Theories and Concepts in HR Management

All school administrators are human resource leaders because they work with and make decisions about people. When we look at school budgets personnel costs vary from 50% to 80%. As we, the school leaders, spend most of our resources on human resources, we also spend most of our time with the adults in a school building. I look at the principal position as coaching. In sports terms, the principal is the coach and teachers are the players. The coach’s job is to observe the players while playing and give them feedback to improve their individual performance along with the team’s performance. The coach does not play but observe. The coach is where the game is being played. And the coach understands the game.

A Major Element in Human Resources: Negotiation. What Can We Learn From the U.S. Army About Negotiation?

Conflict is inevitable in democratic organizations due to divergent views of individuals. Conflict takes place between individuals or groups and arises from disagreements regarding values, responsibilities, and ways of doing things, as well as from competition for scarce resources.

“Negotiation is the most widely used means for settling conflict in organizations and is the least costly in terms of time and money.” (Seyfarth, 252) Simple conflicts could be resolved through negotiations. In their efforts to resolve conflicts with and between teachers, and parents, school leaders negotiate almost every day. They have to be skillful negotiators so they can resolve conflicts relatively quickly to maintain a positive, productive, and vibrant environment.

Charter schools, autonomy, and teacher unions...

 There are three premises on which all charter school operate:

Autonomy, Accountability, and Choice.

Therefore, autonomy matters for charter schools. It is the autonomy not only in human resources but also in curriculum, unique, innovative programs and opportunities that they offer to their students, financial management, school calendar, facility, and much more…

Unless charter schools have autonomy over their staff, the rest of the autonomy given to them by the state becomes less meaningful and effective. They are able to utilize all the autonomy that they have in curriculum, programs, budget, calendar, and facility only when autonomy over their staff exist. Staff is the most critical component in their success hence the autonomy over human resources.