Educational Leadership & Technology

Lately I’ve been thinking about the differences between what I believe to be an Educational Leader and an Administrator. Trust me, there is a huge difference. This blog is a series of short comparative phrases juxtaposing the two. A little food for thought.

1. An Educational Leader inspires teachers to improve, try new techniques, and push the envelope with student learning; an Administrator causes teachers to stagnate, stick to old methods, and focus on standardized test scores.
2. An Educational Leader is concerned with planning that promotes student learning; an administrator is concerned with planning that promotes numbers.
3. An Educational Leader supports his/her faculty with encouragement and celebration of success; an administrator degrades his/her faculty with highly critical comments and public displays of failure.
4. An Educational Leader displays a love of learning; an Administrator displays a love of control.
5. An Educational Leader hears his community of students, teachers, and parents; an Administrator hears his/her own voice.
6. An Educational Leader focuses on continual school improvement through various avenues; an administrator focuses on his/her narrowing budget and road blocks.
7. An Educational Leader has a vision and philosophy; an Administrator had an agenda and dogma.
8. An Educational Leader sees what can be done; an Administrator sees what can’t be done.
9. An Educational Leader is a life-long learner; an Administrator is a life-long talker.
10. An Educational Leader leads by example; an Administrator gives orders.

Don’t misunderstand me, I know that sometimes an Educational Leader needs to think about budgets and the routines of the school, but if you are solely concerned with the budget and never think about student outcomes and learning, then you are horribly off track as an educator.