PAD 515 Week 7 Discussion

Academic Leadership

Name

Institution

Instructor

Date

Academic Leadership

There are several public leadership styles that schools should try to embrace so that they can integrate new learning concepts, teaching modalities and tools for measurement for success. There is the transformational and the transactional leadership style. The transformational leadership has a great impact on the general thinking and behavior of the followers and provides a united understanding to succeed in learning. It also calls for great intellectual attention in solving problems. It also encourages innovation and learning thus improving the general performance. On the other hand, the transactional leadership involves punishment behavior and contingent reward which is regarded as the source of effective management. Therefore, the transactional leadership will be used to reinforce the new learning concepts while the transformational will be used to integrate the new learning concepts for the success of learning.

One of the action would be developing tools and processes that principals and teachers can use to ensure that instruction for all groups of students is aligned with college- and career-readiness standards. The tools and processes set will help persuade the instructor to improve the teaching methods because there is already a laid structure to govern the mode of instruction that you want the school to improve. Also developing a succession plan for school principals. These ensure that the norm of the school regarding the method of instruction and standards of professional performance are maintained and hence the public education vision is achieved.

There are three common challenges of public leadership for the elementary principals, secondary principals, and the college presidents. First, there is the assessment gap where it becomes difficult to meet the content and skills necessary for the learners. There is also the teaching gap. The leaders do not tell the truth about the student performance but tell them what they want to hear so that they can be highly rewarded. Lastly, there is the leadership gap. The challenge comes in whereby the leaders do not engage in critical thinking in solving the problem and lack of creativity. However, there are still some differences in the challenges that the leaders of the various categories encounter. The college presidents do not face a lot when it comes to the issue of teaching gap. Also, the leadership gap does not adversely affect the secondary principals but rather the college presidents. This is because there are no critical problems that require critical thinking in the secondary schools. For example, the college presidents are faced with the issues of demonstrations and murder cases which is not the case in secondary school.

Community engagement is a necessity that the leaders should observe for the general success of everything. It is also good to involve the surrounding in everything you do as a leader for a successful plan. Also, the leaders have the element of risk management. These elements help the leader to avoid the problems that may arise from various risks. These elements are essential for every leader because involving the community will help you know the areas that need more attention and where one has failed and excelled. Risk management also helps to avoid various critical issues that may arise from the risks.

References

Kekale, J. (2005). Academic Leadership in Perspective. Nova Publishers.

Robert M. Hendrickson, J. E. (2013). Academic Leadership and Governance of Higher Education: A Guide for Trustees, Leaders, and Aspiring Leaders of Two- and Four-Year Institutions. Stylus Publishing, LLC.