Selecting the Right People

In a perfect world, principals would be able to hand pick their faculties and staffs. That, however, is rarely the case. In our experience, even when principals can interview and recommend candidates, teacher and staff assignments are most often made by the district's central human resources department. And, unfortunately, specific placements may depend on lots of things that have little to do with matching teachers' and staffs' qualifications, aptitudes, and interests with particular schools' specific and unique needs. In many districts, union contracts require placements made on the basis of seniority. Other placements may be based on the need to find “new homes” for teachers and others who are being displaced by school downsizing or school closings. Frequently, ...