Resources
Research
From tinkering to transformation: How school district central offices drive equitable teaching and learning (2023)
In this book, available from Harvard Education Press, we share our latest findings on the work of Teaching & Learning, Human Resources, Principal Supervision, Operations, and Cabinet.
Order From tinkering to transformationBook Here
Supervising principals for instructional leadership: A teaching and learning approach (2020)
In this book, available from Harvard Education Press, we detail our research findings on what principal supervisors do when they help principals grow as instructional leaders and conditions that support principal supervisors' success.
Order Supervising Principals for Instructional LeadershipBook Here
A teaching-and-learning approach to principal supervision (2020)
In this Phi Delta Kappan article, we discuss our research findings about principal supervision.
Read A Teaching-and-Learning Approach to Principal SupervisionArticle Here
Supporting principal supervisors: What really matters (2019)
In this Emerald Insight article, we share our research findings about conditions that help principal supervisors shift their roles from supervision to support.
Read Supporting Principal SupervisorsArticle Here
Research use as learning: The case of fundamental change in school district central offices (2017)
In this American Educational Research Journal article, we share research findings about how central office administrators use research (including the central office transformation research) to fundamentally shift their work to support districtwide teaching and learning improvement.
Read Research Use as LearningArticle Here
How Schools Districts Can Support Deeper Learning (2015)
In this report for Jobs for the Future, we discuss our research findings on the importance of "performance alignment" throughout central offices for realizing deeper learning at scale.
Read How Schools Districts Can Support Deeper LearningReport Here
Central office leadership in principal professional learning communities: The practice beneath the policy (2014)
In this Teachers College Record article, we share our initial research findings about how principal supervisors lead principal professional learning communities in ways that help principals grow as instructional leaders.
Read Central Office Leadership in Principal Professional Learning CommunitiesArticle Here
From Tinkering to Transformation: Strengthening School District Central Office Performance (2013)
This policy memo for the American Enterprise Institute shares our early research findings about central office transformation.
Read From Tinkering to TransformationMemo Here
District central office leadership as teaching: How central office administrators support principals’ development as instructional leaders (2012)
In this Educational Administrative Quarterly article, we share our initial research findings about how principal supervisors work with principals one-on-one to support principals' growth as instructional leaders.
Read District Central Office Leadership as TeachingArticle HereTools
AASA Podcast: From Teaching to Telling on the Superintendent’s Cabinet (2024)
This episode of AASA's Principal Supervisor Podcast Series focuses on DL2's research on the importance of transforming Cabinet to drive equitable teaching and learning. Leaders from Broward County Public Schools (FL) share their experience using those ideas in their district.
Listen to From teaching to telling on the Superintendent’s CabinetPodcast Here
AASA Podcast: From Operations to Opportunity (2024)
This episode of AASA's Principal Supervisor Podcast Series focuses on DL2's research on the transformation of central office operational units to drive equitable teaching and learning and how Des Moines Public Schools (IA) has been using those ideas to anchor transformation in their district.
Listen to From operations to opportunityPodcast Here
AASA Podcast: From Principal Supervision to Support (2024)
This episode of AASA's Principal Supervisor Podcast Series focuses on DL2's research on how principal supervisors help principals grow as instructional leaders and how two former principal supervisors have used those ideas in their own practice.
Listen to From principal supervision to supportPodcast Here
AASA Podcast: From Staffing to Strategy in Human Resources (2024)
This episode of AASA's Principal Supervisor Podcast Series focuses on DL2's research on the transformation of Human Resources units to drive equitable teaching and how Des Moines Public Schools (IA) has been using those ideas to anchor transformation in their district.
Listen to From staffing to strategy in Human ResourcesPodcast Here
AASA Podcast: From Delivery to Development in Teaching & Learning (2024)
This episode of AASA's Principal Supervisor Podcast Series focuses on DL2's research on the transformation of Teaching & Learning units to drive equitable teaching and learning and how Boston Public Schools (MA) has been using those ideas to anchor transformation in their district.
Listen to FFrom delivery to development in Teaching & LearningPodcast Here
AASA Podcast: How School District Central Offices Drive Equitable Teaching and Learning (2024)
This episode of AASA's Principal Supervisor Podcast Series provides an overview of the book, From tinkering to transformation: How school district central offices drive equitable teaching and learning, and kicks off a series of episodes on each book chapter.
Listen to How school district central offices drive equitable teaching and learningPodcast Here
AASA Podcast Series
These six podcast episodes are part of the AASA Principal Supervisor Podcast Series and focus on the book From tinkering to transformation: How school district central offices drive equitable teaching and learning (Honig & Rainey, 2023).
Listen to AASAPodcast Series Here
Central Office Transformation for Equitable Teaching & Learning Self-Study Guide 2.0 (2025)
This tool helps central office leaders and their staff self-assess how they work in relation to the central office transformation research findings and develop action plans.
Download Central office transformation for equitable teaching & learning self-studyGuide Here
Principal Supervisor Performance Standards (PSPS) Version 3.0
These research-based performance standards focus principal supervisors and others on key practices that help principals grow as instructional leaders.
Download Principal Supervisor Performance StandardsTool Here
Professional Growth Planning (PGP) Tool
This research-based tool guides central office leaders, principals, teachers, and other educators in using performance standards to lead their own learning in ways essential to their professional growth.
Download Professional Growth PlanningTool HereMedia
Book Talk: From tinkering to transformation. Harvard University Gutman Library 2024
Listen to Meredith Honig speak with Professor Jen Cheatham about her 2023 book. The conversation focuses on key research findings and ideas for practice.
Watch to Book Talk: From tinkering to transformationInterview Here
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Podcasts.
Listen to these two AASA podcasts on the research in Honig & Rainey's (2020) book, Supervising principals for instructional leadership: A teaching and learning approach.
Remote Support of Principal Supervisors "Not Different" from Pre-Covid Times (2020)
Read this interview with Meredith Honig and Nancy Gutierrez of The Leadership Academy about the importance of principal supervisors supporting principals through and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read Remote Support of Principal Supervisors "Not Different" from Pre-Covid Times Interview Here
Book Review: Supervising principals for instructional leadership: A teaching and learning approach (2020)
In this review for Teachers College Record, Kimberly D. Clarida & David Edward DeMatthews discuss Supervising principals for instructional leadership: A teaching and learning approach.
Read Supervising Principals for Instructional LeadershipReview Here
Interview: Supervising principals for instructional leadership: A teaching and learning approach (2020)
Listen to this Principal Center Radio interview with Meredith Honig and Lydia Rainey about their 2020 book.
Listen to Supervising Principals for Instructional Leadership Interview Here
Meredith Honig: Beyond Setting an Instructional Vision (2018)
Watch this video about DL2's research on the school district superintendent as lead instructional leader.
Watch Meredith Honig: Beyond Setting an Instructional Vision Video Here