8085 Discussion 2

Colleague Response

Katheryn Gonzales 

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            Valley Hill has gone through some difficult times, which has left stakeholders feeling uncertain, defiant, unsafe, and desperate. The new director's role will be challenging and vital to the success of Valley Hill. To succeed, the director must be a highly effective leader. To begin, the new director will need to work with the staff to create a mission and vision statement. A clear mission and vision will give the staff and families security in knowing what Valley Hill is committed to as an early childcare center. The leader must also engage families by listening to their concerns and determining their needs. Next, the director will need to evaluate the program and decide, based on data, what the strengths and weaknesses are to implement the required change. The new director must move forward with open communication with staff members (Sharp et al., 2012).

 The new director could use the participative leadership theory, which suggests that the leader takes input from others which will mean the director will need to include teachers and staff in the decision-making process to increase commitment and staff contribution (Amanchukwu et al., 2015). The leadership style that would benefit this director would be the democratic/participative leadership style because this style of leadership will involve the teachers and parents in the decision-making process. The stakeholders of Valley Hill have been through many difficulties and need to be reassured their voices are being heard. However, this type of leadership style takes time as input is gathered. The director will need to encourage professional development and program evaluation to fully understand what teachers have been doing in their classrooms to ensure that input is valid and helpful (Amanchukwu et al., 2015). The new director must set quality standards and be busy with day-to-day management to create a safe and happy school climate. To support a healthy work climate, the new director should celebrate the good things teachers have been doing and encourage staff celebrations and opportunities to collaborate and work together (Bloom & Able, 2015).

            Based on the scenario at Valley Hill, I would welcome the opportunity to be the director at this early learning center. I believe my leadership strengths would lend to the center's needs. The leadership theories I find most effective are the Relationship/Transformational Theory and the Participative Theory. I find that once people buy into the idea of the organization and are included in the planning and decision-making process, they are willing to collaborate and work towards creating a successful organization. Valley Hill desperately needs a leader to enter the school with charisma, excitement, motivation, and a strong vision for the school. Building relationships with stakeholders and including input and decision-making power in the hands of qualified staff will encourage stakeholders to collaborate to make Valley Hill an outstanding school (Amanchukwu et al, 2015).

References

Amanchukwu, R.N., Stanley, G. J., & Ololube, N.P. (2015). A review of leadership theories,

principles and styles and their relevance to educational management. Management, 5(1), 6-14. Doi:10.5923/j.mm.20150501.02

Jorde Bloom, P., & Abel, M. B. (2015). Expanding the Lens--Leadership as an Organizational

Asset. YC:  Young Children, 70(2), 10–17.

Sharp, C., Lord, P., Handscomb, G., Macleod, S., Soutcott, C., George, N., & Jeffes, J. (2012).

Highly effective leadership in children's centres.  National College for School Leadership, Nottingham.

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