Chapter 13: Leadership for Results

Nearly every recommendation for school reform recognized the important role of leadership in improving student learning. Differences emerge regarding the most effective way to assure skilled leaders who have the knowledge, skills and dispositions for success at the middle level. This chapter analyzes the results from two leadership development programs, one funded by a major foundation and the other by the U.S. Department of Education. Each project was designed to improve the instructional leadership of principals in some of the nations most challenging and impoverished middle schools. While the structure varied remarkably similar results emerged. Principals valued a safe, supportive, confidential environment in which to talk with a mentor about their work. They valued time to reflect on their practice and to construct new strategics and tools to use in their own setting. Most of all, they were invigorated by the opportunity to think more comprehensively about their work and how they could positively impact the learning of students in their schools.