Educational Leadership
What are the qualities of effective educational leaders?
Effective leaders generally have qualities such as strong communication skills, visionary thinking, empathy, adaptability, integrity, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Just as important, however, effective educational leaders are advocates for student success and wellbeing, they cultivate authentic relationships within their communities, and they grow their critical consciousness to lead for equity and inclusion. Our EDL programs are designed to support current and aspiring leaders who want to develop these ways of being and knowing to become engaged educational leaders who think like scholars.
How can I become an educational leader?
Many people who work in schools, universities, and communities are educational leaders even if their formal title or job description doesn’t say this. If you are reading this, you are probably already leaning into your leadership capacities and responsibilities. To advance to more formal leadership roles in your career, consider any of the following steps:
- Gain relevant experience through teaching, committee work, and leadership opportunities
- Build your skills through mentorship and professional development
- Observe and learn from effective leaders in your community
- Pursue an advanced degree or certificate
At NAU, we have a number of graduate certificates and degrees if you are ready to pursue additional education and/or certification. We encourage you to explore the degree options and reach out with any questions.
What is instructional leadership?
Instructional leadership means guiding, facilitating, and modeling caring and effective teaching processes. Instructional leaders are often master teachers who have worked hard to develop the dispositions, skills, and approaches to facilitate learning with diverse learners. Moving into a formal instructional leadership role might mean less direct teaching with students, and more focus on developing the teaching capacities of your colleagues. Instructional leaders generally spend their time providing professional development to their colleagues, co-teaching or team-teaching with their colleagues, supporting colleagues in student data analysis, and modeling effective teaching and student engagement.
What are the biggest challenges in educational leadership today?
Educational leaders navigate many challenges and ever-changing contexts in schools and universities. But with challenge comes opportunity – opportunity to truly make a difference and have a broad impact within one’s community!
One of the most significant challenges facing educational leaders right now is to ensure equity and inclusion so that every student can thrive. Leaders who center equity must address diverse student needs, navigate policy changes, foster an inclusive and positive climate, adapt to evolving technological advances, manage budgets and resources, and respond to external constituents and pressures.
How can educational leaders promote equity and diversity?
The first step in promoting diversity and equity is to understand what these two words mean and why they are important. Diversity refers to the range and variation among people, ideas, identities, languages, histories, abilities, and experiences that exists within a community. More diversity within a classroom, school or university often results in more complex and rich conversations, perspectives, and learning. Equity refers to what is fair and just, and it requires attention to both processes/inputs and results/outcomes. Equity requires that we understand the needs and systemic barriers impacting people’s experiences, and that we act in ways that are responsive to those understandings.
When educational leaders have an accurate and robust understanding of diversity and equity, they are better positioned to promote these things within their organization. Promoting diversity and advancing educational equity might include implementing inclusive and equity-centered policies and practices, supporting culturally responsive curriculum and teaching, recruiting and retaining diverse employees, developing equity awareness among staff, and actively addressing bias and inequities in a timely manner.
What is transformational leadership in education?
Transformational leadership is an approach that recognizes an organization’s needs and assets, and works collaboratively to engaging in continuous improvement towards greater equity. Transformational leaders cultivate healthy relationships, foster trust and shared responsibility for outcomes, encourage creativity and risk-taking, and engage diverse partners in the work of systemic change.
What are some strategies for improving school culture and climate?
You may have heard the phrase, “culture eats policy for breakfast,” and this highlights the fact that fostering a positive culture and climate is one of the most important responsibilities of an educational leader. Improving and maintaining an organizational climate in which all members thrive requires that leaders develop a shared understanding and commitment to the organization’s goals, strengths, needs, values, and processes. This is an ongoing journey that is best developed through consistent and intentional attention to relationships, reflexivity, transparency, accountability, and wellbeing.
How do educational leaders foster teacher growth and development?
Educational leaders know that their success depends on the success of those around them! Thus, an important priority for educational leaders is to develop and grow the capacities of their staff.
Educational leaders foster teacher/faculty growth and development in many ways, including recognizing and rewarding wins, promoting reflection and curiosity, offering professional development opportunities, providing constructive and kind feedback, and facilitating peer mentoring and coaching.
What is the role of technology in educational leadership?
Technology plays many roles and is an important area in which educational leaders need to be proficient. Technology tools and platforms are used for instructional purposes, data analysis, communication, and various administrative tasks in schools and universities, so educational leaders need to stay up-to-date and be willing to learn new and evolving technological resources. Educational leaders also have an important role to play in developing digital literacy and maintaining online safety among students, teachers/faculty, and staff within their schools and universities.
How can educational leaders address issues of student engagement and motivation?
Educational leaders facilitate student engagement by fostering an organizational culture and climate that honors students’ many gifts, histories, knowledges, experiences, languages, and identities. When students and their families/communities are centered as assets within a classroom, school, or university, they are understood by all as important and contributing members of the organization. This understanding informs choices educators and leaders make about engaging and relevant curriculum, cultivating meaningful relationships, and facilitating active and collaborative learning.