Transformational Leadership

I believe that the word transformational indicates a change in the nature of something. I believe that transformational leaders accomplish change that responds to the needs of a group of people.
These leaders have some qualities that are the essence of their leadership style such as presence, the ability to empower others and a sense of social idealism. In the case of school leaders the qualities include an agenda of proven strategies that they use to impact teaching and learning. Burrello spoke in Educating All Students about characteristics that help to define transformational leadership such as a vision for teaching and learning, ennobling social ideals and leaders as pathfinders. Another author, James MacGregor Burns in Transforming Leadership, resonates with my beliefs when he describes leaders as mobilizing those in need for the cause of transformational change. I don't believe, however, that just anyone can accomplish this kind of change. Transformational leadership advocates for change for a greater purpose.

Transformational leadership will have an impact on the school setting and initially will upset the equilibrium in the school as they try to affect change. Sometimes leaders are called upon in schools to lead the charge if a district or community sees the need for change. The impact of this leadership will be that the environment will change and become more dynamic and nonlinear. Teams of people will work to create new ways of approaching challenges and there will be a power distribution that is more democratic due to the diversity of groups. This educational environment will be complex and the leader, like the system, will be dynamic. Burrello states that "core values and the vision of schooling are the focal point of the inquiry..." in this type of environment (Burrello pg. 43) The school will be learner-centered and teachers will collaborate to encourage divergent thinking. The leader will bring these diverse groups together to find connections and develop relationships that include students, teachers and parents. The ultimate impact will be that the school will look, feel and operate differently.

The transformational leader will need to advocate for technological change if they are to have
a 21st century learning environment. This will include student-led technology initiatives that involve collaboration with teachers and parents. Students and teachers will be able to think creatively to develop new ways of bringing technology to the classroom. This leader will need to develop creative ways to find funding for the expanded technology needs. When ideas become reality in the school and there are reallocation of current resources, values may be called into question again and the leader will need to continue to advocate and remind stakeholders of the vision and values.

I have the opportunity to know and see this kind of a leader as part of my internship. Through staff development opportunities I became acquainted with a transformational leader. I am now able to visit periodically and pick his brain so to speak. He was just recently called up- to move and transform another school and so between my first meeting with him to arrange visits for the internship and last week when I interviewed him, he had moved to another school. I am now going to be observing and I am excited to have the opportunity. I will be posting my observations periodically as I watch the transformation!