Principal appraisal and mentoring
Introduction
Principal appraisal and mentoring are linked specifically to acknowledge that any form of the appraisal for leaders should also be a learning opportunity. The principal appraisal process lasts approximately 8 months and is dialogic – consisting of multiple dialogues in the principal’s school and other venues. The process commonly requires active participation by the principal, engaging with various readings suggested by the mentor, and engagement in group dialogues with other principals.
For school principals at all levels the basic criteria for the evaluation consist of the professional standards for principals and any other criteria included in the principal’s job description. This process meets the requirements for the principal’s annual appraisal as required by the Ministry of Education.
The Process
During the process the appraisee/Principal is largely responsible for defining the direction of the dialogue. This allows the focus to rest largely on the needs of individual leaders. Obviously this focus is most likely to be influenced by individual goals and performance agreements. However, because it is not required to adhere strictly to covering specific goals only, it allows the appraisee to explore tangential aspects of their leadership that might move from peripheral focus to central practice.
Importantly, this form of mentoring easily allows for the dual goals of both mentoring and an evaluative process. This dual process has been developed and trialled over a period of approximately 18 years. It has demonstrated itself to be rigourous, focused, challenging, professionally satisfying and inclusive. As the process includes interviews with staff, students (where appropriate), trustees and other members of the community, leaders are able to gain a substantial insight into perceptions of the leadership and its effectiveness. Far from being a threatening element, it is highly informative and potentially transformational.
