Evidence of Administrator Professionalism

One of the most important attributes of professionalism is the ability to affect change in the school culture. A leader that can focus on the goal and lead the professional climate is an effective professional. An effective leader should be able to influence staff members, students, and the community to join the collective effort for the benefit of educating all students. Hargreaves and Fullan (2012) suggested that leaders take deliberate action to develop trust and relationships within the school community. Taking steps to unify stakeholders strengthens the chances of making lasting improvements that lead to student achievement. School leaders can cause school improvement by gaining consensus in the use of effective strategies such as guarding students’ learning time, providing individualized instruction, monitoring student achievement, and using collaborative team problem-solving model (Crocket, Billingsley & Boscardin). This is important because a school leader cannot perform the leadership duties without a shared vision throughout the school and staff support. I recognize professionalism in others through attitudes about the school’s mission and purpose. The way that staff members view the administration’s actions toward the goal plays an important role in the school’s success. Collective efforts are needed to cause positive change. The culture of any organization can strengthen the chances of reaching its goals or cause negative effects that hinder progress. The case of a teacher who has a difficult time buying into a new principal’s research-based strategies for improving student chances of success is an example. If a school leader is able to foster a culture of collaboration and mutual effort by promoting positive attitudes and empowering staff members, there is a better likelihood that leadership efforts will be successful.

Hargreaves, A., & Fullan, M. (2012). Professional capital: Transforming teaching in every school. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Crockett, J. B., Billingsley, B. S., & Boscardin, M. L. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of leadership and administration for special education. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.