Chapter 1

The Problem and its Scope

Introduction

The role of the principal is rapidly changing from simply encouraging

teachers' efforts to leading teachers to produce tangible results. Presently,

there is an abundance of research that supports the notion that leadership is

one of the most important factors for improving student achievement.

According to the Institute for Educational Leadership (as cited in NGA Center

for Best Practices,) the principal's main responsibility will be "instructional

leadership that focuses on strengthening teaching and learning". The Mid-

continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) researchers

concluded that effective principals have the capacity to improve student

achievement by understanding the technical aspect of education and

knowing how and when to adjust their leadership practices (Marzano, &

McNulty, 2009). In addition, Fullan (as cited in Chappuis, "predicts that

leadership will be to this decade what standards-based reform was to the

last.

Historically, effective principals have only needed to possess sound

managerial