Leadership Framework Brian Grenier Instructional Technology Specialist El Paso Independent School District Philosophy of Education Our education

system should be preparing students to be competitive in a global society that is rapidly flattening and becoming more and more connected. By imparting basic knowledge and skills from a wide variety of subject matter, schools should be developing well-rounded graduates capable of comprehending and analyzing a wide variety of issues and topics. Our education system should be teaching and modeling what it means to be a lifelong, self-guided, learner and encouraging the critical thinking and twenty-first century skills necessary for our students to meet their full potential in the world today. Finally, our education system has the responsibility to prepare our students to become global citizens by supporting and modeling the characteristics of tolerance, understanding, cooperation, and collaboration. Philosophy of Leadership As the instructional leader of the campus, the principal has the responsibility to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff have the opportunities and environment to meet the goals and expectations of the campus and district. The principals leadership style has a direct correlation to the success or failure of the campus community in meeting stated goals. In an ideal situation, the principal should lead following the Participative Leadership model, empowering their staff and faculty in the decision making process, and trusting in their skills and professionalism to get the job done. Unfortunately, in many cases, there are a number of factors that prevent this model of leadership from being effective. As such, I believe that our leaders should follow a Situational Leadership model where the style of leadership is based on the situation and person at hand. To ensure success leaders must be flexible, adaptable, and develop a close working relationship with all stakeholders. Vision for Learners Children need a safe, encouraging, and comfortable environment in order to learn and meet their full potential. It is the principals responsibility to provide such an environment. When learning new concepts and mastering new skills, it is important that children have the opportunity to work with material in a variety of formats. Encouraging our students creativity, while working with new material, is essential for them to gain a deep understanding or the topic at hand. I believe that children learn by doing, that there is a place in our schools and classrooms for project based learning. I believe that it is critical that teachers make information relevant to the lives of our students that by doing so they will spark a level of curiosity in our students, encourage them to explore further, and develop a love of learning. It is the principals responsibility to ensure that teachers have the time necessary to plan and the materials necessary to deliver meaningful learning experiences.

Vision for Teachers Teachers are at the core of a childs educational experience and the quality of the teacher has a direct link to the success of the child academically. In order to ensure student success and achievement, teachers must possess many of the same qualities that campus leaders posses, including adaptability, flexibly, and a strong working relationship with their students and the educational community as a whole. Teachers must inspire their students to explore, question and analyze, and nurture a love of learning in their students. Teachers should model to their students what it means to be a lifelong learner and demonstrate how they are continuously improving their skills. In order for a campus to be successful, I believe that a tight working relationship among all teachers must be established. Time should be made for teachers to learn from each other and to collaborate with one and other. Vision for the Organization The campus is a community of learners where all stakeholders should be striving to excel and grow with the goal of meeting a set of high expectations. The climate of the school should reflect this in all areas from its appearance to its academic programs to the expectations laid out for students, faculty, and staff. Knowing that we should be preparing students to be competitive in a global society, the educational system must extend beyond the physical walls of the school building and, as such, must include partnerships and collaborative efforts, not only with parents and the immediate surrounding community, but also with communities outside of our political boundaries and cultural settings. Open lines of communication must be established and all stakeholders should be encouraged to participate in the decision making process. Vision for Professional Growth A great teacher is one of the key elements, and perhaps the most important element, to the success of a student academically. However, for even our greatest teachers, there is always room for improvement and growth professionally. A strong professional development program, supported by budgeted funds, must be present for a school to thrive, continuously improve, and avoid stagnation. The needs and areas of improvement of a campus can be expected to change over time; therefore, a systematic approach to evaluating where improvement is needed on a professional level should be put into place. This system should include an analytic look and deep understanding of academic and professional data, self-reflection on the part of all stakeholders, and thoughtful response to the question where are our weaknesses? Any professional development program put in place must start with an end in mind and be supported until the explicit goals are achieved. Programs should be ongoing, periodically evaluated for effectiveness, and redesigned as necessary. Fly-by professional development should be used sparingly. It is important to include faculty in the creation of a professional development plan, to give them a stake in the process and outcome. It is equally important that the campus principal, as the instructional leader, participate alongside faculty and staff. All teachers, including those struggling teachers, should be supported and be made aware of their potential to become great. Method of Vision Attainment A clearly stated and easily understood vision is critical to the success of the campus. The campus vision should be taken into account when new programs are being put in place and

decisions are being made. If, for whatever reason, a decision or program is not leading a campus towards their vision then an alternative course of action, if possible, should be considered. When developing a campus vision it is important to involve all stakeholders. Parents, students, faculty, and staff should all be brought into the process and allowed to share ideas and collaboratively develop the vision. By including all stakeholders ownership is shared and buy-in is increased, both of which are necessary in order to attain the vision. The principal has the responsibility to make sure that both faculty and staff are continuously working towards vision attainment. It is critical that the right people are brought on board through staffing decisions. Faculty evaluation should take into consideration the degree to which employees are working towards the vision and a course of action must be put in place to ensure that those not working towards the vision are corrected. A set of periodic, short-term goals, should be in place that will assist a campus reach its ultimate goal. These goals, along with the overall progress of a campus, have to me monitored and evaluated on a regular basis. Change is never an easy process for an organization and can be made even more cumbersome if a completely new vision is established. In order to facilitate change and assist those that are struggling with a new direction, clear lines of communication must be put in place and stakeholders should have the opportunity to voice their concerns in a safe, inviting, environment.