An Entrepreneur in the Educational World (a): Principal Matthew Landahl

Abstract

This case reviews the facts behind an effort to transform an underachieving elementary school through the lens of the school principal and the district superintendent. Written from two different perspectives, the principal's A case (UVA-OB-1004) has Matthew Landahl, a principal at a high functioning school at central office meeting with superintendent and talking about his experiences as a Teach For America (TFA) teacher and how much he missed it. The superintendent asks him if he would be interested in taking on the principalship at Greer Elementary, explaining that it was about as close to a TFA school as he would find in a small city. Although he was told to take some time and think about it, Landahl immediately imagined himself in the role of principal at Greer and the challenges he would face. Would the position at Greer really offer the kind of leadership challenges and rewards he wanted? If he took the job, what strategies would be needed to help Greer students and staff succeed? And what kind of support would he need to ask of the superintendent? This case has been taught in an executive education school turnaround program for district administrators and principals. It could also be used in a first-year MBA leadership and organizational behavior course as an introduction on creating value through people-management and design. Excerpt UVA-OB-1004 August 30, 2010 AN ENTREPRENEUR IN THE EDUCATIONAL WORLD (A): PRINCIPAL MATTHEW LANDAHL A former Teach for America educator and a seasoned principal at a middle-class school in Charlottesville, Virginia, Matthew Landahl had all the right credentials. And he was bored. Although he was grateful for the opportunity to hone his leadership skills in a well-heeled, high-functioning elementary school, it was time for a change. Landahl intended to put some feelers out back home in Chicago about jobs openings for principals and decided it was only fair to let Albemarle County Public School Superintendent Pamela Moran know. They met in her office in the spring of 2007. As the two talked, the superintendent brought up Mary Carr Greer Elementary (Greer)—one of the two Title I elementary schools in the county system. Why was she talking to him about Greer? Was she thinking of making some changes there? If that school opened up, would he even be interested? . . .