As a fourth grade teacher who is directly involved in the academic development and growth of young children, I have become acutely aware of the ideal type of learning environment that should be provided to both students and teachers in the school setting. In adopting a broad perspective of the school situation, which takes into account the diverse needs and interests of the stakeholders, I have to come to realize that the top school leadership position would be ideal in enabling me to institute the necessary changes. To me, school principals in many public schools today have been sidetracked by the overwhelming amount of administrative duties. As a consequence, the top priority of cultivating high levels of academic achievement for every child has been relegated to lower positions on their agenda.
One of my primary reasons to become an urban public school principal is to realign the priorities by ensuring that the school leadership is actively involved in the promotion of high academic performance among students. Currently, there are already a few public school districts that are redrawing the roles and functions of school principals in a bid to place academics and student achievement as the top priority. In lieu of devoting most of their day to administrative tasks, school principals act as instructional leaders. As one member of the next generation of school leaders, I would advocate for the proliferation of this practice throughout all public school districts.
By acting as an instructional leader, I would engage in ongoing professional development that would provide me with access to specific research-based instructional strategies and the educational objectives of the school districts. Using my learning, I would be interacting with teachers and students on a daily basis by conducting classroom observations, as well as coaching and mentoring the teachers. This leadership approach would allow me to ensure tha...