Acharya Devo Bhav: by Dr. Nilesh Gopal das Joshi (10 ebook reader .TXT) 📕

only the students in their school or district but for colleagues and parents as well. A leader that leads by example almost always receives respect and admiration, without which he or she will find little luck in leadership. As philosopher and physician Albert Schweitzer once said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others; it is the only thing.” They Persevere – Staying with a School for at Least Five Years

Change, while good, can also be disruptive when it occurs too frequently. In the case of school leadership, it has been documented that frequent turnover results in a negative school climate, which in turn has a negative effect on student performance.

“Committed and effective principals who remain in their schools are associated with improved schoolwide student achievement. As a corollary, principal turnover is associated with lower gains in student achievement,” reported the Learning Policy Institute. “Principal turnover has a more significant negative effect in high-poverty, low-achieving schools — the very schools in which students most rely on their education for future success. The negative effect of principal turnover suggests that principals need time to make meaningful improvements in their schools. One study found that it takes, on average, 5 years of a new principal leading a school for the school’s performance to rebound to the pre-turnover level.”

The best leaders, therefore, are willing to commit to a school and persevere despite the obstacles or challenges. After all, realizing a vision doesn’t happen overnight; true transformation takes time. A leader’s commitment displays not only passion but dedication, which can have a tremendously positive effect on school culture.

They Are Lifelong Learners

Perhaps the most important of all qualities that a school leader can possess is the unquenchable thirst for knowledge. As John F. Kennedy said, “leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” The best leaders, no matter what industry they work in, know they will never know it all. They are humble in their knowledge yet confident in their abilities. They’re endlessly curious individuals who never stop questioning, and learning.

The Harvard Business Review put it perfectly when they said: “It takes a real sense of personal commitment, especially after you’ve arrived at a position of power and responsibility, to push yourself to grow and challenge conventional wisdom. Which is why two of the most important questions leaders face are as simple as they are profound: Are you learning, as an organization and as an individual, as fast as the world is changing? Are you as determined to stay interested as to be interesting? Remember, it’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

The report also quotes the noted writer and professor John Gardner, who observed, “The best leaders I’ve gotten to know aren’t just the boldest thinkers; they are the most insatiable learners.”

“LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING ARE INDISPENSABLE TO EACH OTHER” —JOHN F. KENNEDY

It is hard to think of an industry where constant learning is more applicable than education.

To be a successful and effective leader is no easy feat. Yet, effective school leaders are desperately needed in thousands of schools and educational institutions across this country and around the world.

As noted educational leadership expert Professor Kenneth Leithwood stated in a Hechinger Report article, “Indeed, there are virtually no documented instances of troubled schools being turned around without intervention by a powerful leader.”

For those interested in following their passion for the topics discussed above in a top-notch academic program, School Leadership is one of five specializations offered as part of the University of San Diego’s online Master of Education degree program.

 

Chapter 12 Qualities of a Good School Principal

 

Qualities of a Good School Principal

 

Principals have difficult jobs. As the face and head of the school, they are responsible for the education each student under their care receives, and they set the tone of the school. They decide on staffing decisions and student discipline issues.

Provides Support

Good teachers need to feel supported. They need to believe that when they have an issue in their classroom, they will get the help they need. According to a survey of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, a third of the more than 300 teachers who resigned in 1997–98 did so due to lack of administrative support. This situation has not changed much in the past two decades. This is not to say that principals should blindly back teachers without using their judgment. Teachers are human beings who make mistakes, too. Nonetheless, the overall feeling from the principal should be one of belief and support.

 

Highly Visible

A good principal must be seen. They must be out in the hallways, interacting with students, participating in pep rallies, and attending sports matches. Their presence must be such that students know who they are and also feel comfortable approaching and interacting with them.

 

 

Effective Listener

Much of a principal's time is spent listening to others: assistant principals, teachers, students, parents, and staff. Therefore, they need to learn and practice active listening skills every single day. They need to be present in each conversation despite the other hundred or so things that are calling for their attention. They also need to hear what is being said to them before coming up with their response.

 

 

Problem-Solver

Problem-solving is the core of the principal's job. In many cases, new principals are brought into a school because it is facing tough issues. It might be that the school's test scores are low, that it has a high number of discipline issues, or that it is facing financial issues due to poor leadership by the previous administrator. New or established, any principal will be asked to help with many difficult and challenging situations. Therefore, they need to hone their problem-solving skills by learning to prioritize and provide concrete steps to solve the issues at hand.

 

Empowers Others

A good principal, just like a good CEO or another executive, should want to give their employees a sense of empowerment. Business management classes in college often point to companies like Harley-Davidson and Toyota who empower their employees to offer solutions to problems and even stop line production if a quality issue is noted. While teachers are typically in charge of their individual classrooms, many feel powerless to affect the ethos of the entire school. Principals need to be open and responsive to teacher suggestions for school improvement.

 

 

Has a Clear Vision

A principal is the leader of the school. Ultimately, they have the responsibility for everything that goes on there. Their attitude and vision need to be loud and clear. They might find it useful to create their own vision statement which they post for all to see and must consistently enforce their own educational philosophy into the school setting.

One principal described his first day on the job at a low-performing school: He walked into the office and waited a few minutes to see what the receptionist staff located behind a high counter would do. It took quite a bit of time for them to even acknowledge his presence. Right then, he decided that his first act as principal would be to remove that high counter. His vision was one of an open environment where students and parents felt invited in, part of the community. Removing that counter was an important first step toward achieving this vision.

 

 

Fair and Consistent

Just like an effective teacher, principals must be fair and consistent. They need to have the same rules and procedures for all staff and students. They cannot show favoritism. They cannot allow their personal feelings or loyalties to cloud their judgment.

 

 

Discreet

Administrators must be discreet. They deal with sensitive issues each day including:

Health issues of students and staff Difficult home situations for students Hiring and firing decisions Teacher evaluations Disciplinary issues with staff

 

 

Dedicated

A good administrator must be dedicated to the school and the belief that all decisions must be made in terms of the best interests of the students. A principal needs to embody school spirit. Just like being highly visible, it needs to be obvious to students that the principal loves the school and has their best interests at heart. Principals should normally be the first to arrive and the last to leave the school. This type of dedication can be difficult to maintain but pays enormous dividends with staff, students, and society at large.

 

Chapter 13 Top 10 Characteristics of Successful 21st Century School Leaders

 

Top 10 Characteristics of Successful 21st Century School Leaders

 

 

Good schools are driven by teachers, Principals and Heads of School who are passionate about making a difference to the lives of the children in their care. However, the challenges of 21st Century global and technological advances have placed school leaders under more pressure than ever before.

How can you be a successful School Leader? Here are the characteristics I believe you need to thrive in the 21st Century.

 Honesty and Integrity

As a leader you need to know yourself and your values. Find a school that aligns with your values and then model your values and the school’s values to all in your community. Make a personal commitment to be honest with yourself and your team at all times. Be transparent. Nurture honesty and integrity in your faculty and students. If you make a mistake, admit it, take responsibility for it, resolve it and learn from it. Always uphold your word and your promises.

Ability to Trust and Empower

Listen to your teachers and students. Learn their talents, interests and passions and then delegate accordingly. Empower them to take responsibility for tasks and projects. Be there to coach them and make sure you praise them for what they achieve.

Communicative, Collaborative and Connected

Openly seek and share information and knowledge. Seek to be understood and to understand others. Connect with the world via blogging and social media. Collaborate with others virtually and face-to-face to ensure the best decisions are made.

Positive Energy

Always present a positive, pro-active and caring approach. Make the time to speak with students, teachers and parents. Get to know and value them by developing authentic relationships. Make sure you manage your health, well being and energy levels.

 Confidence 

Be confident and approachable. Be visible, ask questions, value what you see and give praise for effective teaching and learning practices. As a leader you will be faced with difficult situations. In these situations, always stay calm and confident to maintain morale in the school community. Ensure your focus always returns to your strategic goals. The key objective is