Discussion: An Eye on Leaders in Special Education
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Sustainable Leadership in Special Education
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Sustainable Leadership in Special Education
Introduction
True leadership in most cases is believed to be a calling from God. This is further proved by evidence seen in the bible when God called different people and gave them leadership roles for example King David in the book of Kings. A good leader displays great qualities which in return steers a group that they are in charge of to the peak (Fullan & Quinn, 2016). Successful organizations thrive as a result of good leadership. This essay discusses on the components of good leadership in special education as follows.
The four components of coherence framework
The components of coherence framework are of great importance because they organize good leadership in special education (Kauffman, 2015). Like in any other organization or in any school, special education needs proper leadership, and this is achieved via the following coherence frameworks.
a) Focusing direction
A good leader in special education should put his focus on the direction where he is leading his team. Swaying from left, right then to the centre automatically leads to failure. The focus is mostly seen from the decisions that the leader is taking (Florian, 2014).
b) Have good ideas about Moral standing
Dealing with students with special needs necessitates a good moral understanding. This is because this group of students is not only delicate but easily vulnerable to discrimination as most of them are defenceless (Florian, 2014). Moral understanding would bring the mannerism and the orientation towards what is best for the special need group and the policies that would keep and maintain this orientation
c) Interact with the group
Kauffman (2015), a pro group interaction theorist asserts that group interrelation brings strong bonds and cohesion. This even works best in a leader- subject relationship. Special needs fraternity would feel close and strongly bounded with a leader who interacts with them. They would also fill that the leader has their best interest and secure.
d) Collaboration
Collaboration simply means working together. Collaboration aligns a group to work collectively to the desired objective and goals. Collaboration makes all people sail in the same boat and reduces conflicts and misunderstanding; factors that frail and complicates leadership (Morrow, 2015)
Ten most important aspects needed to sustain a whole system change in special education
The ten most important leadership competences needed in the sustainability of the whole system in special education are as follows.
1. Building external network or partnership - This means that the leader develops a network or web of positive relations to help build up appropriate policy that benefits special need education (Fullan & Quinn, 2016).
2. Having a sense of change and sustainable result - The future of every program or organization depends on how flexible it is to change and its sustainability of the environment and human relation. A leader who is focused on change and sustainability would not only align with the special education system for appropriate changes but would develop a system that incorporates every influencing factor in decision making (Kauffman, 2015).
3. Building trust through effective communication - Effective communication and trust builds confidence and cohesion which ease the initiation of sustainable reforms in the special education system (Florian, 2014).
4. Focusing more on teamwork than individualistic performance - They say that as an individual makes one go fast but working as team makes people go lengths. It is not a matter of going fast in sustainable the special education system it is a matter of creating a system that is accommodative and integrative with social for special needs and normal students (Fullan & Quinn, 2016). For this reason, people should be prepared to work in teams and collaboratively to achieve the set goals and objectives
5. Training young leaders to take up differentiated roles - Inspiring others to become is not only Nobel but as a wholesome way of transforming the educational system, inspiring others to take on leadership roles lead by shared responsibilities and accountability (Florian, 2014). Furthermore, training does not promote skills in young leaders but the whole special education fraternity.
6. Working as a team or promoting teamwork - Teamwork promotes collaboration. For Kauffman (2015), collaboration can only be obtained in teamwork environment. Teamwork also promotes objective and goal-oriented working.
7. Being innovative - Current world needs innovation for any sustainable development. Innovation creates a platform where the educational system can use available resources effectively and efficiently (Fullan & Quinn, 2016). This is important in special education as it is an area which has inherently experienced frail and insufficient resources. Working together or collaboratively is to achieve set goals: Collaboration simply means working together. Collaboration aligns a group to work collectively to the desired objective and goals. Collaboration makes all people sail in the same boat and reduces conflicts and misunderstanding; factors that frail and complicates leadership (Morrow, 2015)
8. Having the abilities to initialize and manage positive outcomes - Although leadership is an independent peripheral; that acts to inspire, direct, and motivate people, as for good management is an important aspect in a leader (Florian, 2014). Combination of organization skills enhances the ability of a leader to initialize, manage and shape positive outcomes.
9. Being in a position or willing to implement proposed ideas - It is one thing to be creative, diligent, and innovative but is another thing to implement these ideas in practice (Kauffman, 2015). Implementation of strategies does mean one should by his or her own be creative or innovative but have the willingness and ability to implement what is thought to be fruitful and constructive (Fullan & Quinn, 2016). Leaders in special education should be ready to implement innovative ideas and structures that lead to wholesome sustainability of its systems.
10. Learning from other leaders - As Morrow (2015) says, learning never stops, learning is a continuous process that equips us with more and more knowledge that consequently makes us better thinkers and integrate better in society. Leaders that continuous learn are better and more efficient than leaders that deem to know it all (Morrow, 2015). Learning from other leaders will enhance competency and informed decision making, which is a phenomenon that would stir up the special education system.
References
Florian, L. (Ed.). (2014). The SAGE handbook of special education (2nd ed.). London, England: Sage Publications Ltd.
Fullan, M., & Quinn, J. (2016). Coherence: The right drivers in action for schools, districts, and systems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.