Educational Leadership Commons^™

Snapshots Of Educational Experience And Leadership : A Reflective Essay On Core Beliefs And Critical Elements, Rick A. Miller

Graduate Research Papers

The best interest of the child is a foundation of all my beliefs and actions. As I reflect, I will be describing (as if taking an actual picture of the experience) snapshots in time related to my personal and professional growth as a person and educator.

In developing myself personally and professionally, I identified six critical elements of educational leadership including displaying effective communication skills, using assessment and problem-solving skills, modeling and supporting teaching and learning, collaborating by providing established structures and processes, having knowledge to influence stakeholders in political and legal systems, and being a reflective practitioner as a …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tammy Murphy-Flynn

Graduate Research Papers

My beliefs about education have been evolving for nearly four decades. These beliefs about education have developed as I have grown professionally. My many roles as a student, teacher, mother, and counselor have influenced my beliefs and values. Each role has provided a different perspective from which I have viewed the educational world. The different roles, and their perspectives, have overlapped, agreed, and disagreed. My life roles and experiences have shaped me and will continue to do so.

The list for elements that are critical to exemplary leadership is truly endless. I believe that for an administrator the elements change …

A Vision For Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Melissa M. O'Brien

Graduate Research Papers

The decision to pursue a master's degree in Educational Leadership was not decided without a great deal of reflection and contemplation. It was necessary when pondering this decision to consider many issues, such as the complexity of the educational system, the students, and the potential impact--both positive and negative--that a person working in a school setting might have over the course of a career in educational leadership.This paper is an attempt to articulate how some of my experiences, skills, knowledge, and values have formed and how these attributes contributed to the formation of my philosophy of educational leadership.

A Vision Of Secondary Level Administration : A Reflective Essay, Stephanie N. Mohorne

Graduate Research Papers

There are many different elements necessary for success as an educational leader. For example, it is essential that a leader be able to effectively communicate with all, this includes teachers, staff, parents, students and community members. Also, complete knowledge of the six Iowa Standards for School Leaders is important. Any educational leader in the state of Iowa must not only know the standards, but must also be able to demonstrate his or her ability to meet each one. The key phrase in each of the six standards is "who promotes the success of all students". This is what I plan …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Jon T. Flynn

Graduate Research Papers

Educational leadership is a calling that encompasses many responsibilities and numerous obstacles to overcome. The rewards associated with this profession, however, overshadow the potential challenges. Every child that finds success by way of a meaningful educational experience is a tribute to the work of an educational leader. Although a large portion of the educational leader's work is not performed directly in front of a classroom of students, the ramifications of his/her work can be seen throughout a building.

Like an orchestral conductor, the educational leader is responsible for synchronizing separate sections into one meaningful, fluid collection. This person is responsible …

My Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Angela J. Fowler

Graduate Research Papers

I believe the most profound experiences have been watching my mentor in her administrative style and comparing that to the style of my current and past administrators. Somewhere along the way I have taken elements from each one of their administrative styles, and shaped it into a style of my own. I believe I will be an excellent leader, largely due to the tremendous experiences along the way. I am excited to think about the successes and challenges I will encounter as I guide leadership capacity, and shape the culture of the people I lead.

This paper will be a …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Todd M. Coulter

Graduate Research Papers

The key to leadership is confidence: not only in yourself, but those around you to get the job done to your satisfaction. Good leaders surround themselves with good people to whom they can delegate responsibility to and trust that it will be done satisfactorily. Leaders must not only bask in the glow of success, but also bathe in the spotlight of failure, readily admitting fault when necessary.

A quality leader possesses good motivational skills and is adept at "handling" people. In my experiences, good leaders remain calm under pressure and are constantly striving to improve not only themselves, but also …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Gerald W. Hatfield

Graduate Research Papers

Educational administration is an appealing career opportunity for me because it will allow me to put into action two core values that I learned in my early years - we all deserve the chance to succeed and that hard work toward a lofty goal is what leads to cherished success. I believe that if l continue to develop four personal characteristics, my chances of being an ; effective administrator will be greatly enhanced. First and foremost, I must act with integrity at all times. Second, I must present an organized approach to my school activities. Third, I must be a …

Leading An Elementary School To Excellence : A Reflective Essay, Christine L. Mccarron

Graduate Research Papers

The educational leaders of today have the potential to be a vital part of some of the greatest transformations of education in history. The new information that we are learning about the brain and how we learn, combined with ever-changing technological advances and political mandates, will cause us to reconsider all of our school structures and methods. That reform will not occur by initiating any single program, strategy or mandate. Instead, we must extend our picture of reality by finding powerful and all-embracing ways to perceive and describe trends and patterns over time.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary And Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tim T. Moses.

Graduate Research Papers

As I think about the question of becoming an administrator, all sorts of things run through my mind. Things such as, am I really cut out to do this job ? Do I have what it takes to be an administrator? Will I fail or will I succeed? Will I have the support of my staff? Will I be able to perform the paper-pencil tasks of an administrator? Will I be able to handle the school's budget ? I mean the questions just go on and on. So, as I look at the driving forces behind my decision to become …

The Ongoing War For The Soul Of School Administration, Theodore J. Kowalski

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

The volume in which this essay appears was a response to the book Better Leaders for America’s Schools: A Manifesto, published in 2003 by the the Broad Foundation and the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. It was created around the premise that America's schools face a crisis in leadership. For America to have the great schools it needs, it contended, schools and their school systems must have great leaders.

The material to which Dr. Kowalski's essay responds is available online here>>>.

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Mark R. Sade

Graduate Research Papers

I have chosen education as my lifetime career because I believe education is, perhaps, the most important occupation within our culture. I believe teachers, individually and collectively, not only change the world, but also improve it. In the service to children, I find personal and professional renewal. I am proud to be part of this noble profession and want to be counted among those in whom future teachers can say they found inspiration.

The Extent To Which Teachers And Principals Perceive High Schools As Learning Organizations, Scott Kemple

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to conduct an assessment of the culture and leadership of a sample of Michigan high schools as perceived by their teaching staff and principals.

The variables of culture and leadership are primary indicators of whether a school is viewed as a learning organization by the faculty, staff and administration of the school (Leithwood et al., 2001). Five primary questions were examined: (1) To what extent are high schools perceived as learning organizations by their principals? (2) To what extent are high schools perceived as learning organizations by their teachers? (3) Is there a difference …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Timothy S. Harvey

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this reflective research paper is to articulate my fundamental values and beliefs that will guide me as I prepare to enter the professional field of educational administration. I will begin with a general overview of what brought me to this point in my life. The paper will then examine specific values and beliefs identified in the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards, (ISLLC), of Visionary Leadership, Instructional Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Collaborative Leadership, Ethical Leadership and Political Leadership. My goal is to exhibit these leadership standards throughout my educational career.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Michael J. Panoch

Graduate Research Papers

My decisions to teach, and to now become, an administrator has received much thought. This thinking has caused me to evaluate my personal value system, identifying the beliefs that are important to me. This reflection has also identified individuals that have had an impact on the development of my value system. These people have molded, formed, shaped me into the person writing this today. The lessons have been many.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Rebecca Jensen

Graduate Research Papers

Developing a culture of trust is the first and foremost responsibility of the ethical leader, without which we will be unable to examine some uncomfortable truths about the systems we have in place to educate children. In addition, we must be willing to open the practices of the school to community scrutiny. The stories of documented educational achievements of poor and minority students have grown in number in recent years, leading Reeves, in Crusade in the Classroom (2001), to conclude that "Given the clear evidence that children can be successful, the focus of accountability moves from the consequences for students …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Gregory B. Semler

Graduate Research Papers

The principal plays a pivotal role in developing and unifying the core beliefs of a staff to put children first. At the heart of the school's philosophy there should be the core belief that students come first. Benefiting students must be the focus or foundation for all decisions made in relationship to the operation of a school. The Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) are excellent guidelines to be utilized when creating an instructional environment that benefits students. The strength of ISSL is they are guidelines that provide direction; an infrastructure that can be used in any school environment. Regardless …

Never Settle, Keep Exploring : A Reflective Essay, Brenton D. Shavers

Graduate Research Papers

I taught 3rd and 4th grades in an urban area in St. Paul, MN. This was an eye opening experience for someone right out of college. I was one of two African American teachers and one of only three males in the building. A principal, entering the building for her 1st time as their new leader, placed me into a leadership position immediately.I found myself spending countless hours in activities outside of school, in support of my students. It became increasingly evident that these supports needed to be in place for both students and their families in order for the …

An Administrator's Vision For Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Natalie A. Franke

Graduate Research Papers

A successful educational leader must have a passion for education and be an advocate for children. A well-rounded leader exhibits traits from all six Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL). Having clear high expectations and setting clearly understood goals will help lead a school in the right direction. Clear expectations and goals will ensure that the learning climate and culture in the building will be supportive, caring, safe, and positive. Students and their families will feel a belonging and want to stay. Collaboration will be a priority for everyone. Working together as a team will create a positive learning atmosphere …

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

Graduate Research Papers

What exactly makes a successful instructional leader? According to Hilliard (2000), a successful instructional leader is one who works at, "earning and sustaining trust, listening actively, mastering timing, conveying a sense of sincere caring, formulating ideas clearly and succinctly, transmitting sympathy and empathy as needed" (p.157). Simple possession of these qualities however, does not predetermine success. To be successful the instructional leader must combine personal beliefs with these qualities to promote advancement in the school and the community.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Andrew Merritt

Graduate Research Papers

The vision and mission a school community creates is the path and object of an administrator's position in a particular school district. The vision and mission is a foundation for the house and the beginning point of the road map. The vision is the idealized dream almost reachable, albeit reasonable enough for an attempt to reach. The vision should be shared and agreed upon by the community. Unique and culture driven, the vision needs to be the mirror of the culture's needs.

The most important passion an educator or administrator can feel is purpose. An institution's vision should give real …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Amy Josephine Moine

Graduate Research Papers

To take on the role as a leader in education will not be an easy task. Administrators will be held to high standards in visionary, instructional, organizational, ethical, political, and collaborative leadership. In order to meet and/or exceed these standards I will depend on my skills in building positive relationships with all people and taking the right steps to build a school with a reputation of excellence.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Kaylen D. Dreyer

Graduate Research Papers

Today's successful administrators fill many important roles that demonstrate educational leadership. First, administrators are goal oriented. They are visionaries with a set path for themselves and others around them. Administrators are also life-long learners. They believe in continual learning for themselves and others. At last, administrators need to be caring, collaborative, and supportive as leaders and decision makers. They need to be true advocates for the children within their buildings.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools: A Reflective Essay, Lucy M. Evans

Graduate Research Papers

I believe that every child born into the world deserves, as their unalienable right, an equal opportunity to a quality education as promised by the United States Congress in 1981. This promise can only be accomplished by maintaining the belief that every child can and will learn if given the opportunity. I believe that within the mind of a child is a natural curiosity about this great world that can through proper nurturing continue throughout their lives.

The atmosphere in the school community should be one of caring and acceptance. Plants and animals cannot grow without proper care and nourishment …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Timothy D. Hejhal

Graduate Research Papers

There are many personal traits that have been found universally among effective leaders. Intelligence, self-reflection, honesty and not being afraid to seek assistance when confronted with difficult problems are examples of these traits. Effective leaders must have inherent "people skills". They must have a genuine interest in and awareness of the needs of others. Emotional balance and remaining rational in times of conflict, crisis, or challenging circumstances are all positive personal attributes essential of effective leadership.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools, Christopher Cruise

Graduate Research Papers

There are many different characteristics that contribute to being an effective administrator. I believe an administrator must have a vision for his/her school. He or she must strive to constantly improve the educational experience for students by building a strong cultural community within the school that makes every student feel welcome. An administrator must work well with many different types of people within the school and community and must be willing to serve on many different committees to open lines of communication with all of the student body.

An administrator needs to surround himself with good people who share his …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Amy Rallis

Graduate Research Papers

I believe that competent and effective administrators must possess and clearly demonstrate all six of the Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) representative of exemplary education. Effective administrators are organized, efficient, interact well with everyone in a professional manner, and are personal. An effective administrator interacts effectively with everyone in the building. They are knowledgeable about topics and are good listeners. I value these components in any job, but most importantly in principals I interact with as a teacher. Highly effective administrators are open-minded, but also have a tendency to stick to the task at hand.

A Preferred Vision For Administering K-12 Schools : A Reflective Essay, Victoria L. Connelly

Graduate Research Papers

A few important beliefs have become the cornerstones of my philosophy of education. These beliefs include the need to develop collaborative relationships within the school community, create a positive climate, and to always remember that student learning is the ultimate goal for educators. In order to build the constructive relationships upon which success can be built, a leader must be able to communicate. A school leader who demonstrates communication skills encourages the development of a positive school climate where there is respect and discipline. Educators should enhance the feeling of success, achievement, and caring in a school climate by establishing …

Issl Standards : Tools For An Effective Educational Leader, Kimberly R. Latusick

Graduate Research Papers

The Iowa Standards for School Leadership (ISSL) provide an educational leader with the essential tools to construct a strong educational structure. These tools are used to actively engage everyone in the building process. The six ISSL Standards: Visionary, Instructional, Organizational, Collaborative, Ethical, and Political Leadership, serve as a blueprint to gain knowledge and develop attributes appropriate to the role of a building principal.

This essay reflects on how I have incorporated the ISSL Standards into my role as educator and future administrator. The practicum experiences, course-related work, and visionary expectations have allowed me to understand the importance of being an …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Gary D. Rippentrop

Graduate Research Papers

School leaders are put in a position of educating the community's most valuable asset, their children. School leaders must live their lives by the highest ethical standards to demonstrate to the community the importance of the district children's education.

A school leader needs to have a vision of what the school should exemplify in future years. Students should not only learn the academics, but should also learn to be good citizens. To be good citizens, the students of today must have knowledge of where our country has been in the past to better understand what we stand for today. To …