Leadership

The Stuart Foundation seeks to support and develop
education leaders who are:

• Leaders of teachers, instruction, and learning.
• Builders of dynamic learning communities.
• Drivers for closing the achievement gap.
• Champions of equity for all students.

Analyses of principal shortages have identified the pressures of new accountability systems, expanding responsibilities, reforms, removing principal tenure, and inadequate compensation as among the factors discouraging individuals certified for administration from seeking or remaining in principalships.

Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommon Professor of Education Stanford University

Improving Leadership Improves All Points in
the System

We believe that investments in leadership will enhance teaching quality, improve academic achievement, and create supportive learning environments for all students. Our research into this field brings a clear emphasis on the following seven objectives:

• Recruitment. Focus on strategies and systems that support development and incentives for educators to serve effectively as leaders of learning.
• Certification. Assess the effectiveness of the current credentialing systems, review their efficacy, and consider alternatives for improvement.
• Induction. Improve the quality and professional development of new principals, and support the development and expansion of high-quality,
  principal training programs.
• Continuing Professional Education. Support systems of professional development for practicing school principals to expand their knowledge and capacity to be instructional leaders and to meet the challenge of educating all students to high levels of achievement.
• School Structure and Climate. Identify and support opportunities that promote whole school change through effective leadership strategies and practice.
• District-level Leadership. Increase principal and instructional staff effectiveness by reinventing district office roles and structures in support of student learning and achievement.
• District-level Governance. Support superintendents and school boards by aligning the roles and responsibilities of governance with student learning and achievement.