leaders .as. learners

By Gene Sharratt, Ph.D., WSLA Instructor Hope is the belief and a feeling that a desired outcome is possible. When students have hope for tomorrow, they are inspired to improve their learning. High levels of student hope are associated with increases in learning, connectedness in school, and better attendance. Highly effective leaders and teachers know with good relationships [...]

By Kristine McDuffy, WSLA Instructor As educational leaders, we are charged with, what I believe to be, the world’s most important, challenging and rewarding work.  It is an awesome responsibility, a noble calling and a passion that requires us to rise above any challenge and do the best job we can for every child, every [...]

By Othene Wade, WSLA Instructor “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” Dr. Martin Luther King Several years ago, while attending a WSLA meeting, one of the instructors shared that he was among the thousands in the crowd in [...]

By Tom Marrs, WSLA Instructor As a young principal I struggled to figure out the new superintendent who had just arrived to lead the school district where I worked.  It was physically and mentally exhausting to interact with the variety of new initiatives, research, direction changes and the verbal barrage that took place in intense [...]

By Merrilou Harrison, WSLA Leadership Learning Specialist Welcome back to a new school year! The challenges of this year can be both exciting and a bit breath-taking. If you are reading this, I assume that you are a leader in some way within your school or system. People are looking to you for clues as [...]

By Carol Whitehead, WSLA Director The description on the book cover for Michael Fullan’s, The Six Secrets of Change: What the Best Leaders Do to Help Their Organizations Survive and Thrive, promises readers a deeper understanding of what it takes to increase their chances of bringing about lasting change to an organization. The description states [...]

By Othene Bell, WSLA Instructor and Coach This is the season that thousands of high school seniors will receive a diploma that characterizes the vision, instructional leadership, and powerful instruction provided by administrators and teachers. These high school seniors are recipients of an educational system focused on their learning. At Commencement ceremonies across the state, [...]

By Othene Bell, WSLA Instructor and Coach As I purchased a few items at a well-known grocery store, carefully watching the monitor as each item was scanned, I soon noticed that some of the items did not match the price that was advertised. I pointed out the error to the cashier before the transaction was [...]

What do school and district leaders need to do in order to move the staff from a culture of reluctant compliance to one of engaged commitment? A large part of answer can be found in the nature of the daily conversations between the leader (superintendent, principal, etc.) and teaching staff members regarding changes in practice that are being expected and implemented.

Submitted by Gene Sharratt, WSLA Instructor and Coach Leadership matters. Leaders who lead learning schools are successful in the continuous improvement of student achievement. Elmore (2006) reminds us “the purpose of leadership is the improvement of instructional practice, regardless of one’s role.” The Washington State Leadership Academy work confirms school leadership teams are leading in [...]