3.7 An imperative for leadership preparation programs: preparing  (Page 10/12)

Education leaders need a systems approach to complex organizations of schools and districts. In order to ensure the success of all students and provide a high-performing learning environment, education leaders manage daily operations and environments through efficiently and effectively aligning resources with vision and goals. Valuable resources include financial, human, time, materials, technology, physical plant, and other system components (p.19).

Ensuring quality instruction will positively impact the opportunity for every student to learn and advance academically. It begins with the selection of quality teachers and support service personnel and providing the time and funding for on-going professional development for everyone. Operational management activities such as developing class schedules, strategic placement of students and teachers, and inclusion of opportunities for student support programs and activities within the regular schedule provides a basic structure for instruction and meeting students’ special needs.

Management of the operational budget should include providing equitable funding for all instructional programs and student service activities such as field trips, before and after school programs, academic tutoring, athletics, student counseling services and support programs, transportation to accommodate flexibility in program schedules, or funding and incentives for development of creative academic and student support programs and activities. Seeking grant funding to supplement the budget can provide financial support for the development of special services and programs.

Legal and governmental considerations include meeting federal and state rules and regulations as they related to areas such as ADA requirements, ensuring safety of students and staff, meeting special education and Title I requirements, serving the needs of ESL and bilingual students, meeting the instructional requirements for migratory, delinquent, and at-risk student populations, or supporting due process for students and staff.

Collaborating with families and stakeholders

Standard 4

The development of collaborative partnerships with parents and community organizations provides an additional support and resource for education leaders in schools and school districts as they move to develop and implement special services and programs to meet the needs of every student. Collaboration and development of partnerships with families and community service organizations can result in development and support for programs serving students with special needs. The cultural, racial, socio-economic, and ethnic make-up of communities served by schools are an important resource for education leaders in the development of programs and services created or maintained to meet the unique needs of the families and communities. Developing lines of communication with families and stakeholders in their native language can result in better understanding of educational programs and partnerships in support of teaching and learning. Both school district public relations programs and communication channels developed at individual school sites help parents understand and support their student’s learning. Schools are at the center of community activities. Parents choose communities in which to live based on the academic achievement of students in local schools. Families choose school districts based on the special services and programs available to meet the educational needs of their children.