Tag Archives: leadership
School leadership is crucial
Our nation’s President stated more than a year ago that education reform is a top priority for his Administration because the “status quo is morally inexcusable, it’s economically indefensible, and all of us are going to have to roll up our sleeves to change.” The need for international competitiveness drives national policy regarding improvement of education, and states follow state and national mandates, which individual districts implement according to local policy and politics. But problems persist: The quality of instruction remains inconsistent. Disadvantaged students continue to fall behind their more fortunate peers, and trying to achieve excellence with reduced resources can be frustrating for educators.
Leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn at school. — Leithwood, Louis, Anderson, and Wahlstrom
Leadership can make a difference. In fact, good leadership is crucial to maintaining operations of a school — and turning a school around requires an exceptional principal.
For those of us with any “history” in the education enterprise, the ability to attend conferences and workshops has always provided time to renew, refresh, and reflect collectively on the state of our profession. It has also provided time to assess personal growth, a validation if you will, of experience and what we know to be true with regard to teaching and learning.
Having just returned from the National Title I Conference in Seattle Washington, I am struck by the fact that — despite educational, technological and social advances in the field — several big ideas continue to withstand the test of time: Teaching Matters, Leadership is Non-Negotiable, and Culture Creates Community. In session after session, these big ideas routinely surfaced; providing deeper context for newer innovations being explored.
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