Infrastructure Supporting Professionalism

Effective leadership is connected to an infrastructure that supports professionalism by the leader’s habit of consistently providing a set of organizational supports for their staff. Instructors need to know that they are supported. One of the areas of support needed is school-wide programs that outline research-based practices. Teachers are supported when leaders provide the time and resources for training and collaboration to help strengthen each teacher’s practice (Evetts, 2011) Leaders should also promote uniformity in instructional practices. Panel members in Laureate (2013) advised that school leadership find out what teachers need in order to be successful. Using a system of communication and a policy of requesting needed resources, materials, and training will help to have continuous renewal of professional capital. High quality interaction among school personnel depends on deliberate planning by highly professional leaders that are able to promote professionalism. Hargreaves & Fullan (2012). In my professional setting, the principal disseminates information on county professional development (PD) sessions that are geared toward the elements of focus on specific areas on the Professional Growth Plans (PGP). He also plans on-site PD sessions and Professional Learning Community (PLC) sessions to fill any needs for growth. It is especially helpful to teachers when a professional school culture is established through continuous dialogue communication of expectations. Fullan (2010) provided elements of success in promoting professionalism and among them were collaboration to share expertise. He expressed the idea that success breeds success. It takes a leader who values professionalism in the organization to follow through with specific actions that promote a culture of mutual support.

Fullan, M. (2010). Capacity building. Retrieved from http://www.michaelfullan.ca/media/ 13435862150.html

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

Laureate Education (Producer) (2013). Professionalism [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Evetts, J. (2011). A new professionalism? Challenges and opportunities. Current Sociology, 59(4), 406–422.