Running head: LEADERSHIP AND SYSTEMATIC CHANGE

Leadership and Systematic Change

Leadership and Systematic Change An effective leader is a person who guides others toward a common goal, showing the way by example, and creating an environment in which other team members feel actively involved in the entire process. Systematic change or system wide change is dependent on quality leadership. Without quality leadership, systematic change will fail and the organization will feel disorderly, without direction, and uncomfortable. It is imperative a leader wishing to implement systematic change have a clear vision, direction, and a process for this change to take place. When effective leaders exert positive influence on their schools, student success, as measured by various outcomes, rises accordingly (Elmore & Burney, 1997). Change, lead by effective leaders, is inevitable and important for growth in organizations and without change stagnation occurs. Currently, at the school where I teach, I have the opportunity to work under two administrative leaders that are effective and compliment each other. I will refer to these leaders as Administrator One and Administrator Two when describing their experience, training and background both before leading my school and while leading my school. Both of the leaders at my school operate under the mantra that a great school is built off of three key ingredients. These ingredients are relationships, communication, and problem solving. All three of these ingredients are important parts to systematic change. Administrator One is the relationship builder and problem solver within the school. He has been in education for a total of twenty two years. The first eleven years of his career he was a high school Science teacher and football coach. The last eleven years he has been the principal of two different schools.