Educational Philosophy I believe the purpose of schooling is to adequately prepare children to grow into capable adults who are

able to compete in a global economy. In order to accomplish this task, we need to help them reach their full potential and become creative, innovative, and independent thinkers. Americas foundation is the ability of citizens to discover new ideas, create great products, and utilize its resources to support its people. My ob as an educator is to ensure students are prepared to carry on the work of our previous and current generations, no what area they choose to pursue. As an educator, I value the learning community. !he learning community is a group of people working together as equally valued partners who care about and engage in collaboration to achieve student success. I believe that shared leadership is the foundation for developing the momentum, cohesion, and synergy that is necessary for working successfully with a community of students. I believe the value of the learning community, and its potential output is especially important given the inherent inequities that e"ist in our society and their effect on student learning. !he principal can change and make a positive impact on the learning community by serving in three leadership capacities# as an organizational leader, instructional leader, and community leader. An organizational leader has the opportunity and responsibility to work with stakeholders by bringing them together around a shared vision. A shared vision is the heart of the school and serves as its driving force. It conveys the will of the community, and it informs and is embedded in every decision and act that involves the organization. !he principal ensures that the community remains focused on that vision, and that each child is best served by the vision. I believe that a learning community must continually focus on instructional improvement, where inequities among student demographic groups are eliminated, and academic achievement remains the benchmark for success. An instructional leader is responsible for cultivating teacher collaboration. !eacher collaboration begins by building trusting relationships with and among teachers, where learning, not teaching, is the focus. An instructional leader has the opportunity

and responsibility to empower teachers, reinforce norms that are congruent with a collaborative culture, and ensure that social structures are in place to support collaboration. $ollaboration is the foundation for a learning community, and it serves as a catalyst for instructional improvement. In addition to cultivating a collaborative culture, an instructional leader is responsible for modeling and engaging in best practices. %inally, an instructional leader has the responsibility to ensure that he is working with teachers who are committed and competent and are growing and learning like their students. I believe that it takes a community to raise a child, and that it takes a school with a communitys support to successfully educate a child. I believe the community, such as families and business partners are necessary partners in the education of children and the success of the school. !he principal is responsible for creating a culture where all students and their families feel accepted and supported. %inally, the principal is an equal partner in the learning community. It is necessary to build trusting relationships with others and to cultivate a culture of trust among all community members. As an educational leader, I would hope to be viewed as someone who upholds the best students interests first and foremost. &erception is very important. 'tudents, parents and teachers alike should be able to view their leader as someone they trust to guide them in the right direction. !hey should clearly observe the competency, ustice and motivation required to be an effective leader.