Leadership Theory in Education

“People don’t leave an organization; they leave people (leaders)” (Hersey, Blanchard, & Johnson, 2008). Educators are no different, an administrator makes a large impact on a school, and that impact can be positive or negative. The responsibilities of an administrator include leadership and management, and are increasing every year. Every administrator has a different leadership style, they may have similarities with others in the style but they also have differences. “Leadership style is the pattern of behaviors of a person who assumes or is designated to a position of influence in an organization (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 85).”

Administrators have responsibilities in many different areas of a school and their leadership style may need to change. Yukl and Lespinger felt that leaders have various interactions and demands placed upon them, and they have to decide the impact of their decisions. “By developing the multiple approaches, effective leaders work toward finding solutions that will benefit both individuals and the overall organization (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 93).” Mr. Wilson has been forced to deal with being a new administrator, changing from a middle school to junior high, adding new programs and changing from a trimester to semester schedule. These changes came over the time period of four years and at times, at the last minute. Educators can be resistant to change and as administrator, there are times they need to take a democratic approach, and at times they must take an autocratic approach, telling educators what they are expected to do. Mr. Moore, as an assistant principal, has responsibilities in which he has the final say, and in other situations, he must take a back seat to the principal and serve as a coll...

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...rs to work with parents and community members to build school effectiveness. Every theory has its place in education and can be applied to multiple situations, none of them more right than the other, they are only different, just like the administrators and educators trying to live and apply them.

Works Cited

Giles, C. (2006). Transformational Leadership in Challenging Urban Elementary Schools: A Role for Parent Involvement? Leadership and Policy in Schools, pp. 257-282.

Harris, A. (2005). Teacher Leadership: More than Just a Feel-Good Factor? Leadership and Policy in Schools, pp. 201-219.

Hersey, P., Blanchard, K. H., & Johnson, D. E. (2008). Management of Organizational Behavior. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc.

Razik, T. A., & Swanson, A. D. (2010). Fundamental Concepts of Educational Leadership and Management. Boston: Pearson Education Inc.