointed principal must create a new vision for a school where student performance on all academic measures has been declining for some time. The principal knows that the current level of parent/guardian and community participation in the life of the school is very low, as is overall stakeholder support for the school. The principal expects that creating and implementing a new vision in this context will be challenging. Which of the following strategies used by the principal would best help ensure that the new vision will have broad stakeholder support?

• sharing with constituents research-based information on the value of a school vision for improving academic performance

• creating multiple opportunities for individuals from diverse segments of the community to participate in various stages of the visioning process

• sharing with members of the school community clear, accurate information about the school's current academic performance and its implications

• creating a representative committee of school and community leaders to review and critique draft versions of the new vision

Last year a principal led teachers in implementing a plan to incorporate a specific set of research-based techniques into their instruction. The goal of the plan was to increase students' motivation and engagement in learning. This year during classroom observations, the principal sees that a few teachers have modified their use of the prescribed techniques in ways that depart somewhat from the original guidelines. The principal can best respond by first:

• providing retraining to those teachers who are not adhering to new techniques as they were originally defined

• evaluating the effectiveness of the teachers' modifications to the new techniques in addressing the school's improvement goals.

• meeting with all teachers to reinforce the value of the new techniques and stress the importance of consistent schoolwide implementation.

• surveying teachers throughout the school to determine their views about the new techniques and their efficacy.

A school last developed a vision over ten years ago, and the existing vision has not been used in a significant way for many years. Following consultation with the district leadership, the school's new principal decides to initiate the process of developing a new vision for the school. The creation of a new vision can be expected to benefit the school most by:

• facilitating the process of ensuring accountability for results.

• reducing barriers to achieving positive school change.

• providing a clear sense of direction for moving forward.

• facilitating alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

A school is beginning the process of developing a new vision. A public meeting to kick off the process includes attendees reflecting many groups in the community. The principal begins the meeting with some introductory remarks and then gives attendees a brief form to complete before initiating discussion. The form includes open ended questions such as the following.

A great school is one that ___________

A successful student is able to ___________

An effective classroom is one in which ___________

A high-quality instructional program focuses on ___________

This activity is likely to be most effective in achieving which of the following goals?

• helping attendees identify and clarify their core beliefs about education

• promoting attendees' understanding of and commitment to the work ahead

• encouraging attendees to challenge their current assumptions about the role of schools

• providing attendees with a common philosophical framework to guide their participation

A middle school recently completed development of a mission statement that emphasizes the role of the school in achieving a variety of important goals, such as "enabling students to become confident, self-directed, lifelong learners" and "preparing students to participate actively as responsible citizens in an ever-changing society." The principal can best facilitate achievement of the goals in the mission statement by guiding stakeholders to take which of the following actions first?

• defining a set of specific, concrete objectives aimed at accomplishing each goal

• determining strategies for addressing each goal in various content areas across the curriculum

• defining assessment procedures for measuring students' current performance in relation to each goal

• determining materials and resources related to each goal that are currently available in the school

In providing direction for a vision development committee, a principal should emphasize the idea that effective vision statements focus on

• celebrating the diversity of a community.

• creating a sense of teamwork between teachers and students.

• encouraging ongoing professional development.

• developing high expectations for student learning.