Realising the potential of system leadership
An insight into the article by David Hopkins
Ryan Brown 2082535EDUC9707- Leading Change in the Digital Age
A brief outline of the content of the article
A group discussion on the key themes of the article
An opportunity to share our learning
A conclusion and summary of our learning
The structure of this presentation will include:
“In the future… leaders will face problems for which there is no
immediate solution, and will have to build the capacity to deal with them.
This requires a different kind of leadership.” (Hopkins, 2008, pp.22)
The Problem…
Some inspiration…
moralpurpose
professional development
strategic acumen(adaptability)
managing teaching and
learningdeveloping
organisations
developing people
work as a change agent
act as a community leader
improve school in challenging contextleading educational
partnerships
partner a low achieving school
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
…are those head teachers who are willing to shoulder system leadership roles, who care about and work for the success of other schools as well
as their own. (Hopkins, 2008, pp.22)
System Leaders…
It’s about leading all education, rather than focusing solely on one school or area
It’s about investing leadership in a system wide approach, without limitations
the motivation…
Moral Purpose that drives the leadership
The Adaptability of leadership
The Domains of leadership
Roles associated with leadership
A System Leader has to consider…
moralpurpose
professional development
strategic acumen(adaptability)
managing teaching and
learningdeveloping
organisations
developing people
work as a change agent
act as a community leader
improve school in challenging contextleading educational
partnerships
partner a low achieving school
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
moralpurpose
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
Defines “the passion to proceed, or encouragement for others to follow”(Hopkins, 2008, pp.23)
This is largely based on the commitment to improve student learning, while engaging the entire organisation of teaching, learning and curriculum.
Moral Purpose
Achieved through:
Measuring success in accordance with student learning
Ensuring learning is personalised
Committing to personal and professional development
Developing learning communities
Improving culture and context of learning
Recognising influence of classroom, school and system on each other
“a problem situation for which solutions lie outside current ways of operating”
“adaptive challenges demand learning, as they require new ways of thinking and operating.”
“Mobilising people to meet adaptive challenges is at the heart of leadership practice.”
(Hopkins, 2008, pp.25-26)
We need adaptability…
Equipping people to deal with new situations
Teaching people to be adaptable
Committing to ongoing to learning
In summary: Professional Development
It’s about…
moralpurpose
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
moralpurpose
professional development
strategic acumen(adaptability)
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
How does leadership apply to school improvement?
How does a leader improve a school’s performance?
The Domains of Leadership
Setting Direction
Managing Teaching and learning
Developing People
Developing The Organisation
The Domains of Leadership
moralpurpose
professional development
strategic acumen(adaptability)
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
moralpurpose
professional development
strategic acumen(adaptability)
managing teaching and
learningdeveloping
organisations
developing people
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
Describe the type of actions that a System leader might perform
These are categorised but not limited in their aim to create: A wider resource for school improvement An authentic response to failing schools A means of resolving emerging challenges A sustainable strategy for maintaining
development
The Roles of System Leaders…
Developing and leading a successful educational improvement partnership
Choosing to lead in extremely challenging circumstances
Partnering with a struggling school in order to improve it
Acting as a community leader to broker and shape partnerships and relationships around learning
Working as a change agent within the system
Could you imagine someone…
moralpurpose
professional development
strategic acumen(adaptability)
managing teaching and
learningdeveloping
organisations
developing people
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
moralpurpose
professional development
strategic acumen(adaptability)
managing teaching and
learningdeveloping
organisations
developing people
work as a change agent
act as a community leader
improve school in challenging contextleading educational
partnerships
partner a low achieving school
individual professional organisational
system tranformational
What are the moral purposes that motivate effective leaders?
Why is professional development and adaptability regarded so highly?
Who is best equipped to be a system leader?
Is the system leadership model realistic for South Australian Schools?
Discussion Questions
So where do we sit?
Sharing and communication is holding increased weight and value
Leadership and learning can no longer be confined
The benefit of the whole, is not done by separating its parts
Successful schools are in the prime position to be offering support and leadership on a system wide level.
Summary
Hopkins, D. 2008. Realising the potential of system leadership. In Hopkins, D. 2008. Improving School Leadership (vol2): Case studies on system leadership. OECD pp. 21-35
Reference