Module 9 Activity 7 Role of the Leader

The role of the leader of  a school is of paramount importance in ensuring that the ICT vision of the school is realized.  This will mean ensuring that all staff members are on board with the vision and will work towards it.

The article ‘Why Vision Matters’ speaks to the need to articulate a vision and combine this with sound values or principles to effectively run an institution.  A profound statement for me is the one which states that ‘the absence of a vision will doom any strategy -- especially a strategy for change’ which suggests that an institution that has no idea where it wants to go, will never get there if there is no vision.

 

Equally important is the need for staff to be aware of the vision and the principles upon which the company operates.  To equate this with a school, the teachers will know what they need to know in making the school achieve its goals. A disciplined approach to vision and values will help teachers understand what's important for the school in which they work. It tells them not just what, but also how and why they are expected to deliver. If all teachers at a school share in the ICT vision of a school, they will be more inclined to do all in their power to ensure that the schools goals are achieved.

At my school, the principal has a vision for ICT integration and teachers are working towards this vision. It will require some work since there will be need for training/professional development and availability and adequacy of resources.

In the article ‘The art of Chaordic Leadership’, the leader/manager must first be able to manage himself: his integrity, character, ethics, knowledge, wisdom, temperament, words and acts. Once this is done, the leader can then manage the staff so that the vision may be realized. Without their respect and confidence, little or nothing can be accomplished at the school. The school leader must be cognizant of the fact that he cannot bring about change on his own; he must have the backing of the staff to realize an ICT integration vision.