Issues in Eductation
1. Leadership- plays a vital role in the education community because the structure of schools works from the top down.
a. Administrators take care of the technical aspects of keeping a school functioning, and supervise teachers to insure standards are being met.
b. Teachers are responsible for implementing classroom instruction to help students gather the information they need to be successful in life. In most cases this instruction is focused on specific topics in which the teacher is the expert.
c. “Invitational Leadership” by John Novak
1. “School leaders are like long distance runners. Neither wants to run out of steam, head in the wrong direction or face obstacles they cannot handle.” (44)
2. Invitational leadership seeks to invite all people to bring forth their own strengths and abilities to reach their highest potential.
3. Invitational leadership relies on: (45 &46)
* Foundations- made up of democratic ethos, self-concept theory, perceptual tradition, and the goal of educational living.
* Assumptions- must include respect, trust, care, optimism, and intentionality.
4. The 6 C’s- Leaders are to keep these in mind when trying to facilitate invitational leadership and seek change. (54)
1. Concern- It is important to recognize the difference between a preference and a concern. A preference is something you would like to see happen. A concern is focused on a specific element that needs to be changed.
2. Confer- It is important for the individual to discuss the concern with fellow colleagues. The concern should be defined clearly, and possible solutions should be discussed during these conversations.
3. Consult- This is a more formal approach where the problem solving process takes place. Documentation of the concern and possible solutions also begins in this stage.
4. Confront- To confront a specific concern it is important for the leader to address the issue directly and in a no nonsense manner.
5. Combat- Leaders
a. Administrators take care of the technical aspects of keeping a school functioning, and supervise teachers to insure standards are being met.
b. Teachers are responsible for implementing classroom instruction to help students gather the information they need to be successful in life. In most cases this instruction is focused on specific topics in which the teacher is the expert.
c. “Invitational Leadership” by John Novak
1. “School leaders are like long distance runners. Neither wants to run out of steam, head in the wrong direction or face obstacles they cannot handle.” (44)
2. Invitational leadership seeks to invite all people to bring forth their own strengths and abilities to reach their highest potential.
3. Invitational leadership relies on: (45 &46)
* Foundations- made up of democratic ethos, self-concept theory, perceptual tradition, and the goal of educational living.
* Assumptions- must include respect, trust, care, optimism, and intentionality.
4. The 6 C’s- Leaders are to keep these in mind when trying to facilitate invitational leadership and seek change. (54)
1. Concern- It is important to recognize the difference between a preference and a concern. A preference is something you would like to see happen. A concern is focused on a specific element that needs to be changed.
2. Confer- It is important for the individual to discuss the concern with fellow colleagues. The concern should be defined clearly, and possible solutions should be discussed during these conversations.
3. Consult- This is a more formal approach where the problem solving process takes place. Documentation of the concern and possible solutions also begins in this stage.
4. Confront- To confront a specific concern it is important for the leader to address the issue directly and in a no nonsense manner.
5. Combat- Leaders
Links: b. Teacher collaboration is a frequent approach to improving instruction in 35 chronically low-performing schools that achieved dramatic turnarounds (McClure, 2008). Leonard, L. & Leonard, P. (2003, September 17). The continuing trouble with collaboration: Teachers talk. Current Issues in Education [On-line], 6(15). 10 a. Preschool education increases children’s chances of success at school, college and university level (Shergill, 2006). b e. Specifically, benefits of Early Childhood Education programs can be found in the following areas ("Benefits of early," 2010): 1