Leadership in Education: Why is it Important?

This past school year I have been social chair of Nursing Students Without Borders. I have organized, implemented and hosted social events throughout the Fall of 2016 and the Spring of 2017. This past year the leadership of NSWB has worked to make NSWB community focused which is why the position I held was added this past year. I have been able to mentor a pre-nursing student through NSWB. I was able to answer the questions honestly from a pre-nursing student and provide support during the application process. I have been able to participate in leadership meetings and have learned how to plan well and how to improve event planning.

Leadership refers to the act of leading a considerable number of people within an establishment or the capacity to do this. Leadership has to do with coming up with a vision that is crystal clear and the ability to spreads that idea out in a manner that makes individuals, given the information, knowledge, and methods to understand, willing to follow. Subsequently, balancing and coordinating the conflicting interests of all stakeholders and members. It is typical for any good leader to step up in the event of a contingency, with the potential to imagine and act creatively in situations that prove to be difficult. Different from management, leadership can never be taught, in as much as it may be learned and bettered employing mentoring and coaching (Servant Leadership Based on Robert Greenleaf’s Writings, 2010).

Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders. This quote by Tom Peters best summarizes my philosophy of teacher leadership. As a teacher leader, it is up to me to inspire, direct, and encourage others so that stronger teacher, administrative, and student leaders may be born from the process. Teacher leadership involves collaboration between teachers, administrators, and teacher leaders with the goal of positively impacting the student learning environment. With student learning as the ultimate objective, teacher leadership “becomes an indispensable avenue for school improvement” (Coggins & McGovern, 2014, p. 21). So how do I as a teacher leader begin this process? I believe that teacher leadership can be achieved through three means: modeling, mentoring, and collaborating.

In class we defined leadership as using relationships to influence others. Before I came to the Academy I believed that a person could only lead their peers or subordinates. I did not believe that a subordinate could lead their superior. In high school I had many opportunities to develop my leadership with peers and subordinates. I was an officer of National Honor Society, and using that influence and my prior knowledge of NHS activities from the year before I was able to practice my leadership with my peers. I learned how to communicate in a manner to convince them to take action quickly, but not in a way that would seem overbearing or condescending. Furthermore, I was able to be a small group leader for a number of middle school retreats at my parish. In working with sixth grade boys I learned how to deal with insubordination and chaos, and with both of these groups of people I began to understand what was needed in a relationship between a leader and a follower. Our relationship had to be characterized by sincerity and respect. In both of these activities, those that I was leading could have easily stepped back and not paid attention to anything I was asking them to do. I had to convince them that I was absolutely dedicated to what I was trying to do, and that I had their best interest in mind. When leading middle school retreats I had to be a role model and show I valued my relationship with

I always thought I would be a teacher and I would make differences in lives and it would be the greatest experience in the world for me, yet being a teacher wasn’t enough, I had a need to expand my education. I decided that perhaps I needed a new career, however, I felt certain education remained my passion. I began to explore new areas of education and I realized I still want to be a member of a classroom, a school and curriculum. I aspire to guide those leading our classrooms.

Create a personal, professional mission statement summarizing philosophy, knowledge and skills of instructional supervision from which to guide future leadership actions.

Leadership is defined as the ability to accomplish a set goal(s) due to the act of inspiring and motivating a group of your peers. Former United States president Dwight D. Eisenhower made famous a quote that stated, “Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.” (Notable-quotes.com). One of the most important aspects of the work area is leadership. Without leadership, there will be no guidance to for teamwork and the percentage of successful goal will be slim to none. Becoming a great leader is no easy feat however. An exceptional leader must lock in on specific attributes such as intellect, moral character, and human

Principal leadership plays an important role in changing the ways low-performing teachers teach their students. Teachers have the influence to improve their students’ performance in the classroom. This must first start with the principal. If management in the school is disorganized, this could filter down to the teachers as well as the students. Communication with staff should not be inconsistent.

When referring to pages 73-74 of the Rebore (2014) text, specifically the Ethical Guidelines for the practice of Educational Leadership, I reflect on the points that highlight the positional power leaders have, and the manner in which that power is exercised.

What defines leadership? There are a number of definitions of the meaning of leadership including but not limited to the theories of leadership and how leadership should work. In my opinion, every individual has different ways of confronting situations and there is not one leadership style or theory that will be flawless for any given situation. However, to be a successful educational leader, it is crucial to understand and be familiar with the various theories and styles of leadership as well as our personal tendencies to nurture a personal leadership style. Despite the method used to confront a situation, it’s the outcome of success that will determine which leadership style or theory should be used. The following

An article about leadership by Forbes magazine sums it up best by saying that leadership is simply “someone who has followers” (Frobes.com, 2013). The school subject is Innovations International Charter School of Nevada (IICSN), and in this facility there is only one administrator. This administrator will be referred to as Dr.M throughout this essay. In the following essay, leadership style and application will be addressed, as well as information on systematic change. Throughout this week, systematic change has been the topic of conversation, so in this essay, there will be a discussion as to

Student leaders come in all shapes and sizes. They choose to lead based on their skills and preferences. Whether in social groups, athletics, or within the classroom, student leaders demonstrate certain traits that benefit both themselves and those they are leading. Generally speaking, leaders are classified as role models within the student body. They are the students who challenge the status quo, who ask questions and demand answers. They inspire athletic teams and social organizations alike; they bring to light the issues that an organization or club faces and work toward a solution. The traits and skills that these leaders exhibit socially, athletically, and academically can be both inherit and learned. The

“Leadership is reciprocal and purposeful learning in a community” with opportunities for skillful participation (Lambert). Humanistic Approach and perspectives consider the leaders’ ability to personalize their experience to the individual; Similar to “modeling of leadership behaviors” (Lambert). If we want others to be leaders, we need to demonstrate what leadership looks - like according to Lambert. Whether teaching or leading the activity of coaching, scaffolding, articulation, reflection, and exploration are key components to development.

As I began this Leadership in Education course, I entered with an open mind and eagerness to learn about varying leadership styles and approaches. Over the years, I have fortunately been exposed to numerous genuine, caring, exceptional leaders in higher education. They all shared one commonality: student-centeredness. This has been my compass and guides me in my work. Through this course, I wanted to learn how I can better support students, whether directly or indirectly by leading other professionals and para-professionals in their work with students.

The concept and practice of teacher leadership have gained momentum in the past two decades. Teachers are assuming more leadership functions at both instructional and organizational levels of practice. Empirical literature reveals effects of teacher leadership practice, teacher leader characteristics, and conditions that promote and challenge teacher leadership.