I had big plans for our
future,
Said I'd give you the world
somehow
I tried makin' good on that
promise,
thought I'd be so much further by
now.
These lyrics begin the song
"The Best of Intentions", a song written by Travis Tritt in 2000. The
message in the lyrics can also be applied to instructional leaders across the
country as they prepare for another school year. Why do these lyrics apply to
administrators? Principals recognize that instructional leadership is essential
to the success of their school. Many administrators have spent time during the
summer reflecting on the past school year and start the year determined to
commit more time to instructional leadership and spending more time in
classrooms. However, when asked during the year, if they have been successful
in giving an appropriate amount of time to the important work of instructional
leadership, frequently principals will answer "no". Therefore,
principals acknowledge that instructional leadership is important to their
success and that of their school, so why is it so difficult to translate that
understanding into action?
I maintain that professional
development in the area of instructional leadership is still focused on making
the case for the importance of instructional leadership. Principals don’t need to be convinced;
they already realize and accept the importance of instructional
leadership. At this point, principals know what to do and repetitive professional
development on the subject is not what they need. In other words, we are
preaching to the choir. What they need are on-target, on-time, and
on-going strategies that will allow them to improve instruction in their school
while still having time for the necessary day-to-day managerial tasks that they
are required to perform.
For over a decade, I worked
directly with principals trying to support their development as instructional
leaders. At times I did a disservice to my principals because I underestimated
the energy and time that it took to manage the day-to-day operations of the
school. Principals, at times, feel admonished as a false narrative is
communicated suggesting it is possible to spend a majority of time in the role
of instructional leader. In the book, The 4 Disciplines of
Execution, the authors remind us that managers (principals) are not stupid,
lazy or defiant... they are busy! Instructional leadership is emphasized, while
ignoring that principals are being asked to deal with more
management responsibilities than ever before. The principal’s
reality is that at least 80%
of their time is going to be focused on the daily responsibility of ensuring
the building runs smoothly and that the students and teachers have what they
need. Those supporting principals must begin with the acceptance of this
current reality. Efforts then should be focused on how to develop
principals who can, in the face of the urgent, protect and maximize the other
20%.
The daily grind for a principal
is filled with the urgent, it is constant and unyielding. Implementing
instructional leadership in spite of the urgent, is the challenge at hand.
Principal support must focus more on execution and less on strategy, more on
action and less on theory, and more on the actual and less on the hypothetical.
We are not lacking in effective strategies and quality content around
instructional leadership, the question is whether our principals can manage the
urgent, to allow themselves to execute the strategy. Principal support must focus less on
the What and more on the How. If we don't provide support to
principals in the area of execution, they will ultimately drown in the urgent
and have nothing left but the best of intentions for another year.
I am passionate about providing
professional development and coaching to instructional leaders that can be
translated into action. My
hope is to use this Blog to support the execution of instructional
leadership. As you embark on your journey remember that to execute
instructional leadership requires relentless perseverance, it is difficult but
attainable, and it is worth the effort.
