The Nature of Effective IT Leaders: Characteristics and Outcomes
Denis Fortier
University of Lethbridge
Abstract
This paper discusses the essential characteristics and outcomes one might see from a school leader. I chose to base my reflections and observations on my current school principal, Bill Q. Bill Q is a new principal who embodies the new generation of school leaders.
I have known Bill Q. since May of 2008. He is currently the principal of the school where I teach grade 4. Since meeting Bill Q, I have observed some of the qualities and characteristics that make him an exceptional leader and school administrator. Upon reading some of the current research I have been able to identify the main characteristics that make Bill Q such an effective leader. The man possesses an extraordinary vision. He is an effective manager who is always supportive of staff and manages to extract the most positive qualities from his staff. Excellence in IT/ICT leadership: Building Blocks to the Future, Hollingsworth, 2008. He encourages collaborative planning between teachers and makes time for teachers to meet.
According to, Excellence in IT/ICT leadership: Building Blocks to the Future (Hollingsworth, 2008). Leadership and visioning is a central characteristic of effective leaders in ICT. Many principals made reference to the value of having support from Central Office’s leadership vision. Bill Q is effectively able to continue this trickling down process to teachers on staff. Visioning also goes the other way with Bill Q. Recently he was instrumental in realigning partner schools for our AISI project. We are now partnered with other French immersion schools in our district for our AISI goal.
It is easy to get on board with Bill Q’s ideas because he is a good salesman and he never dwells on negativity or allows it to permeate our staff room. Bill Q’s ability to envision scenarios has become even more obvious at the end of the current school year. Due to fluctuations in student enrollment he has had to envision different possibilities for classroom placements. Bill Q has joined our district’s committee on combined classes. The committee is in charge of developing best practices when it comes to combined classes. This shows that he has the foresight to gather information regarding a particular situation. Bill Q often uses the question “what does it/that look like?” This is an essential question to ask oneself when contemplating change or re-imagining.
Like most of the findings in excellence in IT/ICT Leadership Bill Q sees computers or other technologies as a way to enhance student learning. To him it is in fact another tool to help students become better learners, Excellence in IT/ICT Leadership: Building Blocks to the Future, Hollingsworth, 2009. I knew Bill Q was serious about technology when he announced the AISI goal for the coming school year involves improving our students’ French language skills through the use of technology, namely interactive whiteboards. Bill Q has been instrumental in acquiring SMART boards for all of our classrooms. He has also taken the lead in encouraging teachers to embrace the technology. He has worked intensively with the parent council to secure funding for the necessary equipment. Although one may not consider his skills with SMART boards or Notebook 10 to be extraordinary he displays a great deal of vision by going to great lengths in both acquiring the technology and convincing teachers to make good use of it.
In short Bill Q is an effective administrator and leader at our school because of his vision and his ability to manage people. He treats everyone the same and does not let negativity invade our space. He is supportive of all staff members and recognizes the needs for improvements to our technological resources.
References
Hollingsworth, M. (2008). Excellence in IT/ICT Leadership: Building Blocks to the Future.
Resnick, Mitchel (2001). Rethinking Learning in the Digital Age. In The Global Information Technology Report 2001-2002: Readiness for the Networked World
Denis Fortier
University of Lethbridge
Abstract
This paper discusses the essential characteristics and outcomes one might see from a school leader. I chose to base my reflections and observations on my current school principal, Bill Q. Bill Q is a new principal who embodies the new generation of school leaders.
I have known Bill Q. since May of 2008. He is currently the principal of the school where I teach grade 4. Since meeting Bill Q, I have observed some of the qualities and characteristics that make him an exceptional leader and school administrator. Upon reading some of the current research I have been able to identify the main characteristics that make Bill Q such an effective leader. The man possesses an extraordinary vision. He is an effective manager who is always supportive of staff and manages to extract the most positive qualities from his staff. Excellence in IT/ICT leadership: Building Blocks to the Future, Hollingsworth, 2008. He encourages collaborative planning between teachers and makes time for teachers to meet.
According to, Excellence in IT/ICT leadership: Building Blocks to the Future (Hollingsworth, 2008). Leadership and visioning is a central characteristic of effective leaders in ICT. Many principals made reference to the value of having support from Central Office’s leadership vision. Bill Q is effectively able to continue this trickling down process to teachers on staff. Visioning also goes the other way with Bill Q. Recently he was instrumental in realigning partner schools for our AISI project. We are now partnered with other French immersion schools in our district for our AISI goal.
It is easy to get on board with Bill Q’s ideas because he is a good salesman and he never dwells on negativity or allows it to permeate our staff room. Bill Q’s ability to envision scenarios has become even more obvious at the end of the current school year. Due to fluctuations in student enrollment he has had to envision different possibilities for classroom placements. Bill Q has joined our district’s committee on combined classes. The committee is in charge of developing best practices when it comes to combined classes. This shows that he has the foresight to gather information regarding a particular situation. Bill Q often uses the question “what does it/that look like?” This is an essential question to ask oneself when contemplating change or re-imagining.
Like most of the findings in excellence in IT/ICT Leadership Bill Q sees computers or other technologies as a way to enhance student learning. To him it is in fact another tool to help students become better learners, Excellence in IT/ICT Leadership: Building Blocks to the Future, Hollingsworth, 2009. I knew Bill Q was serious about technology when he announced the AISI goal for the coming school year involves improving our students’ French language skills through the use of technology, namely interactive whiteboards. Bill Q has been instrumental in acquiring SMART boards for all of our classrooms. He has also taken the lead in encouraging teachers to embrace the technology. He has worked intensively with the parent council to secure funding for the necessary equipment. Although one may not consider his skills with SMART boards or Notebook 10 to be extraordinary he displays a great deal of vision by going to great lengths in both acquiring the technology and convincing teachers to make good use of it.
In short Bill Q is an effective administrator and leader at our school because of his vision and his ability to manage people. He treats everyone the same and does not let negativity invade our space. He is supportive of all staff members and recognizes the needs for improvements to our technological resources.
References
Hollingsworth, M. (2008). Excellence in IT/ICT Leadership: Building Blocks to the Future.
Resnick, Mitchel (2001). Rethinking Learning in the Digital Age. In The Global Information Technology Report 2001-2002: Readiness for the Networked World
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