Educational Leadership and Management

Running head: EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
Educational Leadership and Management
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1EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
Shapiro and Stefkovich (2016) are of the viewpoint that the importance of the
construct of leadership is not only witnessed in the contemporary business world but at the
same time within the framework of the modern educational world as well. As opined by
Ribbins (2018), the contemporary educational leaders are increasingly playing an important
role in the different educational institutions not only for the formulation of new curriculums
but at the same time for the active use as well as implementation of them as well. More
importantly, within the spectrum of the contemporary educational system it is also seen that
these leaders also take on the job role of management as well for the effective co-ordination
of the different departments of the concerned educational institutions (Reeves, 2016).
However, as argued by Rodd (2013), “understanding leadership in early childhood has been
plagued by its confusion with the concept of management”. It is precisely here that the need
to understand the constructs of leadership and management in the particular context of the
educational world emerges. The educational leaders and the construct of leadership itself had
emerged as one of the indispensible parts of the modern educational system because of the
leadership and governance job roles that they perform within the various educational
institutions. This essay will analyze the diverse facets of the construct of leadership and
management in the particular context of the contemporary educational system.
Gkolia, Koustelios and Belias (2018) are of the viewpoint that the formulation of an
effective curriculum is perhaps one of the most important job roles of the contemporary
leaders related to the different educational institutions. More importantly, these individuals or
leaders needs to ensure the fact that the curriculum that they have formulated not only needs
to be in synchronicity with the demands of the contemporary educational world and also the
capabilities of the students (Bøe & Hognestad, 2017). For example, the leaders need to ensure
the fact that the curriculum that they have formulated is on the basis of the capabilities as
well as the mental age of the majority of the students of the classroom rather than just a few

2EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
students (Giles, 2018). For the effective attainment of this process the different educational
leaders are required to work in close association with the diverse important officials of the
educational institutions like the Principal, Vice-Principal and others (Moyles, 2006). This is
important since it not only ensures the formulation of an effective curriculum but at the same
time its effective implementation as well (Kagan & Bowman, 1997). Thus, it can be said that
the effective usage of both the constructs of management and leadership is essential for the
formulation as well as implementation of the right kind of curriculum.
As opined by Orr and Cleveland-Innes (2015), the benefits as well as the functions
rendered by the contemporary educational leaders notwithstanding there are various
challenges that the different leaders related to the various educational institutions often face.
For example, one of the major challenges that the contemporary leaders related to the field of
education commonly face is the lack of support that they receive from the management team
of the educational institutions to which they are related (Rodd, 2013). In this regard, it needs
to be said that the educational leaders get very little support from the Principals, Vice-
Principals and others for the formulation of new kinds of curriculum, leading the teachers and
students and others (Johnson et al., 2016). Sumsion et al. (2009) have argued that the leaders
within the framework of the various educational institutions also play an integral role in
cascading different kinds of important information. In this role, they can also be seen as the
conveyor of important information and also as the linking bridge between the management
team of the educational institutions and the students as well as the entities of the educational
institutions (Rodd, 2012).
According to Tayler et al. (2013), one of the most important trends, which is being
seen within the spectrum of the contemporary educational institutions is the fact that the
leaders are required to undertake the job roles of the managers and oversee the aspect of
effective management as well. The net result of this is the fact that the different Principals,