school leadership

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

             It is believed that a school is like a system of a whole body where the school head/principal is the head. Without a leader a system will not functions well. It would then be like a flock without a shepherd or a ship without a captain or an airplane without a pilot since a leader will serve as a direction. Therefore, managing a school is not an easy bent because of its large scale of control that a leader needs to think carefully about. The effectiveness of the school head can be manifested by the totality of the performance of the school system. If a school performs well then it follows that a school is being manage by an effective leader.     The implication of an effective school leader to the system is really very essential.  If the leader is skilled in dealing with his/her followers then together as one they will achieved the desired success of the school.

            All over the world, school leadership has become a priority in education policy agendas. It plays a key role in improving school outcomes by influencing the motivations and capacities of teachers, as well as the school climate and environment. Effective school leadership is necessary to improve the efficiency and equity of schooling. As our country is seeking to adapt educational systems that meet the needs of contemporary society we have moved towards decentralization, making schools more independent in their decision making and holding them more responsible for outcomes. Research has shown that school leaders can make a difference in school and student performance if they are granted independence in making important decisions. However independence alone does not guarantee improvements unless it is well supported. In addition, it is important that the core responsibilities of school leaders be clearly defined and delimited. School leadership responsibilities should be defined through an understanding of the practices most likely to improve teaching and learning.

            School leadership to be more effective should promote and implement change and a leader is someone who could bring about change in a school. It also follows that a leader is a risk taker who is not afraid to welcome and go for innovation with a unified vision that geared towards the betterment of the school. As Manasse, 1986 puts it, to actively change an organization; leaders must make decisions about the nature of the desired state."Leadership requires vision. It is a force that provides meaning and purpose to the work of an organization. Leaders of change are visionary leaders, and vision is the basis of their work. “They begin with a personal vision to forge a shared vision with their coworkers. Their communication of the vision is such that it empowers people to act. Their vision of their school or district provides purpose, meaning, and significance to the work of the school and enables them to motivate and empower the staff to contribute to the realization of the vision.

            The relationship between the teachers' and administrators' vision is important. Administrators' vision tends to encompass the whole system or as described by Manasse (1986) their vision is an organizational vision. Teachers' vision appears to focus primarily on the individual or personal actions for school change. However, to closely examine teachers' and administrators' visions this may reveal that both groups of educators are looking at the same vision but attending to different aspects. School administrators that have developed a shared vision with their faculty have also created common ground that serves to facilitate or compel action to the realization of this common vision. Frequently underlying a shared vision are teachers' and administrators' shared values and beliefs, specifically believing that schools are for students' learning. Shared vision could possibly a great way to the fulfillment of the common goal of the school they may function differently according to their abilities and respective obligations but geared towards their unified goal or target. If only the school head would have this kind of mentality in leading the school which foster concern to the welfare of the students then our educational system would make a difference.