Principal_Leadership

Principal Leadership What does an effective leader need to do to change the culture or a school to 21st Century learning?

As an effective leader, one needs to be up to date on current research. He/ she needs to communicate these findings to the staff. One strategy would be to create a leadership team of varying members so the committee could formulate ideas and strategies, and leading the movement to others in the school. The vision should be realistic and created by the staff. If it is not a shared vision initially, then the research should be communicated to the staff in a nonthreatening manner where the benefits are highlighted. In addition, effective leaders should model the practices and behaviors he/ she wishes to change.

As leaders begin to make the cultural change, he/ she needs to be receptive to the staff and listen to their needs. Effective leaders need to provide the resources and time needed to make a cultural change. These resources give teachers the opportunity to see the benefits and requirements needed to make a change. Support in the form of ongoing staff development opportunities, sharing of best practices, and frequent troubleshooting of problems. This support is essential to establish and maintain the trust between staff members and administration.

In order for effective leaders truly change the school culture, he/ she needs to celebrate the progress experienced by students and faculty members. This can be accomplished through showcasing student final products, sharing stories of classroom visits where technology is being used effectively, and allowing teachers to visit technology rich environments, among others.

Being an active supporter of technology infusion can be evidenced in several ways. They key component in the equation is support. The change will not come overnight, but as learning is more fun and beneficial for students, it will occur quicker than one thinks!