Defining a personal philosophy of an educational leader incorporates a multitude of skills,

abilities and beliefs along with strong foundational principles in the Educational Standards. The
test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already
here (Buchanan, J.).
Transformational leadership theory sets the stage for a personal philosophy of leadership. This
theory inspires others toward collaboration and interdependence as they work toward a purpose
to which they are deeply committed (Ubben, 2011, p. 10). Leaders continuously set goals and
have the unique ability to embrace change. They create a culture that models student
achievement and success backed by ethics, integrity and fairness. Strong leaders work
collaboratively, are team players and promote opportunities for interaction. They encourage
community involvement and define strategies to communicate with parents and community
members. Strong leaders develop and maintain a positive and safe school culture and effectively
manage all operations of a school district. A strong knowledge base surrounding curriculum will
give the leader the skills necessary to continually align practices and the delivery of instruction.
Essentially, educational leadership is a complex role that will make educational impacts on the
lives of those that we serve. We must understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to learn
how we can be most effective in our abilities. As agents of change there is great responsibility to
embrace the past, present and future and have goals of high expectations and clear direction. Our
desire for academic excellence needs to be embedded in everything that we do in order to ensure
a school culture that models the same principles. We have a duty to all stakeholders to ensure
that every area of a schools functioning has attention, consideration and leadership in promoting
the success of every student. A successful leader will use the Educational Leadership Standards
as a foundation and guide for their role within a school district.