What Is Educational and Administrative Leadership?

As one reflects on the term, "Educational Administration and Leadership," it brings to mind the idea of the effective management of an institution and the director(s) role in it. Keeping the task at hand in mind, it would be presumptuous of me not to consult with what the professionals say about the terms, "administration" and "leadership."

Looking at these terms in isolation, the Encarta Britannica defines administration as the service that is rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting the affairs of an office or place of employment. Hence, it is the management of the affairs of a business, organization, or institution. The Britannica also states that leadership, speaks to an organizational role which involves establishing a clear vision, sharing (communicating) that vision with others so that they will follow willingly, providing the information, knowledge, and methods to realize that vision, and coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members or stakeholders.

Therefore, the term "Educational Administration and Leadership," speaks to the ability of the directors of an institution becoming experts in areas of organizational leadership, decision-making, designing and executing of instruction and in addition centering on student accomplishments, educational, organizational and operations management, human resource development and community-building.

Principals, assistant principals, senior teachers and chairpersons all help to determine whether an institution fulfills its educational mandate. In other wordss, when one heads an administration or is a part of an administration of an institution, there are certain roles and responsibilities that come with the job. These persons are largely responsible for the overall management of their institution and are frequently in charge of many diverse and unrelated tasks. Perhaps most importantly, they set academic standards for their establishments by selecting, evaluating, and improving their staff. Some of the job tasks associated with educational administrators includes:

• Coordinating activities within a school system.

• Selecting and evaluating standardized tests.

• Designing Curriculum.

• Overseeing athletic programs.

• Creating and