Characteristics of Successful Schools

CHAPTER ONE
What Are the Characteristics of Successful Schools?

LEADERSHIP

Definition

Strong leadership promotes excellence and equity in education and entails projecting, promoting, and holding steadfast to the vision; garnering and allocating resources; communicating progress; and supporting the people, programs, services, and activities implemented to achieve the school's vision.

Rationale

Effective leadership is essential to the development and continuing improvement of any organization. An educational leader is needed to focus efforts on excellence and equity in education.

Key Ideas

1. Leadership roles are assumed by a variety of persons in addition to principals and superintendents, including teachers, parents, students, and community leaders.
2. Leaders demonstrate knowledge, respect, and responsiveness to the diverse cultures, contributions, and experiences that are part of the school and society.
3. School leaders expect-and hold staff accountable for-challenging all students with a rigorous, culturally relevant curriculum and for demonstrating high expectations for each student.
4. School leaders ensure that each school has financial, material, and programmatic resources adequate to provide each student an equitable opportunity to learn.

Successful Schools Have Leadership That:

1. demonstrates flexibility in dealing with change and a willingness to experiment.
2. makes decisions based on attaining the most positive results for students, rather than on adhering to or maintaining an established system.
3. analyzes disaggregated data from multiple sources and uses it to inform decisions.
4. uses technology effectively to lessen the load of routine tasks and to provide more effective communications.
5. recognizes individual differences in staff and students and provides opportunities to meet their needs.
6. facilitates and builds consensus that guides rather than mandates.
7. uses a blend of top-down and bottom-up decision-making processes.
8. inspires, persuades, and influences others by their own actions and attitudes.
9. stays current on educational research and trends and provides the same information to stakeholders.
10. responds to the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students and their families.
11. maintains a focus on the possibilities and opportunities instead of the barriers.
12. cultivates support for the school and its mission among all segments of the community, school board, district personnel, and other concerned individuals and groups.

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For questions about this information, contact Molly A. Garner (608) 266-3983

Last updated on 4/2/2009 9:04:20 AM