Instructional Leadership
Principals set high standards for the professional practice of 21st century instruction and assessment that result in a no-nonsense accountable environment. The school executive must be knowledgeable of best instructional and school practices and must use this knowledge to cause the creation of collaborative structures within the school for the design of highly engaging schoolwork for students, the on-going peer review of this work, and the sharing of this work throughout the professional community.
Element 2A: Focus on Learning and Teaching, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
The school executive leads the discussion about standards for curriculum, instruction and assessment based on research and best practices in order to establish and achieve high expectations for all students.
As school executives, one must not forget that our most important role is to be an instructional leader within our school. Teachers and staff look to their administrators for direction, goals and coaching on how to best serve their students. For me, this responsibility took on numerous forms, from leading Professional Learning Community meetings focused on unpacking standards and tailoring instruction, to serving as a lead data analyst and then using the information I gained to call for change in practice, or even developing department and school-wide plans geared towards putting the student back at the center of education. Administrators must not be afraid to lead in this capacity and should always remember that high-quality and rigorous instruction should always be at the heart of everything we do for our students.
Element 2B: Focus on Instructional Time
The school executive creates processes and schedules which protect teachers from disruption of instructional or preparation time.
School leaders must work diligently to protect instructional time for students, while also allowing them the freedom to participate in activities, clubs and organizations which support their development as individuals and pique their own personal interests. These needs must be carefully balanced between district mandates and local board policy governing time spend during the school day. I worked with my administrative team to craft a schedule which was uniquely tailored to meet needs of our student body. This endeavor required meticulous planning and creative thinking in order to ensure we were making the best decisions regarding how to maximize instructional time within our regular day.