Good Leaders Make Good Schools
District Leadership
(New York Times)
In a March 2018 article for the New York Times, David Brooks
cited examples of how school leadership has made a significant
impact on school improvement. In short, Brooks points to dramatic
improvement in Washington, New Orleans and Chicago schools that
have increased graduation rates since 2011.
“These improvements are proof that demography is not destiny,
that bad things happening in a neighborhood do not have to
determine student outcomes,” writes Brooks.
Citing University of Minnesota and Toronto research that
concluded “We have not found a single case of a school
improving its student achievement record in the absence of
talented leadership,” the article emphasizes the critical role of
leadership, particularly principal leadership, in school
improvement.
Things principals do to improve schools:
• raise expectations and alter norms
• support collaborative power structure
• embody energy, trustworthiness, honesty, optimism,
determination
Access the full article HERE.
