School Culture and Effective Leadership

A positive school culture must be created and cultivated in order for reform to take root and grow. A culture can make or break school reform initiatives.
"Schools with toxic cultures lack a clear sense of purpose, have norms that reinforce inertia, blame students for lack of progress, discourage collaboration, and often have actively hostile relations among staff. These schools are not healthy for staff or students." (National Staff Development Council, JSD Summer 2002) School culture that is negative will have detrimental effects on student learning and achievement. Students deserve leadership that seeks to build positive school culture through ongoing, collaborative, and trusting school community relationships. As stated by Barth (2006), "Probably the most important and most difficult job of the school-based reformer is to the change the prevailing culture of a school.(Fullan, p. 159)" School cultures are resistant to change, but effective leaders know how to create the desire for change within difficult environments. Positive school cultures foster school environments that are responsive to the diverse needs of all students. They promote supportive environments where professional development opportunities are valued and welcomed. Shared efforts are sought after to assist with decision making and planning of effective reform practices. Positive school cultures cultivate a passion for life-long learning within all of its members. "If the first major purpose of school is to create and provide a culture hospitable to human learning, the second major purpose of a school is to make it likely that students and educators will become and remain life-long learners."(Bart,p.167) Schools must not only focus on standardized test results, but the true development of their students as life-long learners. I hope to cultivate this type of atmosphere within the school that I will be working this year.

How has what you have learned so far in the course shaped your concept of an effective leader?

Effective school leaders are people who can work collaboratively with others to establish a positive school culture and climate. They are focused on creating a school foundation grounded in student learning and success. Effective leaders know how to communicate effectively in order to mobilize others in the pursuit of academic and professional excellence. As a leader, I will strive to act as a leader who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk as well. I will keep Kouzes' and Posner's five characteristics of exemplary leadership as a set of principles to work from while establishing my role as a innovative and effective leader.
- Model the way
- Inspire a shared vision
- Challenge the process
- Enable others to act
- Encourage the heart
Successful leadership presents many challenges, but met with someone who is committed to educational reform and educating all children, it can be reached. Leaders must speak from the heart and a set of core values and guiding principles. Leaders are pioneers and will most often step out on the limb for the sake of establishing innovative reform efforts. They strive for personal and professional learning, growth and improvement. There are many hats that leaders must wear, but with integrity, honesty, and humility, they will find success in whatever they do. As a true educational innovator, I will continue to lead by modeling effective instructional practices as well as in my continued passion and dedication to student learning and 21st Century educational reform efforts. I take my educational oath very seriously. I will continue to stay true to my personal and professional convictions and values in providing the ongoing necessary support for productive 21st Century community learning environments.

Resources
The Jossey-Bass reader on educational leadership By Jossey-Bass Inc, Michael Fullan