Draft revisions to the 2008 standards were completed by the ISLLC Standards Committee in 2014. The updated version, referred to as the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), reflects years of research, as well as, best practices and knowledge from experienced school leaders and district-level practitioners. The new standards challenge ‘business as usual’ as it reshapes school policy, leadership programs, and evaluations. More precisely, the standards place a higher level of expectation on schools to respond to, and plan for, diverse learners with various cultural influences. The leader must establish a community of care wherein each student is valued, respected, and emotionally protected. Even more, all four added standards undergird the complex role of the administrator as the ‘change agent.’
The first standard promotes equity and cultural responsiveness. The administration is should consider methods that acknowledge all facets of culture and diversity. Activities surrounding the standard could
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Administrators are to provide programs that meet the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of each student. In an effort to build community, principals can involve families by asking their needs and coordinating community resources. Another method of leading change is to provide homework help during before and after-school programs. Yet another example of leading a community of care is having extracurricular activities that involve the needs and wants of each student, not just sports, clubs, or academics. An additional way to lead change is through mentoring programs in which community businesses and members, with significant experience and resources, team with students. For example, businesses could offer to fund summer lunch programs or school-supply drives. All of these efforts foster a community of care and support for