Running head: LEADERSHIP PLATFORM 1

EPPL 502: Leadership Platform

Julie K. Marsh
College of William and Mary

LEADERSHIP PLATFORM

In order to create a quality educational environment for administrators, teachers, and

students, it is important to be a strong leader. Strong educational leaders are able to develop safe
and supportive learning environments that focus on high achievement, support, and trust for all
stakeholders. Educational leaders must develop and implement valuable, well-rounded training
for other leaders in the educational environment, which, in turn, supports valuable, well-rounded
instruction and best practices based on current research. Effective educational leaders also work
closely with community stakeholders, including parents, in order to help define and maintain a
positive school culture and climate focused on achieving excellent aims, goals, and objectives
tied to the school mission and vision. There are a number of elements that characterize quality
educational leaders, including a passion and a focus on quality instruction, current research in
order to support best practices, and positive ways to support and encourage teachers and
students.
To be a good and effective educational leader, I must create a collaborative and
interactive environment, one that is safe and secure, where critical thinking skills are employed
and innovation encouraged. This environment should be welcoming and accommodate many
learning styles and skills, encouraging participation as well as reinforcing respect for all
opinions. This provides a protected space where stakeholders not only are allowed a voice, but
also benefit from peer-to-peer enrichment. I am able to create and maintain a safe, productive
environment as well as learning relationship by equally balancing two key areas of academia:
scholarship and instruction. I strive to equalize these areas to continue as a good and effective
educational leader.

LEADERSHIP PLATFORM

passion [pash-uh n] noun: any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or

hate; a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything
To teach, one must be passionate about teaching. Passion for teaching is an essential
quality for any good educational leader. I have a passion for working in the classroom,
interacting with learners, and fostering a student-teacher relationship based on trust. I also have
a passion for working with other educational leaders to assist in furthering a schools vision and
mission.
My passion for education is not solely centered on teaching or working with other
educational leaders. My scholarship and research are fundamental to my field as well as making
me a better educator. I research and write about aspects of education because it promotes a better
learning environment every time I enter my classroom or school building. Scholarship assists
me in my instruction.
edify [ed'-f'] verb: to instruct, especially so as to encourage intellectual, moral, or
spiritual improvement
An educational leader has many roles, but the most important is instruction. I believe all
curricula should be student-centered and follow sound educational practices such as encouraging
cooperation, encouraging active learning, giving prompt feedback, communicating high
expectations, and respecting diversity.
I expect students to actively participate, not passively learn. When I design a course, I
emphasize critical thinking skills instead of reflexive memorization. It is important that I teach
students not only how to read a text, but also how to interpret what the text is saying. I use
collaboration and small group discussions to accentuate critical thinking skills. In my classroom,
it is important to not only work as an individual but also learn to work as a group because this
has real world applications.

LEADERSHIP PLATFORM

educator [j'-k'tr]-noun: One trained in teaching; a teacher; A specialist in the

theory and practice of education
My philosophy of education asserts that I must be a scholar and educational leader. I
must give back through my time and research, improving the education of my students each day.
I must also remember that students are entitled to quality instruction in a stimulating and active
learning environment. Students should always have the opportunity to act, interact, and react to
their peers as well as their instructor. Curriculum should always be up-to-date and properly
evaluated. Expectations of students should be high, yet attainable and always improve students
educations. I will remember that to be a positive and effective educational leader, the student
must remain just as important as my scholarship and my academic community. I will remember
teaching is not simply an activity, but a process.