Major Training Exercise 4

Obtaining Professional Information for Principals

Background Information

IS THE INTERNET A USEFUL SOURCE OF PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION? Yes! However few school principals have spare hours to go surfing on the Internet in the vague hope of finding useful professional sites. Useful and interesting professional information on education and school leadership is out there in cyberspace. Rather than give up on the enormity of the searching task, however, the idea is to gradually build up a personal 'library' of useful web sites and a network of cyberprofessional colleagues. This can be done by occasionally 'surfing' yourself and/or looking at useful web site lists created by employers, colleagues and other people with similar professional interests. These should be 'bookmarked' for easy future access. You can then check out your 'favourite' web site for updates when you have the time.

CAN I USE THE INTERNET TO BROADEN AND ENRICH MY PROFESSIONAL NETWORK? Yes! Think of cyberspace as a giant international gathering place. At first glance, it may seem intimidating and full of strangers you haven't met before. Indeed, it is. However, this shouldn't stop you strategically seeking out and contacting like-minded professional colleagues, in an appropriate way, with a view to extending your network and expanding your knowledge about education. Many schools have web sites, which are worth visiting just to see what policies are in place, and what programs are being offered. To go further than this, many of these school sites name the school's principal and often include his or her mission statement and email address. There's no reason why you as a fellow principal shouldn't contact that person if you require further information about the school's policies and programs. Think of this exercise as 'customising' your own professional development.

However, when contacting colleagues outside your local area, make sure you include a sufficient level of identifying information in your 'approach email'. The principal being contacted should have no doubts about your bona fide identity (this might include reference to your own school's web site, your postal address, your phone/fax number, etc.). If you receive no response via email, continue with the query via a personalised 'snail mail' (a regular paper letter), asking for subsequent email contact.

USEFUL WEB SITES FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS. These can be divided into several categories, and a small selection is provided to demonstrate the range of type and quality.

E-zines (electronic magazines) specialising in education/educational leadership

Principal Online (USA)

ICP Online (International)

(Contact Contributions Manager, Nola Hambleton, on nolah@nzpf.ac.nz or Managing Editor, Debra Brydon, on email brydon@bigpond.net.au if you'd like to contribute an article to this international principals' e-zine.)


AASA Online-Leadership News (USA)

The School Administrator (USA)

Times Educational Supplement: Primary Online (UK)

australia.edu (Australia)

Education Policy Analysis Archives (Arizona State University, USA)

Boyles Online Education Commentary (Australia)

School Web Sites

School Penang (Malaysia)

Ranson Elementary School (USA)

Government Sites Relating to Education

NT Department of Education (Australia)

Board of Studies NSW (Australia)

Education Queensland (Australia)

Ministry of Education Singapore (Singapore)

Pathways for Planning and Programmes in Schools, Department of Education, Training and Employment (Australia)

The NSW Department of School Education (Australia)

SOFWeb (Australia)


General Education Sites

International Registry of Schools on the Web

earlychildhood.com (USA)

Sussex Community Internet Project (UK)

Frontiers (USA)

ChildForum.com (New Zealand)

Pathways to School Improvement (USA)

Early Childhood Education Online (USA)

Education World (USA)

CanadaSchoolNet (Canada)

Web66: A K12 World Wide Web Project

EdNA Online (Australia)

Education Sections of General Newspapers

Times Educational Supplement (UK)

Education Week

USA Today

Principals Associations Web Sites

Secondary Heads Association (UK)

Australia Primary Principals Association (Australia)

Primary Principals Association (Australia)

Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals

American Association of School Administrators (USA)

Association of California School Administrators (USA)

Junior Primary Principals Association (Australia)

Australian Primary Principals Association (Australia)

Australian Secondary Principals Association (Australia)

Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (USA)

National Association of Elementary School Principals (USA)

New York State Council of School Superintendents (USA)

Rhode Island Association of School Administrators (USA)

Canadian Association of School Administrators


Miscellaneous Useful Sites

Telstras White Pages Directory (Australia)