Description

This course module examines the managerial aspects of leadership and the significance of efficiency, preparedness, and effectiveness in managing the learning environment. Operational leadership and effective management is vital to the success of a school in creating a safe, orderly, and efficient place to learn.

NPBEA Standard 9: Operations and Management

Effective educational leaders manage school operations and resources to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.”

Effective leaders:

1. Institute, manage, and monitor operations and administrative systems that promote the mission and vision of the school.
2. Strategically manage staff resources, assigning and scheduling teachers and staff to roles and responsibilities that optimize their professional capacity to address each student’s learning needs.
3. Seek, acquire, and manage fiscal, physical, and other resources to support curriculum, instruction, and assessment; student learning community; professional capacity and community; and family and community engagement.
4. Are responsible, ethical, and accountable stewards of the school’s monetary and non-monetary resources, engaging in effective budgeting and accounting practices.
5. Protect teachers’ and other staff members’ work and learning from disruption.
6. Employ technology to improve the quality and efficiency of operations and management.
7. Develop and maintain data and communication systems to deliver actionable information for classroom and school improvement.
8. Know, comply with, and help the school community understand local, state, and federal laws, rights, policies, and regulations so as to promote student success.
9. Develop and manage relationships with feeder and connecting schools for enrollment management and curricular and instructional articulation.
10. Develop and manage productive relationships with the central office and school board.
11. Develop and administer systems for fair and equitable management of conflict among students, faculty and staff, leaders, families, and community.
12. Manage governance processes and internal and external politics toward achieving the school’s mission and vision.

As you can see, that’s a long list. Strong operational leaders understand, develop, implement, and advocate for effective policies that are in the best interest of all students. Putting students first requires effective educational leadership, but while doing that there is a lot of business to be managed.

Modules contain pre- and post-tests for self assessment. Feedback from each test identifies chapters where additional review is required.

Each chapter contains a workbook with exercises that you will be asked to complete, and resources you can use for continuous learning.