QUALITIES of an IDEAL LEADER…
By: VERONICA C. ELEP, EdD
Principal II
Bagasbas Elementary School, Daet North District
I browsed various online sources to satisfy my curiosity about the true definition of 'leader. Leaders play a crucial role in developing and maintaining the quality of pupils' learning experiences and the effectiveness of management systems. They are visible around the school. They interact well with teachers and pupils.
It is said that leaders can make or break the teachers. Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader. They set out to make the difference. It is never about the role-always about the goal. Strong leaders measure success by the difference they make in other people’s lives. The number of teachers being promoted in a vertical or horizontal promotion is a gauge of being a good leader. But how? There is still a missing link, and that is Empathy.
Empathy is the most important leadership skill needed today. To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens. Indeed, it's better to listen to understand than to listen merely to reply and win. Empathy and kindness are very important for a leader as making others accountable the right way, and that means don’t be afraid to make something right.
Many teachers feel unappreciated and undervalued. If we treat our people/teachers only as the means to an end, we will never have their loyalty. Treat them right. Show them you are concerned about getting the job done as well as about the well-being of those under your care. It doesn’t mean being overly attentive or soft but demonstrate that you value them.
Show the teachers that you genuinely care! Sometimes it’s the little things we do that count most. It’s the simple things teachers remember. The thoughtful gesture, the kind words, the much-needed support. It doesn’t cost much to show teachers you genuinely care, but it can make a significant difference in keeping them loyal, happy, and engaged.
The dedication, passion, and commitment that burn in the hearts of teachers should continue, as these qualities engage them deeply in their work. It will make them better teachers who keep students actively interested in what they’re studying and push them toward continuing their education. As a result, also, it enhances their performance in all aspects of their school work and helps them become goal-oriented and motivated individuals in life.
There could be myriad responses to this question, but I stand by all the qualities I have cited. Anyone who possesses these qualities can certainly be considered an ideal leader.
Excellent and Equitable School: A Goal of Every Leader
By: Veronica C. Elep, EdD
Principal II
Bagasbas Elementary School, Daet North District
Pupils who are able to thrive in spite of serious challenges are actively engaged in school. It is one of the places where learning takes place. The task of creating excellent and equitable schools requires systems such as management designs, policies, rules and regulations, and the like. These normally provide a framework for both students and teachers. With the values, norms, and traditions, an individual is taught how to interact properly within the context of socialization. Interactions among students, teachers, and administrators must be characterized by reciprocal determinism.
There must be a dynamic equilibrium between the school and the agency to build an excellent and equitable school. Policymakers must be aware of the design features and policies that would promote quality education accessible to every Filipino learner. More so, they need to create a scheme for proper documentation and monitoring of the best practices in instructional leadership so that other schools can replicate it to maximize better results in achievement tests. Schools need to share with other schools by creating a network highlighting effective school organization and instructional practices. A support system is highly needed, involving not only school managers but also teachers, to be cascaded down to the students. Newer strategies and techniques in teaching must be introduced to ensure the maximum learning outcomes.
In terms of leadership, a school must have a clear vision of its plans, as laid out in its school improvement plan every school year. This must be religiously followed to ensure that every dimension of instructional leadership is given preferential attention. The leader must possess strong leadership qualities and should embody the characteristics of a 21st-century school head.
Furthermore, school managers must oversee everything within their purview. Curriculum instruction and authentic assessment must be given attention too. With the K to 12 program, school managers must be theoretically and conceptually grounded in the innovations of the current educational system. A structure for teaching like a spiral approach introduces the fundamental structure of all subjects- the big ideas, early in the school years then revisits the subject in more and more complex forms over time. In terms of authentic assessment, school managers must monitor their teachers to ensure that students are asked to apply skills and abilities as they would in real-life situations.
In addition, there is a need to increase funding for every school. Allow every learner to partake in every activity. Maximize the utilization of funds, especially for school activities to bring out the best in every student. With the rise of technology, schools should maximize the use of available technology to transform education to facilitate governance and to enable all its constituents to the proper digital rise.
Thus, the aim of creating an excellent and equitable school is not an elusive one; stratification must not be observed. Instead, parity should be maintained regardless of gender or social orientation, so that 21st-century learners can be developed, and 21st-century schools can be attained.
