In culling lessons from 13 years of research that describes what effective principals do well, The Wallace Foundation has found they perform five key practices:

* Shaping a vision of academic success for all students
* Creating a climate hospitable to education
* Cultivating leadership in others
* Improving instruction
* Managing people, data, and processes to foster school improvement

Learning Forward has developed this web-based professional learning guide using excerpts from the award-winning PBS documentary film, The Principal Story, to illustrate the five practices. The guide is intended to help those who prepare and support aspiring and current principals probe these essential practices. Use this facilitator guide to explore options for using these tools.