Developing Principled Educational Leaders

Elevator Speech Developing Principled Educational LeadersDeveloping Principled Educational Leaders for P-12 Schools is the mission of The Citadel’s Professional Education Unit. knowledgeablereflectiveethicalOur goal is to develop leaders into knowledgeable, reflective, and ethical professionals committed to ensuring that all students succeed in a learner-centered environment.

What do we mean by a principled educational leader?

Possessing knowledgeskills does not ensure will be used for principled or moral purposesPossessing the necessary knowledge and skills of an educational leader does not ensure that those skills and that knowledge will be used for principled or moral purposes. (A surgeon’s skill can be used to kill as well as cure.)(A surgeon’s skill can be used to kill as well as cure.)

As Michael Fullan suggests Principled leadership has a spiritual dimension. “Principled behavior [is] connected to something greater than ourselves [and] relates to human and social development.”

The leader as a heroic, solitary, “rugged individual” who saves the day through larger than life activities is NOT what we are about.

The Citadel’s principled educational leader is the quiet leader who – makes a differenceThrough careful, thoughtful, and practical efforts – makes a difference in the lives of their students, in the places where they work, and in the larger community of which they are a part.

“Quiet leadership is what moves and changes the world.”

knows her inner spirit – acts carefully, thoughtfully, and persistently to improve the educational environment. The principled educational leader is the quiet leader who –

This vision of the “principled educational leader resonates with what Jim Collins (Good to Great) refers to as Level Five Leadership.

Level 5 leaders are – Often “self effacing, quiet, reserved, even shy,” They are more like Lincoln or Socrates than Patton or Caesar.

At The Citadel, our goal is – principled educational leadersknowledge reflectionethics powerful, learner-centered communityTo develop principled educational leaders who weave knowledge, reflection, and ethics together to create a powerful, learner-centered community.