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Many individuals find leadership difficult to understand and use. However, an effective teacher-leader can increase student learning by 15 to 25 percent. A transformational leader is defined by Burns (1978) as someone who creates an environment in which the leader and followers raise each other to increased levels of motivation and morality. This occurs when the transformational teacher-leader releases a person�s potential, reinforces it with recognition and provides opportunities for continued growth (Wenig, 2004).
The �S� curve, which represents the life cycle of an organization, has four segments: infancy, explosion, crisis, and decline. The lower curve of the S is infancy and the upper S curve is the turn into decline. With leadership, an explosion in growth is possible. When changes take place (crisis) a decline can trigger failure. This research can be applied to education in America. Public schools have not met challenges and lack of parent confidence has produced home schooling, vouchers, charter schools, and private business in education. These are all replacements for the public school system (Wenig). Leadership is the difference and �TED can significantly benefit from possessing leadership knowledge and skills because the future belongs to the informed� (Collins & Porras, 1997 & Peters, 1994).
The dynamics of leadership can be important to promote TED and result in elevating classroom performance. The processes that are applied are: development of communication, use of various leadership models, bringing about change, using technology to set the course, and application of the teacher-leader model. As Wenig states: �the teacher-leader makes a difference�a big difference for they model the way to influence our lives�.
Leadership must be employed by a technology facilitator to ensure that it is a part of the education of every student. A facilitator can eliminate any confusion with their knowledge and skill. By guiding the process, necessary changes in district technology will be accomplished and understood. Standard VIII is supported by the leadership a facilitator must utilize to reach the goals and objectives the standard contains.
An understanding of successful leadership skill was acquired by the historical analogies and literature references. However, there was only a minimal discussion that pertained to an educator being a technology facilitator. I would have found strategies and/or suggestions about how to be an effective facilitator-leader to be of more personal benefit.
Wenig, R. (Spring/Summer 2004). Leadership knowledge and skill: An enabler for success as a technology education teacher-leader. Journal of Technology Studies 30, 1.