Instructional leadership 5/25/12

1. Instructional Leadership:
An Emerging Strategic Agenda
for Improved Learner
Achievement
Fe A. Hidalgo, Ph.D
May 25, 2012

2. Introduction
Low academic achievement levels in basic education continues
to be a perennial concern in Philippine schools today and a number
of factors have been attributed to the continuing problem –
teachers, curriculum, lack of learning resources, the learners
themselves, teacher preparation, etc. We have just launched the
Philippine K to 12 curriculum which we describe as outcomes
focused… and in relation to the topic you have offered to me for
discussion in this lecture, let me quickly add instructional
leadership-driven.
Quotes
“Philippine education is in crisis” --- Florencio Abad
“Performance indicators reveal high rates of drop-outs across the
system, poor performance in national and international achievement
tests, poor reading abilities and functional literacy of older students,
lack of student preparedness for study in high school and university
as revealed in diagnostic tests and entrance exams.”
--- Edilberto De Jesus
“There is the cognition by the business community of declining
abilities of Filipino workers in language proficiency, technical skill
and ability to think and solve problems.”
---Development Academy of the Philippines
What is instructional leadership?
What is the difference between leadership and management?
Who play the role of instructional leadership?
What are the roles of instructional leaders?
What does research tell us about instructional leadership?
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3. What is Instructional Leadership?
“Instructional Leadership encompasses---” Those actions that a
principal takes or delegates to others, to promote growth in student
learning (Debevoise; 1984). It comprises the following tasks:
defining the purpose of schooling
setting school-wide goals
providing resources needed for learning to occur
supervising and evaluating teachers
coordinating staff development programs
creating collegial relationships with and among teachers
What is the difference between leadership and management?
Leadership Management
Are their own persons Are good soldiers
Think radically Think incrementally
Ask what and why Ask how and when
Innovate Administer
Inspire trust Ensure efficiency/control
Have a long range perspective Have pragmatic/operational
views
Eye the horizon Eye the bottom line
Challenge the status quo Sustain the status quo
Focus on people and Focus on structures/systems
relationship and tasks/deliverables
Communicate Command
Originate Imitate
Do the right things Do things right
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4. Who play the role of instructional leadership?
Provision in RA 9155 (Governance of Basic Education Act 2001)
states (The Shift in Locus and Focus of the Leadership Roles of
Principal in School Improvement)
“There shall be a school head for all public elementary schools or a
cluster thereof. The establishment of integrated schools from
existing public elementary and public high schools shall be
encouraged.”
The school head, who may be assisted by an assistant school head,
shall be both an instructional leader and administrative manager.
The school head shall form a team with the school
teachers/learning facilitators for delivery of quality educational
programs, projects and services. A core of non-teaching staff shall
handle the school’s administrative, fiscal and auxiliary services,
1. Setting the mission, vision, goals and objectives of the school;
2. Creating an environment within the school that is conducive
to teaching and learning;
3. Implementing the school curriculum and being accountable
for higher learning outcomes;
4. Developing the school education program and school
improvement plan;
5. Offering educational programs, projects and services which
provide equitable opportunity for all learners in the
community;
6. Introducing new innovative methods of instruction to achieve
higher learning outcomes;
7. Administering and managing all personnel, physical and fiscal
resources of the school;
8. Recommending the staffing complement of the school based on
its needs;
9. Encouraging staff development; and
10. Establishing school and community network and
encouraging the active participation of teachers
organizations, non-academic personnel of public schools,
and parents-teachers-community associations.
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5. What are the roles of instructional leaders?
In general, they improve teaching and learning in the
school.
They lead in setting the school vision and formulating
strategies.
They are resource provider.
They are instructional resource.
They provide a visible presence in the school.
They understand effective practices in school.
They define the school mission.
They understand effective practices in curriculum,
instruction and assessment.
They promote and participate in teacher learning and
development.
They ensure supportive and orderly environment.
They understand effective pedagogy.
What does research tell us about instructional leadership?
The Victorian Educational Leadership consortium states their
research-based conclusions related to school leadership.
1. Leadership has significant effects on student learning, second
only to the effects of the quality of curriculum and teachers’
instruction.
2. Currently, administrators and teacher leaders provide most of
the leadership in schools, but other potential sources of
leadership exist.
3. A core set of leadership practices from the “Basics” of successful
leadership and are valuable in almost all educational contexts.
4. Successful school leaders respond productively to challenges and
opportunities created by the accountability-oriented policy
context in which they work.
5. Successful school leaders respond productively to the
opportunities and challenges of educating diverse groups of
students.
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