The vast responsibilities of an Instructional Leader can be overwhelming. The following information is a sample of resources to assist Instructional Leaders in gaining control over these responsibilities to assure a productive, positive working environment.
Best Practices for Instructional Leaders to Manage the Organization, Operations, and Facilities Florida Principal Leadership Standards. The Florida Department of Education has created standards by which every principal is required to follow. These standards directly address the managing of organization, operations and facilities. According to the Florida Principal Leadership Standards
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The Education Alliance at Brown University published a document, Principal as Instructional Leader, that highlights information found on the Knowledge Loom website (The Education Alliance, 2008, pg i). The principal standard that addresses the organization, operations and resources is discussed on pages 18 to 20. The standard is addressed first by discussing the knowledge, disposition and performances of a principal. Administrators should have a knowledge and understanding of learning goals in a pluralistic society, the principles of developing and implementing strategic plans, systems theory, information sources, data collection, and data analysis strategies, effective communication, effective consensus−building and negotiation skills (The Education Alliance, 2008, pg 18). This information is followed by a story illustrating the effect this standard has on school environment and a research summary. The research shows that a positive school climate results in higher student achievement (The Education Alliance, 2008, pg 19-20). The school climate is a direct result of the Instructional Leaders ability to manage the organization, operations and facilities (The Education Alliance, 2008, pg …show more content…
The need to address the changes faced in education are nationwide. The National Education Association has released a policy brief that covers the focus of Instructional Leadership due to this need. The brief acknowledges that skillful leadership is critical to school improvements (The National Education Association, 2008). Principals are required, in most states, to be certified in educational administration (The National Education Association, 2008). The problem is that not all certification programs are equal (The National Education Association, 2008). This is the reason there is a need for ongoing professional development for Instructional Leaders (The National Education Association, 2008). The brief lists the principal standards for effective practice, including the standard to ensure management of the organization, operations and resources for a safe, efficient and effective learning environment (The National Education Association, 2008). Teachers seek out schools where they feel supported, have a voice and are recognized for their efforts (The National Education Association, 2008). Principals that cannot offer this environment, by managing the organization and operations of the facility, will be unable to maintain productive and efficient staff