Being an effective educational leader requires a complex set of knowledge, skills, and qualities. There is a temptation to think that the principal must know it all, be able to do it all, and be everything to everyone. While this is not possible, the effective educational leader must never stop acquiring knowledge; the principal must use that knowledge with a variety of skills to create the conditions for learning; and the effective educational leader must embody a diverse set of qualities so that his vision is inclusive and attainable. Effective educational leadership starts with a wide-ranging knowledge.
The most important knowledge for an effective educational leader is the insight that he doesn’t know it all. Of course, it is vital that the leader know the best pedagogical practices of a vibrant learning environment such as differentiating instruction, creating hands-on activities, and designing interdisciplinary
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I have attended trainings and workshops, and I know when to ask the Superintendent and Director of Special Education for advice or review. Only with proper knowledge of budget management, can an educational leader also be the manager that he needs to be. I am very proud of the group effort that has gone into creating and maintaining the budget in the last few years. From starting with a needs-based proposal to creating a fair process for the inevitable reductions, I have managed several budgets that support the core program even in difficult financial times. For the past seven years, I have been the lead disciplinarian with a fair and firm policy. My experiences include handling running in the halls, antics in the cafeteria, bullying, harassment, and more. Of course, a thorough understanding of such areas as the health office, the kitchen, the school bus, the boiler, and the custodian’s closet comes in handy from time to
The second quality of an effective leader is to have a vision. The vision should also include the schools missions, purpose and goals. The principal should be progressive and constantly looking for ways to keep the staff and students motivated to work towards a common goal. As an effective leader you must continuously promote the vision. This could be done with a school created slogan that fits the community. Most people want to belong and feel a part of something successful or on the path to greatness. It is a wonderful feeling to be a member of a successful school community where people really
As one leads with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner, they lead by modeling those values and beliefs that belong in an educational setting. They show concern and care personally for the students, staff and communities learning, behaviors, and lives. Leaders promote a culture of openness and trust. They model appropriate behavior and skills to improve learning and engage others to share in this process through collaboration.
One who is in a leadership position must be knowledgeable in his or her field. If one is not knowledgeable, then he or she cannot provide adequate guidance, be innovative, effectively advocate on the behalf of students, or effectively collaborate with a team of professionals. I strive to be competent by being aware of the latest evidence based research, by collaborating with my colleagues, and by pursuing more about the field of education through continuing my education as a high-quality teacher. An effective educator must be proficient in the skills needed to be a leader. If one is not competent in showing compassion, perseverance, innovation, and collaboration, one cannot depict positive acts of
Being an Educational Leader is where I have chosen to land. Educational leadership will often bring me back to the classroom, helping teachers, coaching students and planning curriculum. A master’s degree in Educational Leadership will deliver a fresh perspective
In order to make a difference in schools, we must first assess our problem areas and determine which weaknesses need support in order to ultimately boost student achievement. West Middle School suffers from a lack of innovative and research-based teaching strategies. It is not uncommon to walk up and down the halls and observe students sitting in straight rows and working on decade-old worksheets or drowning in the traditional lecture setting. This problem is compacted by our current administrator, who regularly demonstrates a Laissez-Faire leadership style. He tends to be hands off and trusts that his staff is making the best possible decisions they can for the students they serve. However, our achievement data and school culture are suffering as a result of this “status quo is dandy” approach. Administrators are becoming less managerial, and alternatively are required to take on a more significant role of instructional leaders. An instructional leader would serve West well. In order to make a real difference in my school, I need to possess teacher-leader traits that are grounded in leadership research, as I strive to inspire and direct action of my colleagues during times of change
The strength of any school relies on the strength of its leader and his/her ability to effectively manage the organization. Principals must have impressive leadership skills to manage the diverse school environment. Leadership plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of an educational organization from goal setting to accomplishing goals. Research has proven that successful leaders create effective schools.
An effective leader needs to be genuine and true to the values he holds. If the leader is not honest with those he interacts with, they will not trust him for long. Being clear about values allows the leader to help establish a solid setting for the community to build upon. Strong leaders demonstrate the following values: being trustworthy, caring, focused, flexible, direct, knowledgeable, and approachable. By having a foundation that focuses on the importance of education an instructional leader can focus on clarity and purpose. Through having this clarity of focus, a leader is further prompted to be a lifelong learner (Robbins, 2009).
Educational leaders play significant roles in the modern society. Their effectiveness depends on their strengths. Primarily, it is vital having a comprehensive understanding of who is an educational
When an opportunity for leadership presents itself, it puts a person in a position of influence where they then inherit the responsibility of using their influence for the betterment of the organization. Education in the 20th century has brought with it reforms and initiatives such as No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and Read to Succeed, and thus the need for leadership which holds its responsibilities in the highest regard. Each of these initiative have come with added pressures and accountability for school leaders to show adequate progress and performance on rigorous standardized tests taken by students (Allen, Grisby & Peters, 2015).
Educational leadership is the hot topic in most school districts today. The leaders of our school systems are breeding tomorrow 's leaders, empowering students and teachers through academic success. Administrators, principals, and school leaders, both formal and informal are under an amassed amount of pressure, they must manage the education process holistically assuring that it is legal and effective in every way. My purpose for seeking a master 's degree in Educational leadership is to develop the theory and research necessary to empower teachers and students in urban areas. I understand that schools who aim for excellence, share a common goal throughout the entire school, and has a vision will achieve higher than any school without a clear vision. I know that success is dependent on teacher quality and student achievement.
The importance of effective leadership and its impact on improving student achievement are evident in today’s schools (Leithwood, Louis, Anderson, and Wahlstrom, 2004). While the school principal is traditionally thought to be the school leader, Glickman (1989) proposes that “the principal of successful schools is not the instructional leader but the educational leader who mobilizes the expertise, talent, and care of others” (p. 8). Lumpkin, Claxton, and Wilson (2014) contend that helping “each school fulfill its mission and energize and expand the professionalism and professional contributions of teachers, the expertise of all teachers, especially teacher leaders, is needed” (p. 59). Teachers directly impact student learning, and
Those who learn to be instructional leaders acquire many characteristics that are beneficial to their schools and communities. The writer concurs that Instructional leaders exhibit a clear sense of direction for their schools and prioritize and focus attention on the things that really
School principals build a school culture of high expectations, trust, and professionalism by appreciating and supporting teacher collaboration and shared decision-making. Effective instructional leaders build strong teaching teams and help their teachers improve their classroom practice.
Leading organizations of school administrators offer educators various opportunities to encourage educators to become leaders. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) has mandated that leaders be better prepared for the task of providing quality education to all. NCLB “… is forcing all educational stakeholders to face the weakness of contemporary school leadership and is making it impossible to ignore the need for higher quality principals” (Hale & Moorman, 2003, p.1). It is believed that all educators can be and are leaders in their own right. A leader is a visionary and has the ability to inspire others to aspire to greatness. Of the numerous opportunities that are offered, those that are most beneficial include but are not limited to
As the leader of a 21st century school one must embody the qualities that best reflect the ever-changing face of education. Traditionally, the leader of a school focused a large portion of time and energy on typical managerial functions within the school. These tasks, although important, will not propel a school to achieve excellence. Today’s school leaders must be visionaries who create a sense of purpose driven unity. As a transformational leader, one must also be the beacon of learning in establishing and effectively cultivating professional learning communities. One must recognize and further develop the leadership skills of those within the school in order to ensure the vision and mission of the school is achieved. Keeping in