When asked in a new survey to rate their performance on a number of measures, principals had a higher opinion of their skills than did parents and teachers, who showed more agreement with one another.
Percent Saying “Excellent” | |||
| Principals | Teachers | Parents | |
| Respecting the people in the school | 78 | 36 | 34 |
| Being approachable | 71 | 39 | 34 |
| Being a visible presence throughout the school | 67 | 38 | 42 |
Supporting teachers in the school to be the best teachers they can be | 65 | 33 | 28 |
| Encouraging students to achieve | 59 | 35 | 34 |
| Being a good listener | 53 | 30 | 27 |
| Being an overall leader of the school | 45 | 30 | 34 |
| Providing opportunities for teachers’ professional development | 43 | 31 | 22 |
SOURCE: “Metropolitan Life Survey of the Teacher 2003: An Examination of School Leadership.”
