A visionary outsider, Stanford inspired a district in decline with his unwavering mission to 'make every child a successful learner'. Before losing his personal battle with leukemia, Stanford altered the performance and the culture of Seattle schools. Tributes to his leadership have poured in from across the nation, and educators and citizens have pledged to carry out his unfinished mission on behalf of students. Valuing Leaders John Stanford reminds us that the quality of educational leadership is important. In a time of accelerating change, declining resources and increasing demands on our schools, leadership matters.
Leadership provides an overarching vision.
Leadership galvanizes community stakeholders and marshals resources in support of that vision. Leadership gives unrelentingly attention to the calibre of teaching and learning. In a leadership vacuum, the status quo becomes the driver. In the absence of powerful vision, school district energies and resources are dissipated. Many a leader is compromised navigating the politics of school boards, powerful unions and conflicting public demands.