Education Commons^™

Alcohol Use Among Adolescents, Malynda R. Zuck

Graduate Research Papers

Alcohol is the most frequently used drug among adolescents today. Alcohol use among adolescents has been linked to many probable consequences and risks including: motor vehicle crashes, risky sexual behavior and an increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, suicide, poor physical and mental health, lower social competence, and decreases in school achievement (Brown et al., 2007; Diego, Field, & Sanders, 2003; Wallace & Fisher, 2006). Research has shown that the earlier an adolescent initiates with the use of alcohol, the more likely that person will experience alcohol dependence in his or her life, with the onset of dependence occurring quickly …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Stephanie Renee Dougherty

Graduate Research Papers

A principal leads educational change. Schools are called to continually change to fit society's demands. Schools that remain stagnant are places where students are not being served in their best interests. Schools need to upgrade in order for students to be ready for the workforce. Principals need to continually scan for ways to encourage growth, improvement, and empowerment.

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Deanna Martens

Graduate Research Papers

As a leader of change, an administrator looks to the future, plans appropriately, sustains flexibility and continues the cycle of consist reflection and evaluation of the change process and actual change. A successful administrator understands that change is not easy for everyone and assists stakeholders throughout the process. Administrators are responsible for a supportive learning environment. The most critical element for the principal in setting the tone is to be a positive role model. The school, faculty and staff often take on the qualities of the administrator. When taking action of large proportions, a successful administrator communicates clearly and involves …

Reflecting For Action, Christopher J. Mccarville

Graduate Research Papers

To answer the question, "What do I believe about leadership and education?" I have to say that I believe in four main things: Hard work, passion, family and most importantly, faith. If you follow through with these four beliefs, everything else will fall into place. Work hard, have passion for the school, love your family above all, and pray. These are the keys to being successful as an administrator.

My Philosophy Of Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Lincoln James Rasche

Graduate Research Papers

As more and more demands are placed on schools, principals must be strong instructional leaders who find innovative ways to provide professional development for teachers. As leaders of schools, principals must meet the challenges of educating today's students. When professional development is of high quality, it can provide principals and teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to meet these challenges. By meeting these challenges, schools will strive to provide students with effective learning opportunities, opportunities that ensure high levels of learning for everyone (Sparks, 1997).

Research And Reflection On Successful Principal Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Leah M. Rogers

Graduate Research Papers

A teacher needs to act as a leader, allow the child's natural curiosity to direct his/her learning, and promote respect for all things and people. The teacher's role is to guide, providing access to information rather than acting as the primary source of information. The students' search for knowledge is the journey one takes as they learn to find answers to their questions. Providing students with access to hands-on activities and allowing adequate time and space to use materials that reinforce the lesson being studied creates an opportunity for individual innovation.

Reframed Teacher Leadership: A Narrative Inquiry, Cynthia L. Kenyon

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Teacher leadership has been in schools from the time teachers rang the school bells. Three waves of teacher leadership have been examined. The first wave focused on formal managerial positions such as department chairs, the second wave focused on curriculum and staff development, and the third wave focused on daily acts of collaboration to solve problems and provide professional development activities for staffs. This study explored the third wave practice of teacher leaders in a qualitative study focusing on the narratives of 11 teacher leaders.

A narrative of lives format was used to study leadership experiences. A pilot study was …

A Vision For Leading Schools : A Reflective Essay, Melissa A. Margretz

Graduate Research Papers

The role of a leader is comparable to a circle. There are so many sides, they seem to run together with no definition of where one ends and another begins. What I believe about leadership and the roles of being a reflective practitioner, a leader in educational change, a leader in improvement of learning for students and adults, and a leader of service all share importance in a well-rounded, successful, educational leader.

In order to lead a school with success the leader must be able to play many roles at the same time. Not only do leaders need to be …

A Case Study Of A Rural Iowa School Preparing To Meet New State Guidelines For School Libraries [Dissertation], Karla Steege Krueger

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The national school library guidelines place the greatest emphasis upon the teaching and learning component of school library programs led by professional school librarians. Despite findings linking school library programming, including instruction by professional school librarians, to increased student achievement on standardized tests and improved content learning through student inquiry using library resources, the importance of the instructional role of the school librarian remains largely unrecognized by administrators and teachers.

A qualitative case study of one rural Iowa elementary school provided insight into the issue of small schools without library programs as they are preparing to meet the Iowa reinstatement …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Schools : A Reflective Essay, Sarah E. Willenborg

Graduate Research Papers

In order to be a strong leader, one must be able to implement change effectively, link curriculum to instruction, and be called to service. These three components are vital in order to be an effective administrator. Through out my paper, I have reflected on the ways I feel I can most effectively implement each criterion, and create life long learners in my teachers and students.

A Voice For Our Children : What I Believe About Leadership And Education, Angela J. Noel

Graduate Research Papers

Leadership in education will be a challenging job. The leader of a school must maintain a level of self-awareness in order to run an effective building. This level of awareness must continuously reflect upon, "Have I raised student achievement?" and "Have I created a successful educational experience for my students?" Educational leaders also need to create culture, manage the daily operations of the school, collaborate with families and community members, act with integrity and fairness, and be knowledgeable of political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.

A Preferred Vision For Leading High Schools : A Reflective Essay, Troy M. Osterhaus

Graduate Research Papers

In order to maintain our great educational system in America, it takes great school leaders. The school principal plays the most important role in the success of a school. A school leader is responsible for the management of the organization, operations, and resources. A school principal has now taken on a new role with the increased focus on accountability and student success. The principal is responsible for monitoring the improvement and success of all students. The school leader is the voice of the school and it's important to be visible around the community at businesses, churches, clubs, and organizations.

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Jerry L. Nelson

Graduate Research Papers

Educational leadership means doing the right thing for the people we serve. It means being committed to the education of all the students. An educational leader needs to be a committed soul, passionate about creating success in the lives of every student. This is not an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or August to May commitment, it is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year position.

As an educator, this should be a career-long commitment. To help stay committed,an educational leader needs to develop core values that help one stay focused on the task …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Julie A. Bride

Graduate Research Papers

Exemplary educational leadership requires mastery of many essential skills. In order for a principal to be an effective instructional leader, one must support the success of all students by nurturing an environment based upon the school's developed vision. An instructional leader believes in, values, and is committed to the fact that all students have the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become successful adults. Each student is an individual with unique needs. An educational leader must be a proactive advocate for the needs of all children.

A Commitment To Excellence In Educational Leadership: A Reflective Essay, Michelle A. Hunt

Graduate Research Papers

The role of a principal is an overwhelming one – many faceted, imbued with great responsibility and strict accountability. I know the perfect principal does not exist. The "perfect" robotic leader would have little, if any, positive impact on her learning community. There are, however, some very human characteristics that, if practiced, would positively contribute to the community's educational success.

These practices and values are set forth in this reflective essay. I am confident that those who share my vision – that every human being matters and makes a contribution to the entire learning community – will experience the joy …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Thomas Keegan Knight

Graduate Research Papers

The leadership quality is more of an art than a statement. A leader is a server and a debtor, whose first responsibility is to define reality and last responsibility is to say thank you (DePree, 1989). This paper will communicate my educational beliefs, the role of reflective practice in an educational setting, steps to follow in the change process and models, current research for improved learning in the classroom, as well as the importance of being a leader of service in a community. All of these elements are related to the Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) and are pertinent …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Leona M. Mccall

Graduate Research Papers

In this paper I will discuss my educational beliefs, and how the current literature supports my vision for the future of education. Through my discourse I plan to affirm my mission for student achievement. As I proceed, it is my intent to convey what I believe to be essential for me as a leader of learning for the campus community. I will also express my views of the principal as change agent, along with my beliefs about service learning. As I culminate my educational beliefs, I will focus on how the Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) apply to the …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Nicholas A. Proud

Graduate Research Papers

Being a quality educational leader takes a great deal of time, effort, and experience, but it is a task that can be done successfully. The leader needs to be a reflective thinker, a leader of learning, a leader of change, and a service-minded individual. To perform and lead of all of these aspects effectively the leader must create positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and outside community patrons. Building positive relationships throughout the school community is essential. To assist others in reflection, to help people believe in the learning that is presented, and for everyone to trust you enough for …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Christopher A. Cartee

Graduate Research Papers

There are many issues facing today's educators and educational leaders. These issues are exactly why I decided to return to education after a career in law enforcement. I would like to tell you why I became an educator. I will also analyze the importance of using reflective practice as a principal or teacher. I will examine the current research pertaining to the role of the leader in terms of educational change, adult and student learning, and service.

What I Believe About Leadership And Education, Adam R. Booth

Graduate Research Papers

Every administrator at every school is different and every administrator has a different vision for their future. It is our job as educators to lead each student down the correct path. If one student's goal is to go straight to the work force after graduation, we as educators need to do everything we can for him/her to make sure he/she has the skills to be prepared. The same is true for the college bound student.

Successful leaders are those who have a vision of where their school needs to go. If a school did not have a vision, it would …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Christopher J. Robertson

Graduate Research Papers

Educational administration is an extremely complex profession, which offers many opportunities and challenges. I am intrigued at the complexity of issues that administrators are faced with on a daily basis. The most complete field of study could not possibly prepare a person for every situation that will arise. School leaders of today have an awesome responsibility. Leadership is a key component of being an effective administrator. Leadership is a difficult concept to define and there are many definitions. Leadership is the ability to take someone where they could not and would not go alone.

An Administrator's Look At Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Mark Musker

Graduate Research Papers

My goal in education is obvious: students will develop their own presence of learning. The positive experience they have in school will help them grow into world-class learners. As an educator I empower my students, for at least one day, to know that this is their day to be special. Then I repeat that process for all of them the next day, the next month, and the following years.

Leadership is easy to talk about but difficult to implement. A leader does not solve other people's problems for them. I do believe that a problem will no longer exist, if …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education, Debra A. Kisch

Graduate Research Papers

I remember when my morn was driving me to my first day of preschool. I asked her if she would drive me to school when I went to the University of Northern Iowa too? I was going to be a teacher, and I didn't want to go alone. That was about twenty years ago, and my morn kept her promise. I did attend the University of Northern Iowa; I did become a teacher, and my mom did take me for my first day of orientation.

Education is an American value that I feel is one of the most important ideas …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Angela C. Fogle

Graduate Research Papers

Leadership in 21st century education will become one of the most important cultural necessities, if education is to serve our society appropriately and move it forward to adjust to the challenges of the future. Leaders in education must be prepared to embrace new and challenging roles that will guide educational leadership into the future. Those roles will include: instructional leadership, organizational leadership, ethical leadership, visionary leadership, and collaborative leadership. As the educational leaders of the future move to incorporate these leadership styles into practice, education will be able to move forward in a positive and successful direction.

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Lisa L. Goedken

Graduate Research Papers

An effective leader for educational change must recognize that change is a process, not a destination, and be able to instill continuing leadership in others. The leader must first be able to develop a leadership team through which responsibilities can be distributed. Second, the leader must recognize what type of change is necessary. With those factors identified, it is the leader's responsibility to identify the magnitude of the work to be accomplished, what level of change must occur, and to then adjust their management style accordingly.

Throughout the process, the leader must work to develop the leadership abilities of those …

A Vision For Leading : A Reflective Essay, Carrie M. Heinzerling

Graduate Research Papers

Being a leader has many important aspects. Education added to the leadership adds many new dimensions. Principals take the hopes and dreams of students and adults into their care. The leadership role taken on by principals has to incorporate many qualities. Principals must be leaders of learning, leaders of change, leaders of improvement for students and adults, and leaders of service. Principals have a lot on their plates. They are leaders of everything from learning to change. They have to be managers of time and money, and they have to be leaders of curriculum and data analysis.

A Vision For School Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Tamela J. Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

The intent of this essay is to develop a broader perspective of the impact that leadership has on the bottom line, student achievement. It is the responsibility of educational leaders to enable stakeholders to clarify priorities and develop plans to achieve that ultimate goal, an upward trend in achievement for all students. As members of the administrative and school leadership teams, the principals will continue to develop an ongoing process of looking around the comer, asking if what is happening in the educational environment is making a difference, and remember that perception is reality.

What I Believe About Leadership And Education: A Reflective Essay, Mary Yamoah

Graduate Research Papers

Reflection, change, linking curriculum to instruction, and service are a four of the most important criterion for educational leaders to understand in order to become strong leaders. Throughout the course of this paper, I will evaluate each component and through the process gain better knowledge on each. Through evaluation of these four topics along with the seven standards will facilitate learning that is life-long.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Diane Pick-Harrington

Graduate Research Papers

I believe the six Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards are like puzzle pieces; without all the pieces, the puzzle is incomplete. My vision as an administrator is to have a balance of the six standards. Each standard plays an important role and should be present for all administrators to be effective. I foresee myself constantly reviewing these standards as an administrator. I will make every effort to implement the six standards so all children can and will learn.

I will promote student learning and staff professional growth in a safe and efficient environment. I believe in involving families and …

Compilation Of Critical Element Papers For Principalship Cohort, Ryan K. Junge

Graduate Research Papers

The most important role of an educational leader is the leader of instruction. It is crucial that you implement a quality atmosphere within your school that is conducive to high quality instruction. It is also essential that the curriculum being taught in the classrooms is rigorous and relevant to the students. If the material is not relevant, the student will struggle to understand the importance of learning the material. If the curriculum is not rigorous, schools are not doing their job of challenging and pushing students to excel at the highest levels.