Instructional versus Transformational Leaders

Recent research has found that leadership can have a considerable impact on student achievement.  The research is specific about which behaviors matter most for student success.  Leaders that stay focused on student achievement and instructional strategies (instructional leaders) have far greater impact on achievement than leaders that try to motivate followers to a cause (transformational leaders).  One recent study of particular interest is a meta-analysis (analysis of multiple previous research studies) by Viviane Robinson, Claire Lloyd, and Kenneth Rowe titled “The Impact of Leadership on Student Outcomes: An Analysis of the Differential Effects of Leadership Types”.  Robinson et. al. do more than just show there is a difference between instructional leaders and transformational leaders, they go on to identify the specific “dimensions” or behaviors of the most effective leaders.  Out of five “dimensions” (1. establishing goals and expectations, 2. resourcing strategically, 3. planning, coordinating, and evaluating teaching and the curriculum, 4. promoting and participating in teacher learning and development and 5. ensuring an orderly and supportive environment)  participating in teacher learning as both leader and learner had the greatest impact.  This should mean that the days where the principal acts as sponsor or support of professional development are gone.  If the professional development is focused on a primary instructional strategy then the principal should be present.