EDU 720 - Human Resources and Personnel Administration

Credits: 3

Effectiveness of public schools and organizational vitality is largely dependent on people who comprise the staff and the ability of the principal leader to creatively shape school and district goals through them. To administer effectively, the principal leader must possess skills and understandings that best enable him/her to lead and manage adults. Together, professional and paraprofessional, clerical, cafeteria and custodial staff all constitute the school’s human resources team. Focuses on need for comprehensive and clearly written policies together with efficient organizational structures to support effective human resource administration. Topics include personnel search, staff selection, teacher induction, mentoring, supervision, evaluation, professional development, policymaking, teacher contracts, teacher “professional status” (tenure), promotion and dismissal. Emphasis placed on interpersonal dynamics of educational enterprise as it relates to human resource management. Issues of affirmative action and and prohibited discriminatory personnel practices examined. Students gain thorough knowledge of adult learning and strategies that work best to bring about positive school culture.

Field experience required.