How Important Is Great Leadership?

by | Jan 20, 2012 | Blog, Education

The other day I was in my principal’s office discussing this year’s PSAT results with the school counselor. In the middle of the discussion I noticed a slip of paper that was taped to side of a bookcase. The bookcase was no where near the principal’s desk, so I assume this note must have been a remnant of the last occupant of this office. The slip of paper posed the question “Just How Important Is leadership?”. A timely question as I’ve been scratching my head a lot lately wondering what to write about in this blog. On the surface this question seems simple and a bit silly as we’ve all been taught that great leadership is the key to success. Yet as I look at the world around me, especially in education, it seems no matter good or bad leadership at the top, schools manage to pump out students that live productive and meaningful lives. Even in schools where there is great leadership it’s hard to argue that the lives of each of students who walked the halls of the school are measurably better from that one person. Outside of education it seems evident that life continues to progress despite great leaders. In 2008 when Obama won the White House I thought that his obvious leadership skills would somehow cut through the bipartisan bickering in Washington, but exactly three years since he took the job things continue to seem as bad as ever, if not worse. The note went onto say “A highly effective leader is good for a roughly 30% increase in achievement for the lowest performing teachers’...

Pursuing Great Leaders

by | Dec 27, 2011 | Blog, General

Have you ever worked with another person who intentionally pushed you to be better at what you were doing? Someone who would help you set goals and cared about your development? I have. About 7 years ago I stumbled into a community of college-aged entrepreneurs who listened and learned from one another and constantly sought how to become better leaders and how to develop others around them. It was exciting, challenging, exhausting and ruined my expectations for “ordinary” leadership. Later I had the opportunity to advance in this company and I saw 22 and 23 year olds who had the leadership ability of people double their age–and the profits to show it…But I am an educator, and thus, moved on. I’ve never forgotten that experience with those young and developing leaders and hoped I would find new leaders in education that would continue their work in me. Sadly, I’ve been hard pressed to find the leadership I know the education world needs and is capable of delivering. So I’m starting this blog…with the goal of pursing great leaders and learning why they are so great. My hope, in this quest, is that I will discover many in the world of international education and create a public dialogue that helps us all learn what makes great leaders great, and where they are so they can teach...