Educational Leadership Philosophy

We live during a time when change has become the acceptable norm, woven into the fabric of our everyday lives through technological advances that allow us to be more civically, environmentally, and globally conscious. We are active participants in how and where we spend time and resources; former boundaries of home, town, city, or state no longer define us. We have travel opportunities to live abroad, experience and understand cultures different from our own, and develop diverse ideas that broaden our perspectives and enrich our lives. More than ever, schools have expansive capabilities to design curricula that provide experiential pathways to learn, reflect, grow, and discover. As a result, school leaders must be visionaries committed to excellence as they perceive how changes in today’s world will impact the students they prepare for tomorrow.

As part of a strong educational foundation, we teach children communication skills, honesty, and integrity, how to relate to others, understand oneself, develop an intrinsic motivation to perform well and create a strong work ethic to achieve success. As we teach children, we, as adults, must model these behaviors without wavering; school leaders must do this and more. Just as developing young minds requires clarity of expectations, information sharing, and performance feedback, a school leader must develop sustainable practices that keep faculty and staff engaged and inspired. A school leader must create and build an environment where employees are not just committed to education; they are an intrinsic part of the school’s mission and goals so that they may use their time and talent to make a difference in the lives of children.

Education leadership is about building teams to accomplish complex goals. Teams that generate new, imaginative ideas and innovate how to achieve desired goals develop children who are engaged, passionate, and curious about their learning. As adults become confident in their capabilities, so will the children they lead. Educational leaders remove barriers by demonstrating honesty and integrity and consistently seeking solutions that work in the best interest of the organization and the people within. Much like teachers would do for their students, influential leaders invite everyone to have a say in decision-making processes, goal-setting, and teamwork. Moreover, just as teachers show great care and concern for their students, school leaders must demonstrate the same for their employees. We must not forget that success depends on our ability to nurture each other.

With over 25 years of teaching and program development, I have a track record of using reflective practice to create a shared vision of excellence. As a result, I have been able to lead others and discern working solutions where all members thrive. I understand my core values and prioritize and am adept at working collaboratively to develop a vision around a strategic plan. I specialize in creating organizational systems that eliminate roadblocks so that others can succeed and feel supported in a caring and nurturing environment. Thus, my strength is developing organizational capacity through productivity and time management. Leading is the same as teaching; both require thought, planning, and effective communication strategies. I believe in using a shared informational system to help educational institutions run efficiently. Like students, faculty benefit when information is available for preview, allowing time for thoughtful discussions and contributions to plans and initiatives. Meetings are more valuable and productive when leaders, faculty, and staff have time to consider the content and share reflective insights. Therefore, I can spend my time listening and working collaboratively. Influential leaders empower others by creating inviting environments for curious and active learners to rethink systems, develop new paths, and consistently seek to better the institution of which they are inspired members.