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Before I was elected to Congress, I served for seven years in the Maryland State Department of Education as a liaison to the Baltimore City Public Schools. During that time, I came to appreciate that a key component for creating a successful school was having a principal who is a strong instructional leader. So I was very pleased to see the discussion that played out over the last week in The Baltimore Sun regarding the role of principals in our schools ("Power to the principals," Oct. 28, and "Principals need more support," Readers respond, Oct. 30).
The best principals are not just good managers. They are also instructional leaders. Principals are tasked with creating an environment where young people are prepared to succeed in life. Part of this task includes ensuring that teachers have the knowledge and instructional skills necessary to create this positive environment. In order to better prepare principals for this challenge, I was proud to introduce the Instructional Leadership Act, which will provide resources to train principals on the best practices to guide teaching and learning in schools. It also offers support by creating a mentoring program for new principals. This bill is a necessary step toward developing the next generation of school leaders who are committed to, and effective in, increasing student achievement.
John Sarbanes, Baltimore
The writer, a Democrat, represents Maryland's 3rd District in Congress.
Send your comments to talkback@baltimoresun.com.
The best principals are not just good managers. They are also instructional leaders. Principals are tasked with creating an environment where young people are prepared to succeed in life. Part of this task includes ensuring that teachers have the knowledge and instructional skills necessary to create this positive environment. In order to better prepare principals for this challenge, I was proud to introduce the Instructional Leadership Act, which will provide resources to train principals on the best practices to guide teaching and learning in schools. It also offers support by creating a mentoring program for new principals. This bill is a necessary step toward developing the next generation of school leaders who are committed to, and effective in, increasing student achievement.
John Sarbanes, Baltimore
The writer, a Democrat, represents Maryland's 3rd District in Congress.
Send your comments to talkback@baltimoresun.com.
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