Attributes of an Effective Instructional Leader

Instructional leaders can inspire others in their school to attain and surpass student achievement.

Instructional leaders are called to meet the challenges associated with national and state expectations with regards to teaching and learning, Today's Instructional leaders concentrate on building a vision, sharing leadership and creating an atmosphere of a learning community. State and federal agencies set expectations for student achievement and instructional leaders are charged with ensuring that students reach these set standards. Instructional leaders inspire others in their school to attain and surpass student achievement.

Strong School Vision

Having a strong school vision paints a clear picture of the future for all stakeholders. Vision is a source of motivation and energy within a school community. A strong vision acts as a compass for all of the members of a school community. It is imperative that the instructional leader makes his vision easily understood and embraced by the whole school community. It provides inspiration and a framework of practice for the educational community.

Shared Leadership

In recent years school leadership has shifted from that of the top-down approach taken from the business community where the leader leads, makes key decisions, motivates and inspires. Strong instructional leaders see the value in a shift from the formal leader to that of a shared leadership model. This approach is used to create an environment of collaboration, empowering individuals to be partners in leadership and share responsibility for leadership. Effective Instructional leaders create an environment that supports the sharing of leadership. Shared leadership requires trust and a shared vision, but can also increase risk-taking, innovation and commitment.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Instructional leaders looking to utilize data use must also give educators

flexibility to adjust instructional practices based on data analyses. An effective instructional leader understands the need to be flexible and gives teachers the power to respond to data that indicates an instructional need for re-teaching or remediation.

Strong Communication Skills

The success of the instruction leader depends largely upon outstanding communication skills. An instruction leader must effectively communicate with everyone in a school system. Robert D. Ramsey wrote, "Communication is the lifeblood of teaching and learning." It is important that leaders in a school community communicate with stakeholders, and that it be a dialogue rather than a one-sided conversation. Being respectful and making the community of students, parents, teachers, staff and other stakeholders is key to the success of an instructional leader.

References

• Revenue Journal:Top 10 Characteristics of An Effective Leader
• Effective Leaders for Today's Schools: Synthesis of a Policy Forum on Educational Leadership - June 1999
• What Makes for An Effective Leader?
• Ramsey, R. How to Say the Right Thing Every Time: Communicating Well With Students, Staff, Parents, and the Public