Week 2 Findings

This week I gained a plethora of knowledge and insight into the role of a leader and the importance of action research.  Part 2 of our assignment for this week was definitely where I spent most of my time and energy because the "nine areas of major wonderings of many school leaders" are also major wonderings of my own.  Staff development, curriculum development, individual teacher (s), individual student (s), school culture/community, leadership, management, school performance, and social justice or equity issues are all aspects and areas of concern that principals are forced to continually address.  All of these areas are intertwined into the framework of obstacles that we as administrators will have to decipher and make sense of.  I gained further respect for the leaders of our schools and everything they have to take into consideration when making decisions for the betterment of their faculties and students.    

How blogs can be used by educational leaders

Blogs are a great, interactive resource that educational leaders can use on a daily basis.  Blogs are a fun and easy way for leaders to keep others abreast of important issues, dates or any other pertinent information.  With a touch of a button parents, teachers and students can instantly access relevant information about the school from the principal's perspective.  Blogs ensure that all parties involved have the same up-to-date information which would decrease any confusion.  Blogs also make collaboration among the faculty easier and faster.  There have been many times that the principal will send out an email to the entire faculty wanting input on a decision or situation.  Some teachers forget to reply to all so their opinion is not available for others to see.  Using a blog in this situation would eliminate the confusion and allow everyone the ability to reply and see other peoples' responses on the same post.  Blogs are also inexpensive and can relay the same information for free that normally would have cost a lot for all the paper copies being sent home.  In time all that money being saved could be used to enhance other areas of learning for the school.  Blogs are a beneficial form of technology that will foster a sense of unity among the principal, teachers, parents and students.

What I've learned about Action Research and how I might be able to use it.

I have definitely learned a lot about action research (also known as administrator inquiry) in this first week.  I did not understand the significance of this process until I read Nancy Dana's Leading With Passion and Knowledge and Examining What We Do To Improve Our School: 8 Steps From Anaylsis to Action by Sandra Harris, Stacey Edmonson, and Julie Combs.  Both of these books were excellent resources for understanding the importance of action research and ways it could be implemented in my leadership practices.  I believe that it is imperative to perform continuous administrator inquiries in order to be an effective leader and provide a school environment that is conducive to successful teaching and learning.  Dana (2009) stressed the importance of making time for inquiry as a principal when she stated, "Even though it is difficult to take the time to inquire, if you make a commitment and safeguard a little time each week to engage in the process, you'll feel better, make important administrative decisions in a more informed, thoughtful way, and return to the never-ending demands of the principalship with more energy to face the challenges of each school day" (pp. 15-16).  I emphatically agree with Dana and her reasoning behind making time for administrator inquiry.  A successful leader must make time to evaluate their own effectiveness and not be afraid to make changes to their leadership style.  Harris et. al (2010) expressed the necessity of inquiry by explaining that, "inquiry is an essential component in order to establish a firm foundation for school improvement" (pg. 5).  As administrators, we will all strive for school improvement and success and the implementation of action research is necessary to reach those goals and expectations.  I will most definitely be using action research daily in order to ensure that I am doing all I can to provide a climate and culture that supports successful growth and development for my faculty and students.  I want to incorporate the things I have learned thus far about action research into the formation of my leadership style so that I can be confident in my role as the leader of my school.  I want to lead by example, and if my teachers can see that I am unashamedly critiquing myself and my methods then maybe it will motivate and cultivate self inquiry among my faculty.