Jeff Burgess 
Internship EAD 6062/6072
Elementary Administration
Dr. Michael Arnold
Fall 2003

Educational Administration Philosophy

	Educational leadership should have instructional improvement as its primary goal. The educational leader should promote the success of all students through the vision of learning that develops in a school community. Efforts of the educational leader should ensure that the culture of the school facilitates student learning and staff professional growth. The school environment must be a safe, efficient, and effective operation. The leader must meet the educational needs and interests of the community through collaboration and mobilization of resources. The ideal educational leader will conduct all actions in an ethical manner, displaying honesty, integrity, and fairness. The
educational leader will promote the values of democracy by interacting with the political, social, economical, legal, and cultural context of our society.
	The approach to educational leadership should be eclectic. The ideal
educational leader should facilitate teacher professional development and growth, and
move the teacher toward autonomous decision-making. Many participants may
contribute to the process of leading the school. Participants should engage in
reflective inquiry leading to professional growth and renewal. Effective leadership
recognizes teacher and student diversity. The leader must be able to maintain positive
long-term interpersonal relationships. Various functions of the successful school leader
are integrated into a whole. The successful educational leader brings together a faculty
of knowledgeable professionals that work for the benefit of all students.
	An educational leader must be responsive to the needs of groups, individuals, families, and communities while displaying characteristics of a responsible and organized manager.  An effective leader will seek input, analyze the possibilities, then move to resolution.  The leader must be open to suggestions and opinions, while the manager realizes that standards and procedures must be followed to ensure quality, fairness, and rationality.  
	Change must begin with a vision.  The vision of a leader must be compared and contrasted with the vision of others in a group or community.  The compatibility and divergence of the aspirations of each group or individual should be determined.  The process should involve revisions, negotiations, and extensive participation of those affected by the changes. People should be involved in decision making, so that the participants feel as though they own the decision to change.
	Individuals need to know that their lives, thoughts, opinions, hopes, and dreams are recognized and considered meaningful.  People need to be encouraged to have faith in themselves.  A leader should inspire people to think positively about themselves, the people around them, and the institutions that they serve.  
	A leader is a servant with a God given capacity and a gift to influence people in a positive way.  The servant leader is grounded in a belief system that promotes a sense of responsibility.  The servant leader exemplifies noble qualities respectfully, equally, submissively, humbly, meekly, and gently.  The servant leader seeks accountability, zeal, diligence, character, cooperation, and individuality.  The servant leader shows care, concern, consideration, empathy,  compassion, persuasion, awareness, foresight, commitment, and stewardship.  The servant leader shares with others the knowledge and character that he or she has been commissioned to deliver.

Characteristics of good leaders:

•	accessible
•	alert
•	approachable
•	balanced
•	charismatic
•	committed
•	competent
•	consistent
•	dedicated
•	diligent
•	efficient
•	empathetic
•	energetic
•	enthusiastic
•	flexible
•	honest
•	intelligent
•	opportunistic
•	passionate
•	perceptive
•	respectful
•	responsive
•	sincere
•	supportive
•	trustworthy
•	versatile
•	visionary