Public education faces a severe leadership crisis. Over the next decade, we will need to hire some 2.2 million new teachers. About half of all principals are nearing retirement, and more than half of all superintendents are over 50 years old. Furthermore, qualified, interested candidates for these positions are scarce due to fierce competition from other sectors, as well as changing job expectations.
The nation is demanding that our schools meet higher standards than ever before. But how can they succeed if we do not have strong professionals to lead the way?
IEL's School Leadership for the 21st Century Initiative is raising awareness about this critical issue in unique ways. Our approach is multisector, engaging partners from government and business as well as education. It is comprehensive, encompassing leadership issues at the teacher, principal, district and state levels. And it is action-oriented, designed to spark action among the increasingly diverse participants in the school improvement process.
Effective leaders make a difference. Strengthening educational leadership is essential if we are to make the promise of high achievement for all students a reality.
The Initiative's goals are to:
- Help policymakers and opinion leaders better understand the magnitude of the educational leadership challenges
- Share information about promising policies and practices
- Connect the multiple leadership projects underway -- so that communities and states can benefit from each other's work
- Prompt discussion and action at the state, regional and local levels.
We are talking to education, business, government and community members. We are examining the research, identifying priorities and suggesting actions. We are pinpointing issues that warrant further debate and exploration. We are disseminating our work widely. We are doing what we can to ensure that others build on this work throughout the decentralized and fragmented educational governance system. Our approach throughout this process is collaborative, reflecting IEL's 35-year legacy of leadership as a catalyst, convener and connector.
Your Role
It is not our intent for the task force reports and other tools produced by the Initiative to sit and gather dust. We urge you to use them to inspire and support multisector regional meetings and activities that carry this work forward and lead to results. For more information, please contact Initiative staff.
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