A new book about how principals can better help children learn was written by the chair of graduate programs for the University of Houston-Victoria School of Education & Human Development.

Tim Berkey

Tim Berkey is the author of “Improving Your Daily Practice: A Guide for Effective School Leadership,” a book published at the end of February that shows principals how they can change their daily practices so they will have more time to focus on student achievement.

“I wrote this book to help principals focus on their most important task, which is to make sure our children reach their fullest potential,” he said.

The book came out of an effort to improve the internship program for prospective principals attending UHV.

Berkey’s research discovered that many principals spend their days completing tasks that are not directly connected with improving learning. Various bureaucratic duties keep principals from working in classrooms with teachers and groups of teachers to improve students’ educational experiences.

“The first half of the book is a process that I developed, researched and implemented out in the field that helps them reduce their work in those non-essential areas,” Berkey said. “The second half of the book is a model that shows from research where they should put their time and gives them a goal-setting process and a way over time to change their behaviors so they are more effective as school leaders.”

Berkey has extensive leadership experience in the world of education.

He worked as a public school teacher and administrator in Ohio and Illinois for 30 years before joining UHV as an assistant professor of educational leadership in 2005.

He served as a principal of three Blue Ribbon schools and received state and national recognition for innovative programs from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Ford Foundation, National School Boards Association and American Association of School Administrators.

Berkey was the recipient of the 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 Enron Teaching Excellence Award, which is given annually to UHV professors who provide innovative, high-quality instruction for their students.

“Tim Berkey is going above and beyond the call of duty to educate school leaders in the best ways to empower our children,” said Mary Natividad, interim dean of the education school. “He is a credit to his department, his school and this institution.”

The book is published by Eye on Education, a New York-based publisher of practical reference books for teachers, principals, administrators and other educators. The book retails for a suggested price of $39.95.