My Personal Theory

of Leadership
Donna Faulkner

Philosophy
Leadership is practiced not so much in
words as in attitude and in actions.
- Harold S. Geneen

A leader is best when people barely know

he exists, when his work is done, his aim
fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
- Lao Tzu

Outstanding leaders go out of their way to

boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If
people believe in themselves, it's amazing
what they can accomplish.
- Sam Walton

Vision

Guides the staff in setting common goals and

plotting the course for achieving them.

Steady the Course

Clarify the vision
Keep a single focus on
student learning and
development.
Frequent discourse about
the vision and goals.
Ask, How will ______
influence student
learning?

Decision Making
It is essential to involve others when making
decisions which will affect them!
Those who are invested in the school need to be
part of the decision making process.
Collaboration & shared decision-making lead to
better decisions and more support.
Informed decisions are better decisions.
A leader needs to have the courage to make an
unpopular decision when one must be made and
compassion when explaining the rationale.

Change
Clarify why change is needed
Involve those most knowledgeable about
the issue and who will be most affected
Empower implementers to make the
change
Support implementers by providing time,
training, and materials
Recognize efforts to make positive change
Baby steps

An Instructional Leader
Keeps abreast of current educational trends & research.
Provides for relevant & useful staff development
Encourages and makes time for collaboration and
professional development.
Supports staff in solving problems.
Has high expectations for student achievement and
behavior and for staff performance and professionalism.
Use the content and teaching standards and multiple
measures of assessment to monitor student learning and
staff performance.

Whats right for the kids?

Ensures the school culture values diversity

and honors the whole child.

Organization Management
Student and staff safety must come first!
Students and staff should be assigned to
classes where they can be successful.
A leader needs to ensure
all staff members have a
clear understanding of their
job duties & expectation
for their performance.

A school leader needs to ensure the dayto-day operations of the school are
covered and ensure the staff is prepared
to handle emergencies.
A leader needs to keep the staff informed
and be available to help solve problems.
Resources need to be allocated where
they can most impact student learning and
development.

Discipline
Clear expectations, consistently enforced
Explicit modeling of positive behavior
Recognize & reward positive behavior
Aim to correct, not punish
All students are all our students
Principal should frequently be visible
throughout the campus.

Collaboration with Community

Good leaders view the community as
partners in education

Parent volunteers
Fundraising
Special events
Guest speakers
Volunteer/non-profit organizations
Business donations/partnerships
Day of service
Parent education

Good leaders ensure regular

communication with the community
through various means

Diversity is not just tolerated, it is valued.

The school culture and curriculum reflects

and honors the diversity of its community.

Values & Ethics

Walk the Talk

BE SAFE
Ensure physical and emotional safety for all

BE RESPECTFUL
No gossip or put-downs
Maintain confidentiality
Include everyone
Have positive intent
Be compassionate and kind

BE RESPONSIBLE
Keep commitments
Follow through
Admit own weaknesses and accept responsibility for mistakes
Demonstrate commitment to developing as an instructional leader

How Do I Measure Up?

5. Values & Ethics

1. Developing a
Shared Vision
2. Instructional
Leadership

CPSEL

3. Organization &
Management
6. Political, Economic,
Legal, Social &
Cultural Context

4. Collaboration
w/ Community

Areas for Growth

Learning more about educational strategies that
recognize and support diverse learners.
Learning more about the Common Core State
Standards and how to support teachers in
transitioning to teaching for the 21st century
Community building outside of own classroom
and staff; forming partnerships with outside
organizations
Promoting cultural proficiency

Leadership Promise
Seek to understand before seeking to be
understood
Facilitate the success of others
Give credit; accept blame
Be transparent
Promote collaboration at all levels
Dont settle for good; strive for excellence

A leader does not seek recognition, but

aims to empower others and facilitate their
success working towards a common goal.
- Donna Faulkner