A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Tonight, we are honoring the outstanding work of individual principals and highlighting the importance of good school leadership. I am proud that the U.S. Department of Education continues to be a cosponsor of the National Distinguished Principals Program. And I am grateful to our corporate partner, the Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge what I see as a very positive addition to the program this year: the decision to include those who serve in middle schools.

NAESP is well represented at the Department of Education. Carole Kennedy, a former NAESP president, is my current principal-in-residence and adviser on school leadership. Her advice for this speech was simple: "Tell a story about your grandchildren."

With 11 "talented" grandchildren, I have a personal stake in the future of education. And tonight, before an audience of National Distinguished Principals, I am optimistic about the education of my grandchildren and their generation because of everything you are doing to provide a quality education for every child.

In order to reach that goal, we will need to change the way we think about school leadership. Being a principal is more demanding and more challenging than ever before. I know that each of you works hard to meet these challenges, which include a more diverse student population, higher learning standards for all students, and increased pressure to hold schools accountable for student achievement.

But there are not enough of you to go around. Too many schools struggle to recruit and retain good school leaders. You became principals to work with teachers, to improve instruction, to raise student achievement, and to lead schools that are accountable for results. Unfortunately, too many principals don't have time to do anything but their administrative tasks.

So if we are going to address the shortage of principals, we need to redefine your role and allow you to have a greater impact. I am convinced that if being a principal meant being fully engaged in improving teaching and learning, then we would be one step closer to easing the shortage. A principal who attended our summit in July described the problem this way: "Those close enough to be interested in the job are also close enough to be discouraged by it." By the way, I hope you all will attend the Department's Principal Summit next year.

I am heartened that the issue of school leadership is beginning to attract attention. And the reason for the attention is clear: Other school reform efforts-reducing class size, focusing on early reading, providing learning opportunities for younger children, and expanding after-school and summer school programs for students-will never be fully successful without effective school leadership.

We need you, as National Distinguished Principals, to be leaders not only in your schools and communities, but also at the national level. We need you to support nationwide efforts to improve our schools and to attract and hold on to good principals. Let me tell you about three ways that you can expand your role.

First, don't be shy or modest about spreading the word about the successes at your schools. You received this award because you are doing good things. You will have an even greater impact if you assist other schools in emulating your success.

Second, I urge you to consider applying for advanced certification. NAESP is working with the associations for secondary school principals and school administrators to create the American Board for Leadership in Education, or ABLE. The Board will establish advanced certification for experienced school leaders who meet high and rigorous standards. When ABLE is up and running, I hope you will be among the first to become certified.

My third and final challenge to you is to pay attention to the current negotiations over the federal education budget. You can help us make sure that it includes funds:

• for 100,000 new teachers to reduce class size in the early grades,

• for recruiting and better preparing teachers,

• for mentoring of disadvantaged middle school students,

• for covering more of IDEA expenses, and

• for expanding after-school and summer school opportunities.

Also, you can help us make sure the education budget reflects the critical importance of good school leadership. We have requested $40 million for a new initiative, the School Leadership Institutes. The initiative would create some 20 state or regional centers that could train as many as 10,000 current or prospective school administrators.

If Congress will include funding for this crucial project in the budget, and if the School Leadership Institutes work as well as I think they will, we can begin to consider forming a National Academy for School Leadership. We might call it a West Point for principals and superintendents.

We need to address the shortage of principals, and we need to invest in better training and professional development for school leaders. A National Academy for School Leadership could help us meet both of these objectives.

I know that I have urged you to take on even more responsibility, and I know that is a lot to ask. So for the rest of tonight, I hope you will allow yourselves to enjoy your award. Congratulations to each of you on being named a National Distinguished Principal. Thank you for your service to your students, your community, and our entire nation. Thank you very much.