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Education, Pages: 2, Research paper

EDL-9200: Week 1

EDL-9200: Week 1

Scenario 1: Restorative Practices and Staff Resistance

The transformational leadership model would be most effective in Mr. Jenkins’ scenario. Organizational transformation is a leadership style that empowers the organizational members’ creativity and challenges them on how best to improve the prospective way to organizational success. Transformational leaders clearly understand how to urge employees to act in ways that will bring about change (Lynch, 2012). Therefore, the outcome is enhanced workforce productivity, innovation, and involvement in an organization’s destiny. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their staff to embrace change by fostering a shared vision and commitment to improvement. In this case, Mr. Jenkins faces a divided staff, with some teachers, like Mrs. Darcy, resistant to Restorative Practices. He could mobilize the staff with the support of a transformational approach, showing them that staff and children may gain from constructively addressing behavioral issues instead of resorting to extreme measures like suspension.

When Mr. Polansky started this dialogue, Mr. Jenkins could have used a similar approach to make the staff consider the goodness of restorative practices. Using this at the right time, he could tear down and build a cohesive staff answerable for the school climate. A transformational leader would focus on professional growth by helping staff to promote novelty disciplinary techniques while considering their concerns and apprehensions about their work with evidence from research.

Scenario 2: Social Justice and Resistance to Inclusive Policies

For Dr. Kendall, the social justice leadership model would be most appropriate. Indication of a theoretical model of social justice and empirical research ideas are made. The main assumption of the method is to focus on social injustice as the main source of social chaos and that attaining social justice is the right way towards world peace and progress. Regarding leadership, The Social Change Model of Leadership integrates a purposeful, active process of leading with values rather than rank (Bush & Coleman, 2001). Managers work to enhance the organizations and the groups they belong to because they belong to these organizations, groups, or communities. In this approach to leadership, there is no specific title of someone being a leader; anyone who wishes to bring a change with the help of other people. This model emphasizes fairness, equity, and inclusion, particularly for marginalized groups. Dr Kendall’s commitment to creating an inclusive district through policies like LGBTQIA+ safe spaces and social-emotional curriculum demonstrates her alignment with social justice leadership principles. Despite the resistance from parents and staff, Dr. Kendall can use her authority to advocate for the marginalized students who benefit from these policies.

By employing social justice leadership, Dr Kendall can foster alliances with like-minded stakeholders and continue promoting her inclusive agenda while addressing the opposition’s concerns. This leadership style allows her to discuss parenting and other educational programs, defending the ethical and moral motives behind the prospects of their implementation and fostering a culture that respects the equity of every learner in the district. Universally managing policies that are on the side of getting conflicting messages, a middle ground can be useful to Dr Kendall.

Scenario 3: Ms. Gordon’s Initiative and Professional Boundaries

For Ms. Gordon, the servant leadership model would be most beneficial. Servant Leadership focuses on working harder to serve others, working holistically, working cooperatively to build community, and working collaboratively to share power. Servant leadership ministry is also used to transform individuals to become leaders in their own right. This leadership style calls for a person to have traits like compassion, Listening, Accountability, being a Servant Leader, and being concerned with the development of other people (Garcia & Weiss, 2018). Servant leaders prioritize the needs of others, often going beyond traditional roles to ensure their team members and community are supported. Ms. Gordon’s deep understanding of the community’s challenges and her efforts to motivate students to attend school demonstrate servant leadership qualities. Her proposal for an after-school center aligns with this approach, as it addresses the broader needs of students facing poverty, gang violence, and absenteeism.

Nevertheless, conflicts in the external environment, particularly that of Ms. Gordon with a principal, Mr. Saunders, indicate the concepts of servant leadership and transactional leadership. In response, Ms Gordon could use an integrative approach where she harmonizes the programs with other programs in the school organization while simultaneously stressing the student-centredness of the approach. For this reason, it is possible she stressed how her initiative augured well with the current programs and, together, diverted competition and aligned on goals that improved the experiences of students and staff.

Reference

Bush, T., & Coleman, M. (2001). Leadership and strategic management in education. SAGE Publications, Limited.

García, E., & Weiss, E. (2018, September 25). Student absenteeism: Who misses school and how missing school matters for performance. Economic Policy Institute. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED593361

Lynch, M. (2012). A guide to effective school leadership theories. Taylor & Francis Group.

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Question 

Course
  • EDL-9200: Leadership, Supervision, and Personnel in PK-12 Education

APA Format

In this assignment, you will be able to employ your understanding of the various models of educational leadership you have studied. It should be noted that this is a generative list and that you will address other approaches as you progress. Be certain to review the required resources before completing this assignment.

Instructions
Part A
Choose the leadership approach you believe would best apply and provide a one-page rationale for each scenario. Pay careful attention to the information provided and research any terms that may be unfamiliar. Note that there is not one answer for each scenario; your choice should be validated in your rationale. Cite evidence from your readings that support your choice. Your response to each scenario should be 1-2 pages and should include at least one scholarly reference.
Scenario 1

  • Mr. Jenkins, a middle school principal in a rural district in Vermont, has been trying to introduce his staff to Restorative Practices to address significant behavioral issues from students. The staff of 35 has struggled with infractions among the 300 students. The behaviors range from verbal assault against staff to fighting among students. At a contentious staff meeting, Mrs. Darcy, a 7th-grade science teacher, declared that “this ‘touchy-feely nonsense won’t work because the only thing students will understand is suspension.” Several teachers cheered for Mrs. Darcy, although it was clear she had crossed a professional line concerning meeting protocols and attitude. Moreover, Mrs. Darcy has had several parent complaints this year. Mr. Jenkins is also concerned about the school’s climate, particularly because some of the staff do not seem to engage positively with students. Mr. Polansky, a well-liked music teacher by students, asks to speak and states the following: “I think it’s clear that we do have some problems with student behavior, but I’d like to know more about restorative practices and if there’s any possibility they could help.” A hush comes over the staff, and several teachers nod their heads in silent agreement.
    • What leadership model(s) might best help in this scenario and why?

Scenario 2

  • Dr. Kendall, a superintendent in Texas, took her role after many years as a classroom teacher in the large district. As the first in her family to graduate college and a woman of color, Dr. Kendall intuitively understands the structural violence that undergirds the lack of opportunities for many students of color. A committed leader to social justice, Dr. Kendall worked closely with staff, students, and parents to create a highly inclusive district through implementing initiatives such as, LGBTQIA+ safe spaces and a proactive social-emotional curriculum. At a school board meeting, she faced intense criticism over her ‘left-leaning’ policies from a vocal group of parents. Unexpectedly, several veteran school staff also voiced their opposition to the policies and declared their intent to file charges concerning their perceived First Amendment Rights since they are required to follow the policies. The meeting ended when the school board entered an executive session despite the group of parents’ and teachers’ objections.
    • What leadership model(s) might be most useful for Dr. Kendall to employ? Why?

Scenario 3

  • Ms. Gordon, an assistant principal in an inner-city high school, maintains high respect from students, parents, and staff. She is also a popular coach who has worked with many students. She is known for connecting with chronically absent students and motivating them to attend school. She grew up in the surrounding area and has a deep cultural understanding of the challenges many families face–poverty, substance abuse, absent parents, and gang violence. Ms. Gordon seeks to start an after-school center for students to complete homework in hopes of taking their place on a sports team. Some of her fellow educational leaders, including her principal, Mr. Saunders, feel she is overstepping her professional boundaries and outshining other initiatives they champion, such as S.T.E.M., College Board AP classes, and technology integration. Ms. Gordon’s supporters are vocal, and she is aware of the cultural friction that exists in the school. Mr. Saunders is a highly transactional leader who values product over process and works in an effective, but compartmentalized fashion. A former mathematics teacher, he is sometimes didactic and, while respected by most, is viewed as cold and clinical.
    • What leadership model(s) might be most useful for Ms. Gordon to address this issue? Why?

Length: 2 pages

EDL-9200: Week 1

EDL-9200: Week 1

Resources:

  • Leadership and Strategic Management in Education
    • Bush, T., & Coleman, M. (2001). Leadership and strategic management in education. SAGE Publications, Limited.
      • This text provides an introduction to various leadership styles as well as an emphasis on leadership preferences in western culture. It has a highly academic tone and utilizes the lens of multiculturalism and gender equity effectively.
  • Student Absenteeism
    • Garcia, E. & Weiss, E. (25 September 2018). Student absenteeism: who misses school and how missing school matters for performance. Economic Policy Institute.
        • This comprehensive report outlines the demographics underlying school absenteeism in the United States of America.
  • A Guide to Effective School Leadership Theories
    • Lynch, M. (2012). A guide to effective school leadership theories. Taylor & Francis Group. Chapter 1-3, Pages 1-53
      • This text offers in-depth chapters relating to four of the major educational theories we are studying. It is highly referenced and detailed in its description.