Principals encourage student academic gain by the ways in which they govern the school, build strong collaborative relationships, and organize and allocate professional work time. Because these activities are important predictors of academic achievement, along with quality teacher activities, further information is also provided about how principals use leadership traits to increase school productivity. Principals' integration of management and leadership provides a conceptualization of the principal's role, that of educational leadership. Because instruction is the primary service of schools, principals should be aware of the special needs of each instructional area in order to provide the resources needed to carry out the school's mission effectively and to provide guidance and support to teachers. Effective principals involve teachers in critical decisions about instruction and protect the staff from external pressure and interference. They develop a sense of teamwork at the school in planning, implementing, and evaluating the instructional program, and involve parents, advisory groups, and school employees in the program. (Contains 15 references.) (MAH)