Leadership

Teacher-Librarian leadership is central to ETL504. Both Fullan (2004) and Donham (2005) look at the topic of effective leadership. As cited in Donham (2005, p.295-296), Bennis (1999) identifies 5 leadership characteristics:

• technical competence
• conceptual skill
• people skills
• judgement
• character

Central to these leadership qualities is the necessity of a vision for the Library to align the expectations of the school community and curriculum initiatives.

Fullan (2004) focuses specifically on Change Leadership - effective leadership in times of change - and outlines 5 components of leadership (p. 3-5):

• moral purpose
• understanding change
• building relationships
  
• creating and sharing knowledge
• making coherence
  

Such qualities are imperative to effectively managing the dynamic changes bombarding quality educational initiatives. Preparing TLs for leadership also begs the question to the understandings school Principals have in dynamic leadership in these everchanging times. Do they understand leadership or management? Do they really understand the powerful impact TLs and other staff can have in the school and how to harness it? I also see our TL leadership role impacting on our administrative leaders as they too grapple with the pace of change.