There is no successful school without the successful leadership of a principal behind it. Hence, school physical and other performances’ improvement deeply depends on a quality of leadership in an institution. Predominantly, school leaders are tasked to spur changes towards achieving and realizing the Department’s missions and visions to elevate and ensure student learning and instill achievement. Dr. James Strong (2011), from the College of William and Mary during his keynote address emphasized that the job of a principal, or school leader is about making a difference in the lives of children. Leading an institution is challenging work that requires a high level of understanding and patience.

            There are so many ways or actions that are of great help to improve your leadership skills towards achieving success in leading your school in general and directing your pupils towards learning in particular. These may be some of the qualities that we should possess to encourage and create a harmonious working environment with our teachers, pupils and other stakeholders that may serve as the epitome of leadership.

• Great communicator: School head needs to develop the ability to communicate what the school is all about in such artistic way. However, he don’t always do the best in terms of epitomizing effective communication but rather, being tactful and sincere in your words really make an influence in your leadership skills. How you deliver your speeches, how you speak towards other people, how you write your communication letter tells something in your leadership style.
• Difference maker:  Principals made it sure that the center of teaching and learning process will be the learners. He will create innovations to make an impact on student learning and achievement. Ideal principal see solutions, not just problems. They take the lead in the organization to address the problems properly and always emphasized that teaching and learning is both teachers and pupils’ accountability.
• Risky, but not too risky:  Principals often posses the spirit in trying new things, hoping for a better and improve result at the end. They take the risk but making it sure they know the end result whether they will succeed or not. What they need is careful planning, scientific implementation, supervision and evaluation of whatever activities they will undertake.

• Manage by walking around: Setting a positive atmosphere in the school environment is utmost important. It makes the people around you feel they are secure, they belong and they are valued. As a principal, teachers and pupils expected you to be a person who they can talk with, deal with and share with moments during their stay in school. In performing your duties and responsibilities, do not forget to manifest a positive working attitude worth emulated for. By just walking around and saying “Hi” and “Hello” to your teachers and pupils added with a sweet smile and engaging in short conversations are important factors in setting a positive tone with them.

• Address problems: Being a Principal calls for wide range of understanding beyond a usual staff of the school do. He held liable and responsible towards the school, the children, the teachers, the parents, and the community. He must deal with them armored with the know-how so every communication is clear and precise. When problems arise, it should be dealt with a positive attitude.
• Cares about students and staff:  Effective principals never give up on pupils and their support staff. He gives importance for the welfare of each pupil. He will identify every single pupil on his school in terms of their problems and difficulties and make necessary intervention and action plan to help every learner. He will teach his teachers to become more effective, efficient and productive. He will motivate his subordinates to grow professionally so they could improve their teaching style and achieve self fulfillment at the same time.

With the advent of the K to 12 curriculum, every school needs great leaders. These leaders will encompass the challenges that the pupils, teachers, parents and the community will experience. The task now at hand is to develop a plan on how to support principal effectiveness while developing an evaluation tool that will help us do the best job possible for the pupils that we serve.With a leader possessing an epitome of a good leadership, successful schools with productive, responsible and dignified pupils are possible.

Reference: Shinneger, Erik. “Effective Leadership in the Age of Reform”

                  A Principal’s Reflections, 2011

By: LiezelleTorio | SP I | San Pablo ES | Dinalupihan, Bataan