Principal’s Hot Seat

The Principal’s Hot Seat: Observing Real-World Dilemmas, 2nd edition provides a window through which aspiring and practicing school leaders observe and evaluate some of the most challenging, authentic, and unpredictable interactions common to the principalship. With video footage from an unscripted role play in which teachers, parents, and stakeholders share a variety of issues and emotions with the principal, the Hot Seat challenges readers to unpack the ways principals attempt to address routine and unpredictable challenges in school leadership. From distraught, pushy, or irate parents to teachers refusing to collaborate, curriculum controversies and cultural responsivity, readers assume the “hot seat” and feel the challenge principals face in navigating conversations and issues in ethical, individual, standards-based ways.
Each chapter begins with stage setting and scenario background information, along with relevant literature, research, and resources, followed by a transcript of the interaction, and questions promoting discussion, reflection, and constructive critique. Each scenario comes alive through several minutes of video footage of the unscripted interaction, allowing examination of body language, tone of voice, and non-verbal communication.
The second edition adds new scenarios related to teacher collaboration, controversial curriculum, current social issues, updated literature and resources, and cases in which the principal must interact with more than one stakeholder at a time. New questions examine principals’ performance related to equity, when to seek assistance from others, and more.
Video footage located at: https://textbooks.rowman.com/principals-hot-seat2e

Nicholas J. Pace, former social worker, teacher, coach, and principal, serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Shavonna L. Holmanis an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL).

Cailen O’Shea is a former mentor, interventionist, teacher, athletic and academic coach, and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Educational and Organizational Leadership at North Dakota State University.