The purpose of an educational institution is to help mold the minds of the future. I believe that student experiences within a school ultimately impacts the trajectory of their success. By building a rich classroom environment that accepts the responsibility to support and encourage the unique ways in which children learn while teaching for understanding, links students and subject matter in a responsive curriculum while building self-esteem. But this institution is only as good as its teachers and leaders. I read that “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. But the great teacher inspires”. Teachers who are thought of as “great” are usually passionate about teaching. They seem to love teaching and share this love with the students in their class. These teachers know their subjects well and teach outside of their textbooks. For it is imperative that educational institutions invest in their teachers, ensuring that they are well equipped with the right skills and tools to improve the effectiveness of their teaching methods and delivery, through training, constructive feedback sessions and other capacity building initiatives. Because a great teacher is one who is able to explain and demonstrate concepts in a variety of ways for a variety of different learners and learning styles. They constantly develop, plan and organize creating objectives and goals which seek to implement them. It is then when students are engaged in learning, and are exposed to new and exciting ideas as well as being shown appropriate approaches to problem solving that they use these strategies to excel.

My path to fulfilling my vision of becoming an Effective Leader, is first being a “Leader of Leaning”. The best Leaders are the best learners. I am passionate about excelling and dedicated to doing it through continual learning. Professional Development allows building a core of knowledge that becomes an essential part of supporting educators with 21st century progressions, best pedagogical practices such as differentiating teaching, developing hands-on experiences, and designing interdisciplinary programs that support state and local expectations.

I also believe that a great leader surrounds themselves with people who will help cultivate and develop their ability through a curated set of resources. That’s having the right mentor, collaborating with experienced teachers and educators, and learning the tools required to offer the knowledge and skills set to be an effective leader.

Leadership is indeed a learning process. The approach to becoming a great leader is to constantly develop our traits and attitudes, and then manipulate those for positive growth. The ability to cultivate our leadership through professional learning, transformational educational environments and professionals with a passion for growing, produces the most important and enduring improvements through a cycle of self-discovery and learning.

As an educational leader, I draw upon the strength of my institution to cultivate and encourage professional growth, introduce new teaching and learning strategies that have a research base which best serves the needs of children and educators by the continuous improvement of education through:

• Professional development
• Effective participation in shaping education policy
• Embracing technology that enhances learning
• Making informed choices about textbooks and materials
• Fostering an environment that cultivates teaching and learning practices
• Internalization of content
• Promoting best pedagogical practices

Knowing our profession’s evolving practices and identifying the competences in which we need to succeed demands that we ask questions, enhance pedagogical content knowledge and, most importantly, develop and cultivate collaborative partnerships. Leadership is a learning process. A key characteristic for leaders to have is the willingness to learn and grow in their own professional development. This growth-focused learning can take various shapes within an organization. As an instructional leader, continuing to learn, refine, and implement professional development to increase content and pedagogical knowledge, as well as knowledge about learners and learning is imperative to moving a novice teacher into an effective instructor.