Educational leadership is the exercise of significant and responsible influence. This includes but is not limited to the skills of management. Significant leadership requires the articulation, justification, and protection of the core set of educational values that underlie the purposes and functions of schools. Schools must be dynamic and renewing educational organizations. Educational leaders must nurture and sustain the processes of dialogue, decision-making, action, and evaluation that lead to the improvement of schools as places for teaching and learning.
Educational leadership is crucial at all levels of schooling.
Administrators must create and support opportunities for the authentic involvement of all educators in organizational change and school improvement. Educational leaders must be committed to the importance and use of knowledge. Effective leaders must have the ability to reflect critically on practices in their schools and promote the importance of inquiry as a professional responsibility of all educators. The School District Leadership Program is designed for working professionals. Students generally complete the SDLP on a part-time basis over two years.