Leadership is a dynamic process within a school environment, which has naturally evolved to meet the changing needs of the 21st century. Whereas in the past, principals were seen as the ultimate authoritative manager within the school, the increasing complexity of modern educational systems have resulted in the necessary re-evaluation of the organisational structure. As Figure 1 demonstrates, an ideal leadership system within a school moves away from the historical ‘top down’ approach and instead acknowledges and fosters the expertise and experience of the school community, as well as privileging leadership styles, traits and attributes which encourage ethics, communication, innovation and adaptability, all of which are vital within a 21st century school community.
Figure 1: Ideal school leadership
Leadership is a vital component of a school that can dramatically alter the learning environment, often acting as a catalyst for improved outcomes, including student learning (Leithwood et al, 2006). Leadership styles can act as a precursor to innovation (Spillane et al, 2004), with the Principal’s leadership style able to significantly impact the vision, values and ethos of a school (Bier, 2021). Different leadership styles can impact the school culture, and it is important that leadership operates within a 21st century agenda in order to meet the needs of the school, now and in the future. An ideal school environment is one which fosters a collaborative and supportive school culture, as well as being prepared to drive and respond to change through flexible and innovative practices. A modern leadership approach can allow a dedicated Teacher Librarian (TL) to adopt leadership practices that align with their knowledge and skills, and support the school’s shared vision and strategic directions.
References
Bier, M.C. (2021). Servant leadership for schools. Journal of Character Education, 17(2), 27-42.
Leithwood, K., Day, C, Sammons, P., Harris, A., & Hopkins, D. (2006). Successful school leadership: What it is and how it influences pupil learning. DfES Publications.
Spillane, J., Halverson, R., & Diamond, J. (2004). Towards a theory of leadership practice: A distributed perspective. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 36(1), 3-34.