The paper should be written to follow APA guidelines and should be 5-7 pages in length and is double-spaced with 12-point type and Times New Roman font. The paper should be organized into 4 sections:
Details of interviews including names and titles, dates of interviews, and any other relevant information;
Observations and summary of interview with principal (or reasonable substitute, see above);
Observations and summary of interview with assistant principal (or reasonable substitute, see above); and,
Conclusions on the interviews. Remember, at least one of the interviews must be with a campus-level leader, even if your career goals do not include becoming a principal.
A reflection/synthesis section addresses the following items from the point of view of a future principal. This will be the most substantive part of the paper by far.
How will you collaboratively develop, articulate, implement, and steward a shared vision of learning for a school (ELCC 1.1)? What does it look like to do these things?
How will you evaluate the potential moral and legal consequences of decision making in the school (ELCC 5.4)? What does a campus at which a principal has done these things successfully look like?
How will you anticipate and assess emerging trends and initiatives in order to adapt school-based leadership strategies (ELCC 6.3). What does the instructional program at a campus at which a principal has done these things successfully look like?
How will you use strategies to ensure the development of collegial relationships and effective collaboration of campus staff? What do faculty meetings at a campus which a principal has done these things successfully look like?
How will you develop and use effective conflict-management and consensus-building skills? What do grade-level teams at a campus at which a principal has done these things successfully look like?
How will you frame, analyze, and creatively resolve campus problems using effective problem-solving techniques to make timely, high-quality decisions? What do relationships with parents, community members, parents, and students look like at a campus at which a principal has done these things successfully?
How will you communicate productively with all audiences through strong communication skills and communicate a message in different ways to meet the needs of various audiences? What does a campus at which a principal has done these things successfully look like?
