Secretary's Column
By Dr. Rick Melmer
Department of Education

The common denominator

All of us have seen successful schools. They come in all shapes and sizes. They are in large districts and small districts. They have high income students and students at risk. They may be white or diverse; urban or rural. Some are public, and others are private. However, no matter what the demographics, location or history, there seems to be one constant in all high achieving schools – strong leadership.

There have been mounds of research studies about successful schools, and they all point to the importance of high expectations, quality teachers and supportive families. Usually there is a consistent focus on academic improvement and a high level of discussion about specific academic targets. When you look “under the hood,” it is clear that there is a key ingredient behind all of those factors – a dedicated leader with a passion to see students succeed.

How do you know if a leader is of high quality? There are probably a number of ways to make that determination, but here are three key questions to ask. If you are a teacher, ask yourself these questions about your leader. If you are a principal or a superintendent, ask these questions of yourself.

• Is the administrator the “lead learner”?

  • Does the principal consistently read educational books and journals that will sharpen his leadership skills or improve the instructional environment in the school? Does the administrator share her learning with staff members? Has the administrator led a book study with staff members to grow the knowledge in the building or district?
     

• Is the administrator visible?

  • Does the administrator visit classrooms regularly? As a follow-up, does the administrator provide feedback to classroom teachers about the effectiveness of their teaching? Can the administrator “spar” with teachers about the best practices that can be used in their classrooms?
     

• Is the administrator a change agent?

  • Does the administrator seek new and better ways to meet the changing needs of the students? Does the administrator have a “rock in the shoe” approach to improved learning – an incessant desire to improve the educational program for all students in the school?

As a state agency, we are constantly trying to determine what we can influence that can make the most difference in schools. Clearly, our discussions have recently turned to developing the strength of our school leaders as we attempt to make South Dakota schools as effective as possible. It is my hope that our superintendents and school boards are also recognizing the importance of high quality leaders in our school districts.