Personal Narrative: My Vision Of School Leadership

My vision for leadership in an educational setting is to be an effective leader. School Leadership: Handbook for Excellence in Student Learning identifies four core leadership behaviors associated with student learning: setting direction, developing people, leading change, and establishing managerial order.

Effective leaders set direction. This means that the leader of the school sets a focus or a goal for the school community. The goal that is set for the school must be something that all staff and teachers can support and work to; otherwise, the goal will never be achieved.

Effective leaders develop people. An effective leader will interact with students and teachers. They are highly visible throughout the day and communicate formally

and informally with the teachers and parents of the school. Effective leaders inform teachers about new practices and provide opportunities for teachers to learn and grow as professionals. An effective leader also models the behaviors and attitudes they want their staff members to adopt.
Effective leaders lead change. This change can be first or second order. First-order changes are superficial and generally do not disrupt the current way of doing things. These are changes that might require new curriculum to be taught, but the way of teaching is not changed. Most people involved in first-order change may not notice a difference in their day-to-day routine. Second-order changes may change the way that teachers, students, and staff are used to doing things. Second-order changes require everyone to learn new things and adopt new beliefs. This change would require the leader to know his or her staff very well and what they are willing to do for the school in order for it to work.
Effective leaders establish managerial order. Formerly, managerial order meant discipline but now it also includes safety. Students need to feel safe in the school that they attend, and it is up to the principal to see that this happens. Teachers and staff also need to feel safe, and they look to the leader to ensure this happens. The school leader(s) need to do everything necessary to ensure that the school day runs smoothly without any interruptions or distractions to learning.
My day-to-day interactions with subordinates, parents and my superiors would all be the same: with respect and honesty. Struggling and new teachers would be provided with peer coaching and mentoring to help improve classroom instruction. I want everyone in the building to feel that it is a safe space of collaboration and success. I want those that work with me to be able to trust me. Without trust, relationships cannot be built.
Student achievement would be first on my list. All decisions made would be with student’s best interest in mind, no matter how hard it is on adults. Diversity would be recognized and celebrated. Learning about the world and other cultures would become a part of the curriculum. Parents would be invited into the school to partner with teachers and staff on their child’s education. A true partnership between home and school would be created and fostered year to year through volunteering, parent education and school and community celebrations. Corporations would be encouraged to bring their expertise to the students so that a connection between schoolwork and community work can be created and fostered. When I am a school leader I want to be as effective as possible so that everyone else can be successful in his or her job.