Values and Ethics of Leadership Chapter 3 Educational Leadership J. Reinhartz & D. Beach Presented By: John Hernandez EDU 516: Instructional & Transformational Leadership

ISLLC Standard This chapter discusses the importance of ethical behavior for school leaders. Standard 5: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.

Chapter Introduction With greater scrutiny given to the elections of leaders, especially those who hold the public’s trust, ethical behavior has become an area of greater focus. Ethical school leaders advocate and promote success of all students and act according to a value system that reflects character and a sense of equity, fairness, and integrity.

1. Ethical Code of Conduct Most professions have a code of behaviors (conduct) that guides their actions. Leaders must be aware of these codes of conduct for they provide a possible course of action when confronted with problems or dilemmas. In order to present a standard of professionalism, a school leader must live and model ethical behavior.

2. Ethical Actions and Behaviors When presented with ethical dilemmas or situations, leaders must critically examine their own beliefs about what is right and good and then use ethical codes and guiding principles to make a decision or resolve a problem.

2. Ethical Actions and Behaviors (Continued) Blanchard and Peele (1988) offer questions that leaders should ask when confronted with an ethical decision: Is it legal? Is it balanced? How will it make me feel about myself?

3. Ethical Decisions and Gender Differences Laws are currently in place that affirm the principles of equal rights and equal opportunities regardless of gender. School leaders must ensure that when they foster equal rights for one group, the rights of another group are not compromised. Title IX (1972) prohibits sex discrimination against all students and employees in federally assisted education programs. The law ensures that policies and programs give boys and girls full and equal access to a quality education.

4. Ethical Decisions and Cultural Diversity School leaders must be cognizant of the changes that have occurred within society and the wide range of cultural diversity that is represented in the population. Greenberg and Baron (2000) have identified the following trends: There are more women in the workplace than ever before Racial and ethnic diversity is a reality. People are working longer than ever before

4. Ethical Decisions and Cultural Diversity (Continued) School leaders must make ethical decisions that reflect equity, fairness, and culturally sensitive issues that impact or influence their thinking and identify the cultural or equity principle that is being jeopardized or compromised.

5. Values and Ethics Questions As campus leaders, what steps can you take to ensure that teachers are informed about issues of bias in their class? What can you do to enrich the professional lives of teachers as they plan and teach? What are your attitudes and bias towards diversity? Think about when you were a child; can you remember the first incident that could be called bias at home, in school, or with friends?