There are five possible causes for the achievement gap in a school, and high school principals need to look at those causes and their leadership style before they can solve the problem. That was Marvin Pittman’s message in his Assembly session, “Developing and Enhancing Leadership Skills for Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps.”
There are five basic personal leadership areas that all principals assess to be successful: attitude and disposition, vision, leadership and management, readiness for change, and diversity belief system.
“In looking at your diversity belief system, principals must have a very honest conversation with themselves regarding what they believe about poor children, disadvantaged children, minority children, and children of different faiths,” Pittman said. “You don’t have to tell anyone else, but you have to be very honest with yourself.”
He also outlined five possible causes for the achievement gap based on years of work in North Carolina, including preparation and support of teachers, underachieving student and his/her condition for learning, the role of the home and community, legislation and policy, and participation of the student in the instructional process.
He indicated that teachers coming from education schools aren’t prepared for the diversity they will face in most classrooms but that experienced teachers also need professional development in this area.
He called upon principals to look at personal issues that students might bring to school that hamper their learning and policies in their schools and district that might keep some students out of accelerated classes.
