School Leadership

When a school lacks effective leadership, minimal learning takes places. School leaders must provide sturdy leadership that sets a tone for the daily operations of the school community. In the absence of such leadership, discipline breaks down, academics weaken, and a sense of organized chaos reigns. There are many qualities behind an effective and dynamic school leader. In order to be successful he/she must be a perpetual learner. Infusing his/her staff and teachers the desire to learn what is necessary to help the organization reach its’ mission. School leadership is not just about walking the halls and telling students to “tuck in their shirts.” Rather, it is about dynamic modeling that encourages collegiality and promotes fineness in every facet of the school community.
Self-motivated school leaders enter a classroom not to find problems but to offer solutions, share recommendations, and encourage and affirm good performance. They also encourage excellence while promoting a community spirit of collaboration. These are the kind of leaders that are able to identify emerging issues and problems and swiftly deal with them in a positive way and perhaps willpower, the ability to stand up for what is right in the face of adversities. Good school leadership often determines the dynamics of a school community and the academic outcomes of school policies and procedures.
School administrators or principals should no longer be strictly managers; they are also expected to be leaders. Leaders that can take their school to a higher point of academic achievement, where all students are successful learners and all teachers engage their students in learning. To become such a leader, principals need to leave behind their routine management styles and redefine themselves also as a moral or servant leaders. A principal that leads and not just to manage will be able to progress their school forward. It will also allow teachers to be leaders in developing better curriculums to reach the needs of all students. For a principal to maintain this type of leadership, he/she will need to learn how to serve his staff not just manage it.