Ending+Leadership+Philosophy

=**Leadership Philosophy**=

Since I have joined the MS Educational Leadership program in Spring 2010, I feel that my leadership style has changed to an extent, but still stays true towards the ideals that I originally stated. If anything, I feel that I have enhance and advanced myself regarding my leadership philosophy. I still feel that it is important to have a democratic leadership style that stresses togetherness, cohesiveness, positive community, and a commitment to community. Throughout the program, I have learned, both in my own experiences, vicariously through others' experiences, and via theory, that creating community and unity within an organization is key to positive, progressive change that can benefit the entire institution. I stress a style that pushes to advance an institution, not for "change" sake, but rather to adapt and progress the organization to continually be better at what it does and who it serves. In the case of post-secondary education, the institution should continue to progress to change for its constituents, that being students, to create the best holistic education experience that is available. This can be done through a variety of ways that includes improved access to education/information/knowledge, advancement of technology, and the integration of practical experiences in all fields that will help generate real life understanding of said fields and give students the chance to understand theory with practical application. As I've stated in my original education philosophy, I feel that creating open lines of communication will only help to better the institution, tearing down perceived hierarchical structures to create a "level playing field" within the institution, one of a positive context that will help to create progressive collaboration to create new thoughts and ideas that can be put into programs/curriculum for students to better their education experience. As an optimist, I believe looking on the brighter side of things, but still being rational and logical, understanding that institutions can always improve for the better and continue to advance. Every day, new knowledge, information, and technology are created/displayed/transmitted through the world and it is our jobs as leaders to continually advance the institution in a positive manner that is good for all constituents. Continuing to stress positive change and collaboration can only help fuel the fires of progressive change for the post-secondary institutions, change that will better the lives of all students.

The following is my leadership vision paper from Educational Leadership 730 which goes further in depth with my philosophy of leadership: