My perception of an instructional leader is one who keeps student growth and learning number one while taking into consideration the fact the human element of education. Everyone involved in the education process is human and, therefor, fallible. An instructional leader must know enough about their group's data to identify areas of need while at the same time not allow data to completely take over every decision made. Leaders must continue their own growth and learning in order to discover effective strategies to use in the classroom.
I think that ego can be a big challenge to effective instructional leadership. This could be the ego of the principal, the ego of the teacher, or a combination of the two. When both parties feel that their strategies or styles are best for student learning and neither will bend or accept the other's suggestions, it is ultimately the students who lose. When we, as educators, can swallow our pride and admit when something is not working or that there might be a more effective way to do something, the students will benefit. This is true of educators as well as administrators.
Our principal started a mandatory book club that met once a month and focused on a book about learning styles. In this regard, she was trying to initiate growth in her staff and bring in some new and fresh ideas for structuring assignments. She (and the rest of the staff) learned while reading the book that it did not align with our campus goals and vision. She came to a meeting one day and told us that she no longer felt that it was beneficial for us to put so much time and effort into a book study that ultimately didn't fit our school. This was a book that she had chosen (based on word of mouth) and while so many others may have stuck with it, she had enough respect for the teachers and their time that she dropped the study. I think this showed instructional leadership on her part according to my own definition.
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