Gardening in the Minefield: A Survival Guide for School Administrators

For anyone in school leadership - or anyone who hopes to be - this book is a must read. Seasoned educator Laurel Schmidt tells it like it is about a principal’s daily life. From the nitty gritty of hiring, evaluating, and firing staff, to navigating the intricacies of school politics and managing crises in the glare of the media, she provides a long-overdue tool to help you take control of your life as a school administrator. With insight, humon and use-this-now practicality, Schmidt details strategies for surviving the daily grind, while honing a vision of a school that works. Learn how to: - plant the seeds for your vision and maintain your course - weed out the worst, hire the best - nurture productive relationships with parents, board members, and staff - cultivate effective strategies for improving instruction - root out efforts to undermine your leadership - master the communication glut - email, voicemail, and the in-box - stamp out stress with simple techniques that work at work.