In educational research regarding modern school reform, the improvement of school leadership ranked high on the list of priorities. A 2010 survey of school administrators, policymakers and school owners revealed that the quality of school leaders is one of the most pressing matters among issues in education. While the quality of instructors stood above all others, school leadership outstripped issues such as high drop out rates, STEM integration, and college and workforce preparation.
Now, it is time to find school leadership that works. The Wallace Foundation took on this task, carrying out over 70 studies to find the five fundamentals of effective school leaders. Effective school leaders lead to great schools - that’s why it is important to consider and implement the below practices, as strongly suggested by the best of research.
A number of researchers specializing in education leadership state that it is the responsibility of effective school leaders to establish a culture of high standards in a school. The researchers at the University of Washington support this notion, defining it as a schoolwide learning improvement agenda that focuses on goals for student success.
Academic achievement may seem like an obvious goal for school leaders, but it has not always been so. In fact, historically, school leaders, particularly principals, were mostly seen as managers of the school. High standards were set and followed only for students aiming for college. A Vanderbilt study on this topic examines the change of the principal’s role, which occurred in only the last two decades:
"The research literature has consistently supported the notion that having high expectations for all, including clear and public standards, is one key to closing the achievement gap between advantaged and less advantaged students and for raising the overall achievement of all students."
The best principals ensure that the school environment fosters learning from its very core. As defined by Vanderbilt researchers, such “a healthy school environment,” encompasses the basics, such as safety and order, but also includes qualities such as a “supportive, responsive” attitude toward the students. It also incorporates teachers feeling that they are part of a community of professionals focused on high standards of instruction.
What makes a climate hospitable to effective education? Researchers determined the following characteristics of a healthy school environment:
According to the International Journal of Leadership in Education, principals seeking to improve student academic performance should focus on improving the school’s environment. First and foremost, this may be done by fostering strong relationships between themselves, their teachers, students, and parents. Measuring school climate and using the results of these assessments to focus the school’s goals on learning is important for the process of improving the school’s overall performance.
According to the research from the universities of Minnesota and Toronto, principals who are rated high by their teachers for creating a positive climate for instruction also receive higher marks than other principals for cultivating leadership in the faculty. In fact, this practice leads to vast improvements in student academic performance. The same study showed that effective school leadership is associated with better test scores in nation-wide exams.
Effective principals know that collaboration is the hallmark of leadership, and they encourage staff to take on stronger roles in the school. They utilize teacher training and evaluation to teach and inspire teachers to become leaders themselves. To foster more teacher leaders, these principals are aware of certain attributes behind effective teacher leaders. Some of these attributes include the qualities of great instructors, as well as skills that are not taught in teacher preparation programs, such as curriculum planning or data analysis. To cultivate leadership in teachers, these principals encourage professional development and support training and outreach programs for teachers.
While the principal should consider external training for teacher leaders, funding may come as a barrier to this sort of program. However, there are certain steps that principals may take to foster quality teacher leadership in their schools:
Observing teachers, supervising curriculum changes, and providing feedback are the fundamentals of a principal’s instructional leadership. As a principal, it’s important to implement a number of strategies for improving instruction in your school. You can improve instruction by implementing the following strategies:
Some of the key aspects of instructional leadership are to be visible, accessible, and to get into the classroom. This may seem like an easy first step. However, the principal’s physical presence in the classroom may not seem as much of a priority compared to other tasks. Consider increasing the number of formal observations that are conducted throughout the year, as well as implement an informal schedule of walk-ins with your leadership team. In fact, The Instructional Leadership Challenge, in which over 10,000 school leaders all over the world participate, suggests that the principal should visit the classrooms at least 500 times a year.
In fact, a study on school climates revealed that the schools with truly positive climates had strong leaders that made instructional leadership a top priority. Principals set a positive tone in that direction by showing interest in instruction. An important aspect of visiting the classroom is making the experience positive for both the principal and the teacher. Ensure that the teachers know that you are not there for the purposes of critique - instead, you are there to learn with them about instruction.
After formal observations or teacher evaluations, no matter how positive, ensure that you incorporate at least one area in need of improvement. The Educational Leadership Magazine determines seven elements of effective feedback, which has been proven to be the most powerful influences on instructional improvement. Effective feedback is the following:
The latest issue of Principal magazine provides school leaders with the resources for professional growth, which is key to instructional leadership and all aspects of school improvement. The article provides four strategies for professional development in principals.
Develop your voice. In Make an Impact, school leadership specialists urge principals to continue developing listening and learning skills. These skills may seem simple, but, as the authors argue, they are essential to leveraging and strengthening your leadership voice.
Engage in mentoring. The benefits for mentorship do not end once you gain experience in your career. Mentoring someone else encourages reflection, stimulates creative problem solving, and helps your professional growth.
Leverage a coach. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned expert in your field, a coach can be a great resource for improving instruction in your school. A coach has a toolbox of strategies for school improvement and will be able to provide you with a defined theory for action.
Utilize peer support. Your network of professional support may include social media, your colleagues or professional associations, and a professional learning network. The easy ways to connect make your learning journey easy and accessible, and you will never stop growing!
One of the best ways for principals to optimize learning time is to observe how effectively teachers utilize the first five minutes of class time, Dr. Alvy, the author of The New Principal's Fieldbook: Strategies for Success, said. "Look at how the first five minutes of class goes. If you lose five minutes a day, that's 15 hours of instructional time a year." He recommends that principals analyze examples of the students’ work as they make their rounds in the school.
"One of the most valuable management tools is data," Dr. Alvy concluded. "Make sure you make decisions based on research. Consider what do on a daily basis to improve student achievement. Remember to put data in context."
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Data management is one of the most important responsibilities of a principal. To lead the charge in improving academic performance, principals must be proficient in using data as a leadership tool. A 2017 report on academic performance-driven schools determined six key strategies to produce significant results in student achievement, centered on employment of data utilization. The strategies provided by the report are summarized below.
A study by USC highlights the various enablers of data-driven decision making. In the conclusion of the study, researchers found that when combined with the micro-cycle of instructional improvement cycle, performance-driven schools can see a significant increase in student performance.
The literature on the topic is clear: effective school leadership has significant impact on students’ academic performance. A key dimension of school leadership involves utilizing student data to drive effective decision making at all levels of the school.
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