A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Why a Policy Forum on Leadership?

Recent reforms in education have focused much energy on improving instruction and increasing the knowledge and skills of classroom teachers. But these same reform efforts have often overlooked an equally important lever for educational change?the nature and quality of leadership provided by school principals, superintendents, and school board members.

The principal has considerable influence over the environment in the school building, where the most meaningful actions in education take place. A good principal can create a climate that fosters excellent teaching and learning, while an ineffective one can quickly thwart the progress of the most dedicated reformers.

The superintendent is the highly visible figure on the front lines of education who articulates the vision for and oversees the activities of a large organization. Today's superintendents not only must be skilled in their interactions with the school board, principals, and teachers, but also must be able to communicate well with policymakers, parents, the media, and the public.

School board members set the policies that make or break the achievements of other leaders and teachers. They have considerable power over the things that matter in a local school system, but often they are the leaders who have the least formal training for their roles.

Each of these jobs is changing dramatically, as states and school districts raise standards for student learning, reform curriculum and instruction, educate a more diverse student population, decentralize management, and confront citizens who are losing confidence in public education. Today's leaders face complex demands that they have not been trained for and that even the most experienced among them have difficulty meeting.

-###-

[ Foreword ]

[ Purpose and Structure of the Policy Forum ]