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SCHOOLS today continue to evolve into increasingly complex organizations, as the diversity of students continues to expand. In tandem with these developments is the expectation for all students to meet increasingly higher learning standards - thus the vision of maximum educational success for all students.
Escalating standards and changing demographics place new demands on educational leaders. Knowledge in the traditional areas of school finance, law, personnel, curriculum, instruction, and state mandates was once the focus for preparing school administrators. Today, federal and state educational reforms coupled with increased accountability create an urgent need for development of leadership skills to promote student achievement as measured by sound academic assessments.
Moreover, today's educational leaders must recognize and assume shared responsibility not only for the intellectual and educational development of students, but also for their personal, social, emotional, and physical development. These changes in diversity, standards, and demands in school communities place a premium on school leaders able to create a vision of success for all students, and use their skills in communication, collaboration, and building learning communities within the schools to ensure that the vision of educational excellence becomes a reality.
Educational Visionaries
Effective leadership plays a vital role in setting the direction for successful schools. This is true for all schools, whether the leader is a school board member, superintendent, principal, or teacher. More than ever, educational visionaries and authentic leaders are needed. It has generally been accepted that leaders are born, not made. Yet, contrary to this belief, research shows that leaders are made, not born. Leaders are those who have the desire and willpower to be effective, and learn what true leadership is, and is not.
Schools have traditionally been full of quality managers but desperately short of leaders. "Leadership" and "management" are terms often used interchangeably in meaning and application. However, this is simply not the case. By definition and in practice, leadership and management are different functions requiring different skill sets. In short, managers have subordinates, while leaders have followers.
Examine the difference...