Educational Leadership Commons^™

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Kurt A. Hempen

Graduate Research Papers

The chief purpose of this paper is to discuss the components of six leadership styles: autocratic, transactional, transformational, situational, expert thinking, and value-added. Throughout this paper, my objective is to identify the six styles and compare how each can be used in school administration. Finally, I will discuss my growth in school leadership along with plans for future improvements.

A Vision And Philosophy For Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Brad J. Jacobs

Graduate Research Papers

The leadership position includes many roles and responsibilities that are essential to the growth and success of a positive learning environment. Encouraging participation and drawing from the expertise of individuals within the community will enhance the learning community. The involvement of others in the decision-making, the creating of goals, and obtaining a vision will strengthen the sense of pride in the school and in the community.

A leader needs to make clear the expectations and roles of individuals along with listening to what others are saying. Strong communications skills will play a vital role in all of the aspects discussed …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Debrah J. Fordice

Graduate Research Papers

The desire to have beauty around me translates to the development of climate as a school leader. It is important for the physical surroundings to make the school family (staff, administration, parents, community members, and students) feel comfortable and at home. Efficient and tasteful use of space help create an environment that produces a feeling of security, and therefore enhances learning. The values of love, family, and beauty all tie together to the creation of a healthy climate in an educational setting.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Michael J. Herdliska

Graduate Research Papers

A visionary leader must have an awareness of the past, a feel for the present and a clear picture of the future. Perhaps the greatest skill that tomorrow's educational leader can possess is the ability to enact change. While many people fear change, Spencer Johnson (1998) clearly, and humorously, illustrates the importance of accepting change through Who Moved My Cheese? While the author warns, "If you do not change, you can become extinct" (p.46), he also suggests smelling the cheese (your current situation) often, "so you know when it is getting old (and change is needed)" (p.52). I prefer looking …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Schools : A Reflective Essay, Carol M. Knoll

Graduate Research Papers

The most important assignment of the effective school leader is being responsible for establishing and maintaining a climate conducive to academic learning and achievement by the students. An effective school climate, which is promoted by the principal, includes: (a) setting academic achievement as the primary goal of the school; (b) ensuring that all members of the school community understand the importance of good teaching; (c) reducing the intrusions and disruptions in a school; (d) developing a good follow-up system for students who are tardy, absent, or disruptive; (e) being consistent in enforcing the rules, regulations and policies of the school; …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Ronald D. Morlan

Graduate Research Papers

Effective administrators must be committed to continually growing professionally. They must hone communication skills that will reflect honesty and clarity. Honesty and clarity in communicating will help facilitate strong relationships. Administrators must approach conflict in a healthy, caring way. They must have passion and vision so that they can lead and influence those around them into shared values and vision. Effective administrators must continually reflect on their own core and basic values, and evaluate how their actions and behavior line up with those values.

Finally, any educational leader must have a heart for kids. They must always remember why they …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Terrie L. Price

Graduate Research Papers

My personal philosophy of education is centered on what is best for students and their academic achievement. Kids are #1! My vision is that all people who come in contact with children have the responsibility to help them on a journey to be caring, respectful, life-long learners who are productive citizens of today and tomorrow. Schools should create a safe, comfortable, clean learning environment filled with a palette of eclectic teaching and learning strategies where technology is emphasized and naturally integrated.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Susan M. Meehan

Graduate Research Papers

As I reflect upon my vision of effective teaching and leadership within a school, I am energized to implement the many ideas and concepts from this paper into action.· The school administrator plays a pivotal role in establishing the climate and mission for a learning community. My leadership efforts need to be visionary and move the school to its desired state. I must create the atmosphere, with the help of others, that transform the dreams of the learning community into reality. I look forward to stepping into this role someday and impacting the lives and futures of the students, families, …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Marlys R. Frohwein

Graduate Research Papers

Someone once said that to be a great educator was to be like a prophet. You would need to prepare young people not for today, but for thirty years into the future. How do we go about making all the changes that would be necessary to answer all the pressing needs facing most schools? Glickman (1993) has suggested the following:

Success is the intelligent use of mistakes in self-renewing schools. The moral imperative of the schools is for its members to move into their areas of incompetence: If we already knew exactly how to do this work, we would not …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, David G. Dreessen

Graduate Research Papers

The successful school administrator needs to be a "finely-honed" instrument at the center of the education process. The administrator must be sensitive to needs of the entire efforts, as well as providing direction, vision, innovative ideas, support, reinforcement, and expertise for the complete educational effort. The unity of purpose in education will proceed as a team effort, knocking down obstacles and building outstanding educational competencies in the process.

A Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, J. Lewis Curtis

Graduate Research Papers

The administrative leader not only has responsibilities for his/her own actions, but is equally responsible for the actions of many others including teachers, students, cooks, secretaries, teacher associates, and custodial staff. All of these workers are under the administrator's direct supervision, which makes it nearly impossible for him/her to know what everyone is doing, when they are doing it, and why they attempt to do it. However, what seems like such an enormous task is also the reason that administrative leadership is so exciting and challenging.

I will highlight what I perceive to be the critical elements of being an …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, David Kalkhoff

Graduate Research Papers

This reflective paper will address four areas, which are important components of a learning community. First, the importance of a positive school climate, and how this plays an integral part in the creation of the learning community. Second, to look at character education and a shift in discipline policies to help prepare students for our changing society. Third, a paradigm shift from extra curricular to co-curricular educational opportunities for our student body. Fourth, a look at educational leadership in developing the learning community.

Personal Philosophical Perspective On Educational Leadership For Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Deborah L. Padomek

Graduate Research Papers

Every child deserves the best possible education we can provide them. Burdick, Pond, & Yamamoto (1994) found that too many persons leave our educational system at both the secondary and collegiate levels unequipped with the vocational skills, the self-understanding and career decision-making skills, or the work attitudes that are essential for making a successful transition from school to work. It is important to teach students skills necessary for future employment, and also teach them the importance of being critical thinkers and applying previous learning.

A Blue Print For Administration Of Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Jay Goulden

Graduate Research Papers

Four main target areas will be presented for successful leadership. They are: site based management through shared decision making; staff development in the area of technology; development and maintenance of a positive school culture and climate, and providing a safe school environment.

Philosophical Perspective On Education, Michael Doyle

Graduate Research Papers

I believe that education shapes our continuously changing society. We use education to grow, develop, and strengthen the citizens in our society. With the proper use of education we have created the possibilities for unlimited opportunities. I see education as a great challenge to shape our young people into becoming responsible lifelong learners.

The Principal : A Reflective Essay, Mel F. Mysak

Graduate Research Papers

As I think of the principal my mind takes me back to my early school days. As a young student one of my earliest encounters with a principal was on a disciplinary matter. Even though the incident must have been in first or second grade I still clearly remember it to this day. Hence, one of my first encounters with a principal was a negative one. Due to the nature of the job, disciplinarian is one of the roles of the principal that I now understand. This incident causes me to consider that as a principal I will never know …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Larry D. Janssen

Graduate Research Papers

In this paper I will address what I view are the areas in which a principal needs to be strong, in order to be an effective and efficient administrator. I believe the most important roles of the principal include: instructional leadership, communication, student discipline, and parental and community involvement.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Brian F. Krob

Graduate Research Papers

In a clearing in the woods, I see a bricked schoolhouse with kids of all ages outside laughing and playing. The sun is splashing down on the landscape like a blanket covering a canopy bed. The teachers are lingering around the playground communicating with each other about the day's events and the principal grinning from ear to ear thinking about everything around him that makes up this school.

This is a vision I have in my mind of the perfect school and the perfect administrative position. I also have to think about all of the people who came before me …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Julie E. Niemeyer

Graduate Research Papers

Any visioning activity must necessarily begin with an examination of where you've been, which brings you to where you are, which lays the foundation for where you want to be. Core values and beliefs must be identified, and they will guide the direction of the vision. It is with this in mind that I present my vision for administrative practice.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Marla Marie Padget

Graduate Research Papers

The education system in the United States is changing rapidly. The role of teachers, administrators, parents and the community within this system should also change. This paper will examine my philosophy, experiences, preparation for leadership, and vision for creating a positive future for this nation through better education for our children.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Jonna D. Andersen

Graduate Research Papers

As teachers and administrators, we need to constantly support each other and appreciate all that we give to our students. We need to realize that in education we will not always meet with success, but we need to continue to look at ways in which to do our jobs better. Principals need to be the people who work to keep their faculties and staff in a positive/progressive direction. Administrators and teachers need to set their own goals, working constantly to achieve them. As you hit roadblocks, you need to find alternatives to get you back on the road. Education is …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Diana Bobo-Campbell

Graduate Research Papers

It is the purpose of this paper to reflect on the principal's role in the following areas: (a) creating a safe, caring environment for students; (b) assisting teachers in 2 creating a learning environment; (c) engaging parents in their child's education; and (d) developing a learning community as an educational leader. It is my intent to examine the characteristics of these roles through my philosophy and educational experiences thus envisioning an environment that will ensure these efforts.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Marshall D. Scichilone

Graduate Research Papers

As I prepare to gather my thoughts and to reflect on what I see as major issues and problems in our schools today, and my vision of how to address them, I cannot help but reflect on the last 30 years. As a classroom teacher for those years, I have come into contact with a variety of different administrators and nearly as many different leadership styles and ideas on leadership. I have certainly been shaped by all of these experiences and I will try to use them to evaluate the concepts and techniques that we have discussed in our studies …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Gretchen S. Devore

Graduate Research Papers

Trust is the single most important factor in the legitimacy of an educational leader. Administrators can have a multitude of great characteristics from personality to organizational skills, but without trust they are not part of the daily, weekly, monthly, even yearly operations of the building. If the leader is not going to be immersed in the educational process of the building or district through positive relationships, quality communication and trustworthy actions, then do not be there.

Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Kimberly A. Jones

Graduate Research Papers

An educational leader should strive to create an atmosphere of professionalism rooted in trust, dedication and commitment to preparing young people for an ever-changing future. This can take place by using the change-process outlined by Speck (l999). One major component is that the learning community must be an open system, include a representation of all stakeholders and be a collaborative effort. The other major component is the idea that the process is cyclical. Change is not a culminating end, but an ever-evolving process. An effective leader will facilitate this change for the benefit of all stakeholders in the learning community.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Troy E. Becker

Graduate Research Papers

In the classroom and in coaching we are able to affect certain groups of kids and hopefully touch their lives in a positive way. An administrator should be able to have an even greater impact on the school community and create a positive environment in which even more people will benefit. The greatest challenge will be to persuade people to make positive changes towards a common goal and vision. Rosalyn Carter in Maxwell (1994) said, "a leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they do not necessarily want to go, but ought to …

Academic Advising : Description And Analysis Of Types And Delivery Systems, Janet A. Wood

Graduate Research Papers

Research indicates that academic advising can provide valuable interaction among students, faculty, and student affairs professionals. Academic advisors are among the first people seen by students on college campuses. The relationship between an academic advisor and a student can provide a first step in what the American College Personnel Association (ACP A) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) ( 1998) recommend: "Good practice in student affairs forges educational partnerships that advance student learning" (p. 3).

A Preferred Vision For Administering High Schools : A Reflective Essay, James E. Zajicek

Graduate Research Papers

Whether it be efforts to develop state and local standards, new forms of assessment, innovations in technology, or application of new approaches to teaching and learning, changes must occur in the place our society calls school. The complex nature of our education system requires courageous and responsible action on the part of individuals who believe in preparing our children for life in the 21st century. This is both a national priority as well as a moral responsibility. Business at school as usual is no longer an option. Change in the culture and instructional practices of today's school requires the dedication …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Carole J. Bernard

Graduate Research Papers

Working together in a cohort group and acting as a quasi-administrator has afforded me the opportunity to receive theoretical knowledge as well as on-the-job training. The cohort has also helped me as a participant develop an understanding and respect for individuals from different backgrounds and experiences. Through on-the-job training I have been able to develop and practice my own leadership style while working and learning effective strategies from my principal. The blending of these two aspects of leadership experience have contributed significantly to prepare me as a future principal. I believe the cohort, a cadre of leaders, is dedicated to …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Constance L. Weber

Graduate Research Papers

As I began reflecting on education and leadership in the school setting, I realized that I have been involved in formal education in one form or another for the past forty-three years. I began kindergarten in a one-room rural school, with one instructor for nine grades. The teacher picked me up and transported me to school each day. I'm not sure what role the principal had in that school at that time. I don't actually remember a principal. The next year I began first grade in a Catholic school in a small town, and I continued in this school through …