You are here

Passing the Principal as Instructional Leader TExES Exam
Share

Passing the Principal as Instructional Leader TExES Exam
Keys to Certification and School Leadership

Third Edition

Foreword by Jeanne M. Gerlach



March 2019 | 192 pages | Corwin

The premier guide to acing the exam—completely revised!

When the toughest test in Texas gets updated, it’s a big deal. Luckily, this best-selling preparation guide—the secret weapon Texas educators use to take their careers to the next level—has been updated right along with it. Now in its third edition, it’s the resource you need to be at your best for the test.

In her trademark friendly style, Elaine Wilmore gives you the information you need and helps you make the transition from thinking like a teacher to reflecting, reacting, and responding like a learner-centered principal. As you explore each element of the exam’s new structure—eleven competencies within six domains—you’ll also find:

  • An overview of the updated TExES philosophy
  • In-depth analysis of the new domains and competencies
  • Real-life stories and applications to ground each concept in reality
  • Test-taking strategies, online and offline, to suit any style
  • Tips for time management and stress relief before, during, and after the exam

You already know you’re principal material—you just need to prove it to Texas. With this hand-on preparation guide, you’ll be ready to ace the exam, get certified, and change the world—one school at a time.

 
Foreword
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
SECTION I CONTENT: THE KNOWLEDGE BASE
 
1. Welcome!
Basic Concepts

 
Leadership: A Skill or an Art?

 
Getting Started

 
 
2. Updates to Test Structure: 068 to 268
 
3. Principal Assessment of School Leadership (PASL)
What’s It All About, Alphie?

 
 
SECTION II PHILOSOPHY: THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
 
4. Standing on the Promises
Global Overview of TExES Domains

 
Key Concepts

 
Priority Descriptors

 
The Ideal Principal

 
Pretend

 
The Six Domains

 
 
5. Learner-Centered Leadership and Campus Culture
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements for 001

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
6. Learner-Centered Leadership With Stakeholders
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
7. Learner-Centered Leadership in High-Quality Instruction
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
8. Learner-Centered Leadership in Promoting Teacher Effectiveness and Student Achievement
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
9. Learner-Centered Leadership Through Professional Development
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
10. Learner-Centered Leadership Promoting Teacher Excellence and Growth
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
11. Learner-Centered Leadership Through Communication Skills
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
12. Learner-Centered Leadership in Improving Student Outcomes
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
13. Learner-Centered Leadership in Goal Setting
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
14. Learner-Centered Administrative Leadership
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
15. Learner-Centered Ethical and Equitable Leadership
The Principal Knows How To . . .

 
Prioritized Statements

 
Important Points to Remember

 
 
SECTION III THE REAL DEAL: PRACTICAL APPLICATION
 
16. No Data Left Behind: How Do I Read All Those Reports?
Data Analysis Simplified

 
How to Read and Interpret Standardized Test Scores

 
How to Read and Interpret a “Texas Academic Performance Report” (TAPR)

 
Summary

 
 
17. Test-Taking Strategies: Now Listen to Me Here . . .
The Testing Session: General Overview

 
The Dot Game: A Psychological and Time

 
The Dog and Star Game: A Decision-Making Strategy

 
Key Words and Themes: “Sherrys” Revisited

 
The Ideal Principal

 
Summary

 
 
18. Creating a Personal Success Plan: Where There Is a Will, There Is a Way
Tips for Those Who Have Not Been Successful on the Exam . . . Yet

 
The “Elaine Wilmore 5-C Plan”

 
Tips for Out-of-State Future Texas Principals

 
Everyone—Texans and Non-Texans Alike

 
From Now Till the Week You Test

 
The Week You Test

 
What to Do, and Not Do, the Night Before the Test

 
What to Do, and Not Do, the Morning or Afternoon of the Test

 
Living Your Life After the Test

 
 
SECTION IV AFTER YOU PASS THE TEST: THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!
 
19. That’s What It’s All About: Actually Becoming Certified
Knock the Top Out of It!

 
 
Addendum A: Commissioner’s Rules Concerning Educator Standards Subchapter BB. Administrator Standards
 
Addendum B: Sample TARP Report
 
Addendum C: Texas Administrative Code, Code of Ethics
 
References
 
Suggested Additional Reading
 
Index
Key features
This book is a perennial best seller since it offers easy to follow guidance and practice for anyone who has to take the TExES Principal's examination in order to be certified. 

1. Will reflect changes in the Texas Licensing Exam that goes into effect in 2019 with a K-12 focus
2. Will add discussion of online strategies for taking the test to follow reality of today's environment
3. Much more attention will be placed on "decision sets" with questions regarding the state Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS).
4. Will include many additional test taking strategies developed by the author

As you know, the state is changing the Principal TExES Exam. This will not be an update to the test as it has been in the past. It will be a total new “redesign.”

 

The test protocol is at least 75% different. There will still be the typical decision sets that we are masters at addressing.

 

That is where the resemblance ends. The rest of the test is going to include DISCUSSION QUESTIONS as well as VIDEOS for the students to respond to. I have attended every meeting the state has had on this, regardless of location, hoping they would eventually provide something a little more firm to describe these portions. The most recent word is the test will roll out in Dec, 2018.

 

Students are scared  to death so they are pushing HARD to pass the existing test before September. Professors are WAY past concerned. I am getting regular contacts from professors and students as to what I, alone, am going to do about this. It’s   Like they are dependent on me to save them from the new big, bad, expensive test.

 

 

Outline of Changes:

PART I:

 

I have the new standards and can begin writing to address them. They are in-stone and have been released. There is nothing that new in them, but everything is moved around considerably. There is nothing I am not confident about handling.

 

PART II:

 

I can, between now and May, do the preliminary writing of the facts we know. In May they are supposed to release the last of what they are going to release towards the test protocol. I will already have developed the Decision - Making Process Template as well as the Writing Template and Tips for Writers since so many of the responses are going to be written. Then I can spend the early part of the summer using the last from the State for Part II and polishing it up.

For instructors

Select a Purchasing Option

ISBN: 9781544342153
£35.99

SAGE Knowledge is the premier social sciences platform for SAGE and CQ Press book, reference and video content.

The platform allows researchers to cross-search and seamlessly access a wide breadth of must-have SAGE book and reference content from one source.