What sort of attributes do you think would make a good school principal? Is this role more about teaching or management? Can a school principal be effective with no teaching experience?
As reported in
The Age the state of Victoria's Department of Education is "investigating the radical idea of principals drawn from outside the ranks of teachers".
"The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has contracted consulting company Synergistiq to provide an evidence-based talent identification and management system for Victorian government school leaders, in part to increase the quality and supply of future principals."
"Syngergistiq has been asked to consider the efficacy of recruiting leaders from outside the teaching profession to join the senior leadership ranks in roles including the principalship (which comprises principals and vice-principals)."
"Some in the education sector, such as Frank Sal, president of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, are sceptical about such a proposal."
‘‘The people who come in to lead the school have a good education background and ... a strong handle on what educational leadership is about,’’ Mr Sal says. ‘‘They have a strong handle on the inter-personals and the team-based cultures that are necessary to achieve positive outcomes for kids. And that doesn’t come from having run a McDonald’s or a hardware store.’’
"Dr David Gurr, a senior lecturer in educational leadership within the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne, adds that leaders from outside the teaching profession lack the pre-existing commitment to education that teachers can evidence through their career experiences."
"Governments now acknowledge that strong leadership is a central tenet of successful educational outcomes for schools."
But what makes a good leader?
In the business world we see CEOs moving effortlessly between companies, using their leadership skills to boost profits without necessarily having had any long term experience with the products and services being sold. Do school leaders really need class-based experience?
Is there an argument that a leader can take their talents anywhere - even into schools?
Image:
www.hinckleyallen.comIt is proposed that school principal recruitment should include those outside the ranks of teachers