Educational Leaders: An Introduction

Formal education is a quiet force. It exists and unless controversy erupts, most people experience education as students and later as parents. Society's interest can begin revolutionizing education from something that is done to people to an enterprise-a thriving field. Taking an active role in education requires society to be interested on several levels. One level is knowing current leaders who mold and contribute to education. The public knows other industries' leaders, but famous names in education overall escape the public.

Consider these names: Bill Gates, Payton Manning, Oprah Winfrey, Vera Wang, Donald Trump, William Sears and Steven Hawking. Of those seven names, how many could you name and match with his or her proper field? (Which happens to be, computers, sports, entertainment, fashion, real estate, pediatrics and science, respectively). Those award winners, those policy makers and world changers exist in education too. Knowing about them empowers the public (and the tax payers) to see the path education is taking, and to voice opinions.

What qualities should we search for while looking at education leaders? We could start by looking at what other leaders possess that draws in the public. Leaders are result-driven and the best in their field.  Leaders are typically respected, established and published. Leaders have educations or at least understand the history of their field, often because they have worked from bottom to top. Leaders become mentors. Leaders succeed and leaders fail. Leaders' interest, pizzazz, desire and passion make their mistakes forgivable because they try to accomplish so much, they perhaps do not check their tongues. Most importantly, the public identifies with leaders, because the public and leaders share goals and beliefs.

Are all of these qualities what educational leaders need? Perhaps not, because education is a special and diverse field. Perhaps so, because education needs change and might do well with leaders who possess sharpened traits. Either 'perhaps' situation constitutes us knowing educational leaders. Consider applying this discussion to politics. Most of us would not consider ignoring politicians, their beliefs, backgrounds, controversies, successes and future plans. The public craves knowledge concerning those who shape our government; the public can have the same hunger toward those carving education. We have a responsibility to learn about individuals shaping education, as they create policy, influence schools and eventually influence our children.

Forward thinkers in education are not household names. Could knowledge of their existence bring attention to education? In the upcoming days, I will post about big names in education. Together, we will look at their accomplishments, controversies and beliefs. Hopefully, we can learn about educators and support them, or even take a stance against their ideas. No matter our feelings, knowledge concerning educational leaders will empower the public that feels the effects of their actions.

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