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Running head: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

Educational Leadership Philosophy: Beginning the journey

Selena Frizzley
ECC 509: Preparation for Professional Growth.
Master of Education in Leadership

The role of a leader in a school is continually changing, shifting and becoming more and
more complex. Administrators no longer spend the majority of the day behind closed doors,

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Running head: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

sitting in an office. The idea of a school administrator being a manager and staying solely in an
office, no longer exists. The roles, responsibilities and challenges grow as students become more
diverse and the world becomes more challenging. The leader is faced with many challenges as
they are being pulled in many directions making sure to run an effective school, manage and
create a positive school climate, always making sure to put the child first.
Being an effective leader, is one of the most important priorities of an administrator.
Having a shared vision, which needs to be communicated and part of the entire school
community. All staff and community can connect with the shared vision of the school, which is
the driving force behind being the best leader that one can be (Wilson, 2011). Starting with the
childs basic needs and ensuring that the basic needs of every child are being met is a shared goal
of all involved. The child needs to be fed, loved, have a place to sleep, feel safe and have their
basic needs met. This has to be taken care of before learning can take place. This type of shared
vision need to be communicated and is essential to the framework of the school. A clear image
for the future is truly the only way to begin moving forward towards the future (Kouzes &
Posner, 2007).
The Leader must first be relational, to be able to make connections with people. In order
to elicit change and movement, people have to feel like they are understood and have a
connection to the leader. Relationships must be, based on trust, credibility and connection
(Wilson 2011, p 10). Ensuring that peoples voices are being heard and that there are understood
is a big part of making a connection with people. Having emotional intelligence, allows you the
self-awareness to see the big picture and the effectiveness to work with others and to bring about
and lead change (Goleman 1998). Leaders who are relational are self-aware and understand the
importance of emotional intelligence.
When guiding and leading a school towards a shared vision and towards change, a leader
must to be able to build trust and organize collaboration. A leader must be able to get people on
board and engaged in the vision of the school. Enable Others to Act and to do so that things
get done (Kouzes & Posner 2007). Doing things differently and recognizing that, others will use
their gifts and talents and do things in another way. Regardless, they are working towards the
shared vision and are engaged and showing personal power and ownership (Kouzes & Posner
2007, p 42). Trust is a key element so that people feel comfortable to try things and in their own
way.
Another aspect of leadership in a school needs to be Model the Way, as the actions of the
leader speak very loudly when modeled and set as an example (Kouzes & Posner 2007). The
leader in a school sets an example of instructional leadership and is aware of new and innovative

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Running head: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

teaching trends. The leader is also staying on top of new and emerging technologies and sharing
them with others through modeling. Kouzes and Posner (2007) state, People follow first the
person, then the plan (p. 11).
One of the most important roles of a leader is not to let people give up and to let them
know that they are valued and of importance to the shared vision. A true leader pushes and
encourages and motivates all people. The concept known as Encourage the Heart needs to be
at the center of a leaders thoughts. The leader should always be thinking and reflecting on what
more they can do to encourage others and notice what they are doing already. Appreciation is a
key motivator and skill that leaders should use. Celebrating and acknowledging the
contributions of all staff members is a true way to show appreciation and to help people want to
continue following the shared vision (Kouzes & Posner 2007).
Another challenge is trying to meet the needs of the staff and ensuring that all people are
feeling appreciated and valued. This could include taking time to hear all peoples opinions and
ensuring that they are being heard and understood. It could be giving people praise and fostering
the value of Encouraging the Heart (Kouzes & Posner 2007). A note on a desk saying a teacher
has done a great job, a pat on the back with some words of praise. Seems like a small task, but
the true importance of this can be truly far reaching in help insure the happiness and confidence
of the staff.
Communication and organization need to be key element of getting things shared in a
school. Evaluating and determining what is the most effective form of communication can be
vital to the role. If what the administrator is currently doing is not working, then a mind shift is
needed to come up with a solution for communication that will work. Keeping organized and
modeling organization is important to keeping any organization running well and effectively.
Always staying one step ahead of what needs to be done and what is coming up is important for
the school leader.
Engaging parents and guardians in all aspects of student learning also needs to be a
priority of leadership. Coming up with innovative ways to get the parents into the school and
actively participating. Providing additional opportunities for parents and guardians to come into
the school and receive information through parent nights and family events. Also to keep parents
informed, current and active to what is happening in the school and specifically for their child is
important.
Some particular families and students require extra assistance and support, a good leader
need to be aware of this and the specific families. Trying to come up with ways to help support
these families and give them the extra support as needed, will help students to be ready to learn
when at school. In todays world, there are so many children and families in need. Providing
breakfast and lunches for students so that all the students are being cared for is one way to assist
some families. Providing clothing for students and having the awareness to know who is in need

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Running head: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

and who is not going to ask for help, but truly needs the help is another way to provide
assistance.
At times providing food and clothing for students is enough to help families, other times
much more is needed as a leader to work with families who need extra help and support. At
times a listening ear is needed to help them voice their concerns and to help and provide advice
to the families. This could extend further to providing counseling for the family or home
support for the families in need. Being aware of who needs support and finding the resources
available to help the families. There are many needy kids and finding a way to help meet their
needs to the best of ones ability is the role of the leader.
In the school environment all people, including staff, students, parent and community
members all need to feel welcome and in a way appreciated. The school environment needs to
be an environment that people want to be part of and want to come to everyday. Welcoming all,
and having staff and student leaders as greeters is way to bring people in, and is the first step to
making people feel welcome. Walking into a school and being welcomed is the first step in
creating a warm and inclusive school environment.
Learning opportunities and professional growth need to be available and encouraged for
staff. Providing learning opportunities for all is a necessary step in leading a school. Using
professional development as a means to get the staff on board with the schools shared vision can
be a useful means of any learning opportunities. Senge (1990) stated, Dont push growth;
remove the factors limiting growth (p.142). Provide what you can within your resources to help
staff recognize what is needed for them individually for professional growth and help to foster
this. Encourage personal mastery in whatever form it will take, for each individual person
(Senge 1990).
Self-awareness and building emotional intelligence is an area of consideration for a
leader in any organization. A leader in a school needs to be continually aware of how they work
and relate to others in the school community. This relationship is the only effective way to lead
and bring about change. This type of self-awareness of ones own emotions, strengths and
weakness will be of great benefit in the work place. Self-awareness can also be of great benefit
as the individual has a plan and knows the best direction to take to achieve this goal (Goleman
2004).
When taking a closer look at leaders, they need to have the ability to self-regulate. Selfregulation is an internal conversation to guide ones behavior. Staying in control of oneself and
ones emotions is vital. The school can be very busy with different people within the community
coming forward with different concerns and questions. Staying in control and taking time to
self-regulate is a vital piece to stay in control and remain highly productive. Goleman states
(1998) Fewer bad moods at the top mean fewer throughout the organization (p. 86).

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Running head: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

Working with students, staff and the community the leader needs to have social skills and
to be able to manage and work well with others. Being enthusiastic about the school and the
community can help to bring people on board to the shared vision. Socially skilled people work
with ease and have the ability to be connected to others and still get the work done effectively.
Building bonds, getting people on board and managing relationships. Leaders with social skills
are easily able to put their emotional intelligence to use; this can be of benefit in any school
community (Goleman 1998).
In all schools, developing school climate in a key factor in maintaining a safe and orderly
school environment. The leader of the school will need to ensure that the climate is one that will
maximize safety, learning and teaching. Everything needs to be running in balance with the
understanding that all staff and students are being respected and are in a safe and caring
environment. This will allow for student connections to develop and be fostered. The
development of connections can truly be the foundation of student success at school.
Ultimately the child needs to come first and the question need to be asked, Is this in the
best interest of the student? No matter what the challenges and the tasks that leader is being
presented with, the real focus and consideration always needs to be on the student. A true leader
will always recognize this and have it in the center of their thoughts. When dealing with staff
this can be a struggle, as they may want to focus on their own best interests. Authentic
leadership will have all elements of the school working together with the students at the center.
All working together towards the shared vision.
True leaders, have the ability to have all working around them turn into leaders as well.
A leader has the ability to make other people feel like they have the ability to do more and be
more (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). Leaders take risks and allow other to take risks and push
themselves. Leaders build trust and acceptance, so other will feel comfortable to try new things.
Developing a sense of empowerment and the ability to enable others to act is essential (Kouzes
& Posner, 2007).
The school is alive with the students at the center, and parents and community involved.
The staff feels respected and appreciated. The basic needs of the students are being meet and the
child is at the center. To make all of these aspects come together is the role of an effective leader.
In todays day and age this is not a simple take, as the world is becoming more diverse and the
concerns of the world more apparent and visible through our the eyes of a child. The role of the
leader is changing and becoming more and more complex, effective leadership is a must in all
school. It is a responsibility that goes past the walls of the schools and extends to the students
lives and homes.

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Running head: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

References
Goleman, D. (2014). What makes a leader: Why emotional intelligence matters (1st ed.).Florence,
MA: More Than Sound, LLC.
Kouzes, J. M., Posner, B. Z., & NetLibrary, I. (2007). The leadership challenge (4th ed.). San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Senge, P. M. (1994). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization (A
Currency paperback. ed.). New York: Doubleday/Currency.
Wilson, D. L. (2011). Successful educational leadership at high performing schools. Vol. 8.
Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED520457.