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In Praise of Principals (in Hard Times)

By Elena Aguilar

For the last few years, I have worked as a school leadership coach in Oakland, Calif. Primarily, I support principals to develop their capacities—work that gives me a wide-angle view on the daily lives of our public school leaders. I have long recognized that principals’ jobs are challenging, but this year I have seen Oakland’s principals rise to tackle a new array of difficulties. As 2011 unfolds, I often find myself in awe of the work they do, as well as their commitment and tenacity.

Administrators in Oakland must fulfill the same roles and responsibilities as principals across the U.S. However, as urban school leaders, Oakland administrators must also be adept at communicating with families from a range of backgrounds, cultures, and religions.

Like many other inner-city principals, most of Oakland’s school leaders operate with their heads in the noose of No Child Left Behind: They must raise test scores or lose their jobs (there is no such thing as tenure for principals). This is the "either/or" with which they live, regardless of the fact that social and economic factors outside of a school’s control make these mandates...