Leadership and Learning

 

According to the Center for Educational Leadership, instructional leadership is guided by these principles:

• Instructional leadership is learning-focused, learning for both students and adults, and learning which is measured by improvement in instruction and in the quality of student learning.
• Instructional leadership must reside with a team of leaders of which the principal serves as the "leader of leaders."
• A culture of public practice and reflective practice is essential for effective instructional leadership and the improvement of instructional practice.

In the upcoming week, I will be starting my first round of drop in and informal visits.  An instructional coach at heart, I am very excited to see your work in action. Through this process, I have three goals: 

• I want students to see me involved in their learning.  Our work at Houlton is a collaborative effort that includes everyone, and I want our students to recognize that they have an entire team on their side, leading them to success.
• I am a learner myself, and gravitate towards opportunities that provide me with new ways to think about things.  Through my nine years as an instructional coach, I have been inspired by the work I have seen across the district, and continue to seize the opportunity to process all of the highly effective instructional strategies I observe in Houlton's teachers each day.  This, in turn, allows me to continue to support and lead others in their continued growth.
• As a team of leaders, it is our job to reflect on our instructional practices.  It is my goal, my responsibility, and my privilege, to provide you with feedback that will lead you to continue to grow and learn as an educator.  This is an exciting, and very natural, part of my job.  And the result?  Learning for both students and teachers.

I look forward to our work together!

Sue