Educational Leadership Platform Statement

As a current leader within my classroom setting, I believe it is imperative to have an ongoing

vison, purpose, and definition of education and its relevance to leadership, learners, teachers and

the education system itself. One can argue the point that a classroom educator is not a leader, but

it is of personal belief that that environment provides the most learning experiences for

leadership. One might not possess at this time the management position in which to fully

influence guiding decisions but the manner in which one responds professionally to any

situation, ultimately decides true leadership. A dedicated interest in the wellbeing and

development of all learners as well as a productive, positive and engaging working environment

is essentially the foundation of which I have based my educational platform.

Philosophy of Education

A philosophy of education influences what and how students should be taught. Every school

and every teacher has a set of related beliefs that is portrayed through deliberate actions. A

philosophy of education represents answers to questions, the purpose of school, the educator’s

role, content to be taught, methods, strategies and more importantly who should be taught. I

believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating

atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It

is my desire as an educator to help students develop their fullest potential in these areas by

providing an environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, fun and invites a sharing of ideas.

There are three elements that I believe are conducive to establishing such an environment, (1) the

teacher acting as a guide, (2) allowing the child's natural curiosity to direct his/her learning, and

(3) establishing values and promoting respect for all things and all people.
 When the teacher's role is to guide, it is of personal belief that providing access to information

rather than acting as the primary source of information, the students' search for knowledge is met

as they learn to find answers to their questions. For students to construct knowledge, they need

the opportunity to discover for themselves and practice skills in genuine situations. Providing

students with access to hands-on activities and allowing adequate time and space to use materials

that reinforce the lesson being studied creates an opportunity for individual discovery and

construction of knowledge to occur. This increases their knowledge base and add more

enrichment to their learning experiences.

Equally important to self-discovery and self-examination is having the opportunity to study

things that are meaningful and relevant to one's life and interests. Developing a curriculum

around student interests and societal needs fosters intrinsic motivation and stimulates the passion

to learn. Given the opportunity for input, students generate ideas and set goals that make for

much richer activities than I could have created or imagined myself. When students have

ownership in the curriculum, they are motivated to work hard and master the skills necessary to

reach their goals.

Philosophy of Leadership

As a leader, I am committed to lifelong learning, encouraging relationships, academic

excellence, personal and professional growth, respect, diversity, collaboration, open

communication, organization, creativity, work ethic, moral leadership, community, and

responsibility. At the heart of the school community is the people who make up the organization,

the individuals are the most important pieces to the success of an educational institution.

In his book Understanding Educational Leadership, Hugh Busher (2006) stated that leaders

are mediators of the social and curriculum contexts of schools for staff, students and parents to
make teaching and learning relevant and appropriately differentiated. I also understand that to

successfully lead any educational institution of the 21st century, one must be passionate,

dedicated, possess a strong work ethic, demonstrate knowledge of learning theory, child

development and have the ability to work successfully with all types of people. In his book

Survival Skills for the Principalship, John Blaydes (2004) states that effective school leaders

need to know how to think, make decisions, solve problems, plan for the future, communicate

successfully, use time efficiently, facilitate change, manage budgets, improve instructions, create

a positive school culture, increase test scores, and inspire those whom they lead to achieve their

greatest potential.

I believe that behavior is a function of the interactions between people and an organization,

which, in turn, helps shape the school environment and culture. A school’s culture and

environment affects the individuals that it comprises of. The organization as a whole is also

affected by the interactions of its members. I believe in creating an environment where faculty

and staff are motivated through rewards/recognition, challenges, and personal and professional

growth. It is important to have a positive school environment and culture through incorporating

positive personnel relationships, building motivation and morale, and having respect and

appreciation for every member of the school community.

It is important to also realize that the role of leadership is not an easy task. It takes strength

and ethical judgements to make decisions that affect every individual within the organization. In

order to accomplish any goal it is imperative to first build a framework and intended vision. I

understand that in my role of leadership to accomplish any task, I must create a school culture of

community learners. I understand that if I want improved holistic achievement across the board,

the key lies in personal and professional growth of all staff, myself included.
 Leaders should be fair and consistent while also realizing that not every decision made will be

positively received. However, it is important to stay focused and always remember the ultimate

goal which is to keep the best interest of the institution at heart. The institution is not the building

but every individual under its dome. Effective leadership will incorporate many management

styles depending on the situation. It is important to reflect before reacting to ensure that best

decision is made for all those involved.

Vision of Leaners

I believe that all children can learn. They should not be judged according to their capacity of

learning or how they learn but be encouraged to make steps and even leaps into their educational

journey. Learning should be meaningful, exciting, support risk taking and encourage a body of

critical thinkers and enquirers.

Learning is a continuous process, and through the process of learning, individuals acquire or

construct new knowledge. How then is this knowledge evaluated? Is it implicit or explicit? How

do we know that a student has mastered a concept or not? What are the best mediums for

acquiring knowledge or truth?

I tend to agree with the aspect of the Perennialists where it is believed that education is a

preparation for life and that education should focus on developing rationality. In grooming

students to transition into society as educated individuals and adults it is important to realize that

a strong foundation academic or skilled is needed. In the same way, we are preparing students to

be innovative and not remain stagnant in thinking or in work. So looking at the experimentalist,

one can understand that students should be actively engage in learning and experience the world

in which they live in. How is it possible to accomplish this? Blending both perspectives and not

rigidly relying on either one provides an avenue for achieving this.

 It is important to remember that students do need foundation classes such as Math, Language,

Science, Social Studies, Music, Arts, and Philosophy of Life. Developing the skills from each

subject area is important especially when reminded that we are catering to the holistic child. I am

a firm believer that every child has a right to an education and that every child can learn.

However it is imperative to understand that not every child’s learning style is the same nor is

every child’s capability on the same level. It is here that I believe differentiation plays its role

within the classroom. While I do believe according to realist that subject matter should be

organized and disciplined, I also understand that students learn when they are engaged in the

actual experience.

How can we make subject matter for students more interesting? This can be done through

actual experiments instead of just reading about other people’s experience. It can be done

through field trips where students are physically engaged. Demonstration and cooperative

learning are great ways for students to learn from each other and their environment. While this

may great, leaders and curriculum specialists still have an obligation to the learner and society.

How do we measure the knowledge acquired? I believe that our curriculum target behaviors and

standards come in here. I do not believe in only focusing on standardized testing but also in

actual application of subject matter. It makes no sense to have a society filled with individuals

who have mastered subject matter but cannot apply it within the context of everyday living.

While I acknowledge that standardize tests do provide physical evidence of benchmarks I

also recognize that not every individual is capable of handling standardized tests. However that

does not mean that that individual cannot survive within society. The purpose of schools is to

provide students with the opportunity to learn, grow and develop the skills and potential of said
student. I cannot stress enough that it is important to understand that everyone can learn and as

educators and leaders it is our duty to make that journey as realistic and enjoyable as possible.

Vision for Teachers

Teachers are the integral part of the education system. It is important to recognize and value

their continued dedication and effort. Teachers are the guiding role models that help to promote a

healthy school culture and holistic educational experience. My vision is to cultivate and activate

teachers as leaders who transform the teaching profession in the best interest of students.

The role of the leader is to be the support staff and guiding role model that educators need in

their challenges and successes on the job. It is important for leaders to actively support

professional development initiatives for school personnel. This could mean seeking out relevant

opportunities for staff, approving leave time to attend workshops, or paying for related travel and

registration costs. Encouraging teachers to think about how they teach and what they could do

better or differently can only benefit the organization.

Vision for a School

The ultimate goal of an educational institution is to provide all students with a high quality

education that enables them to be contributing members of a multiethnic, multicultural,

pluralistic society. It is important to seek to create an environment that achieves equity for all

students and ensures that each student is a successful learner, is fully respected, and learns to

respect others.

It is important that an ideal school environment recognizes that student success is a complex

goal to achieve. Providing for this success for all students and measuring it must be

accomplished with many tools. The same goes for the classroom. If teachers are going to meet
the needs of all students, they must build a toolbox of strategies that is geared towards diverse

learners and learn how to work effectively with each of their students.

In his article entitled “What makes for an ideal classroom or school?” Robert Ryshke (2013)

listed the following points that are essential to all educational leaders:

 An ideal school environment embraces the idea that ALL students can learn.

 An ideal school environment works to build safe learning spaces for students.

 An ideal school environment attracts teachers who are knowledgeable, care about student

learning, and adapt their instruction to meet the needs of their learners.

 An ideal school environment tires to be nimble and adjust as the needs of students shift.

 An ideal school environment works hard to make the curriculum relevant to the lives of

students.

 An ideal school environment works hard to develop authentic measures for assessing

student learning.

 An ideal school environment recognizes that student success is a complex idea and

measuring it must be accomplished with many tools.

 An ideal school environment is led by people who value others, their voice and need for

choice

Visions Attainment

To ensure the school is on one accord with the school manager, the administration must share

their vision and allow input from the staff to help bring the vision into fruition. This method is

simply moving the school toward the vision of the administration. School leaders must be able

to capture the attention, communicate with, and create a cohesive environment in order to

achieve this goal. The use of an effective organization, positive team management skills, and
collaborative leadership skills will help to create an ambiance that may unite educators. Sharing

a vision can create an immense unification in a school and along with this unification comes the

fulfillment of a vision owned by a school.

It is well known that change is a slow process and as goals are being set, the process of

change should always be kept in mind. The school manager being the leader must be able to

encourage and foster an environment in which all staff members are willing to work

collaboratively on change for the advancement of the school. If the staff does not buy into the

changes and are not willing to change, then change will be unsuccessful.

It is also important to remember that the community is a vital part of school success.

Fostering strong and positive ties with the community helps to strengthen school success.

Connecting with and building relationships and support within the community is essential in

ensuring that all members of society embody a role and responsibility for learners within the

educational institution.
References
Blaydes, J. (2004). Survival Skills for the Principalship. California: Corwin Press.
Busher, H. (2006). Understanding Educational Leadership. New York: Open University Press .
Cordeiro, P. A., & Cunningham, W. G. (2013). Educational Leadership. New Jersey: Pearson.
Ryshke, R. (2013, February 24). Center for Teaching. Retrieved from What qualities make for an
ideal school or classroom?: https://rryshke.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/what-qualities-
make-for-an-ideal-school-or-classroom/
Reflection

It is always recommended as education majors to reflect and reassess our educational

philosophy during and at the end of every course. While contemplating on the various aspects of

compiling my educational platform, I really focused on “what is true to me?”, “what do I hold in

highest regard?” In asking those questions I then reflected on whether my views are positive and

a contribution to the educational system.

Throughout this course I have had the opportunity to mentor under the acting school manager

at my school and also work with other education majors on different projects. The knowledge

gained from the mentoring is extremely valuable and the aspect that stood out the most was how

he dealt with situations. A leader has to the opportunity to diffuse situations, empower

individuals, reprimand and defend when needed. I was able to experience this on a positive level

with my school manager. One advice I have taken away from the mentoring is be cautious in

how you respond because it makes all the difference in how a situation is handled. Be proactive

and not reactive. This is a trait a leader learns and develop over time. I also learnt that being in

the position of leadership is not an easy task. It requires hard work, dedication and sometimes

making decisions that might not please everyone but is in the best interest of the students. It is

important to surround yourself with people who will make you accountable for you actions and

help you to continue to strive for higher standards. We live in a society where complacency and

mediocrity are the norm. In order to effect change we must first become the change we wish to

see.

I have learnt so much about myself while working on the various group projects. The sharing

of ideas is so important because it allows for each person to learn from each other and consider

perspectives that were not originally thought of. I have learnt how to channel the passion into
oriented and realistic goals. I have learnt how to consider other’s opinions even more and

compromise for the overall effectiveness for the group. I have also learnt when it is important to

stand firm in what you believe but also have research and proof to back your claims.

This course has made me a stronger and more knowledgeable individual. I use every

opportunity as a learning experience and I am even more proactive in my research to learn about

improving the educational system. My philosophy is ground in the belief that all students can

learn. They should do so in a safe, healthy and fun learning environment. I also believe that a

leader is only as effective as team around him or her. Your influence and approach ultimately

affects positivity or negativity of the environment, so use it wisely.