EDU 5571 – Administrtive Leadership Fall 2004
Professor Kevin McGuire, Ph D.
Books:
Additional Readings:
Not for Bread Alone by Konosuke Matsushita
The Leader of the Future by Ronald Heifetz
Course Description per Graduate Bulletin, St. John’s University, 2004 – 2006
The course focuses on the administrative role of the building principal in developing a successful context for the improvement of instructional performance in cognitive and affective dimensions, as well as effective day-to-day operational practices of the school.
Assignments:
Standards for School Leadership
Class notes:
Course reflection and synthesis:
Steps in Basic Decision Making
Know the Problem
Alternative Solutions
Implement
Evaluate
This course focused on the leadership styles and roles of administration and leaders in schools. Although the two textbooks did not necessarily come from educational framework, their philosophies are applicable to any organization including school districts. In Mr. Matsushita’s book, Not for Bread Alone, an organization can accomplish things and be profitable when it focuses on people. His practices and research lead him to “become widely known as a highly successful entrepreneur, appearing on the cover of Time magazine in February 1952 and featuring in Life magazine in September 1964.” He continues to write books on management styles and ethics today.
Mr. Fullan’s book, Leading in a Culture of Change, outlines leadership styles:
Fullan’s leadership styles:
Coercive
Authoritative
Affiliative
Democratic
Pacesetting
Coaching
The application of leadership styles from very successful “leaders” gives the present and potential leaders in education the knowledge to make the best decisions within their organization.