This formal paper is the development of a school leadership plan based on the candidate’s knowledge and
personal philosophy. Candidates will use the TILS and PSEL standards, the Tennessee Literacy Standards for
Instructional Leaders, course text, and scholarly research to write this formal paper. Use headings to organize
the paper. In the paper, the candidate should include the following information:
o Articulate and summarize existing leadership strategies in his/her school. (Students are most aware of the
strategies used in the context of their workplace. Students may include an interview of their principal or chair).
o Include a defined plan for the leadership strategies or styles that would be used by the candidate throughout
a school year, if you were to replace the principal or dean of your current organization, clearly communicating
your philosophy of leadership;
o Address the management of teachers, students, and other stakeholders if the candidate were the principal of
the school or the dean/chair in higher education. Special attention should be paid to literacy leadership and the
use of personnel, fiscal, and time resources. Experience in the school and district should make one keenly
aware of the current status;
o Relate the job duties of the principal/dean to the TILS and PSEL standards and the Tennessee Literacy
Standards for Instructional Leaders (standards documents attached);
o Consist of six (6) pages in length plus references, cover page, and running head with a minimum of seven
scholarly resources in addition to the course textbook. Personal communications are not considered scholarly
resources, and while cited in the text, they do not appear on reference pages. Interviews do not count as one
of the six citations; and
Course Textbook
Leading with Focus Elevating the Essentials for School and District Improvement
author: Mike Schmoker