John Hattie - Instructional Leadership

Summary

In this insightful discussion, the speaker contrasts transformational and instructional leadership in education, emphasizing the superior impact of instructional leadership on student outcomes. Citing Vivian Robinson's meta-analysis, they highlight that while transformational leadership fosters a shared vision, it only achieves a minimal effect on student success compared to the substantial impact of instructional leadership. The conversation underscores the importance of teacher collaboration, ongoing dialogue about effective practices, and setting realistic goals to cultivate a critical mass of impactful teaching. The speaker encourages educational leaders to focus on measurable improvements to enhance overall school performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 There are two primary types of school leaders: transformational leaders focused on a common vision and instructional leaders concentrated on the impact on students.
• 😀 Transformational leadership emerged from business practices in the 1960s and 70s, emphasizing collective goals for teachers and students.
• 😀 Instructional leadership is significantly more effective, with a 6.0 effect size compared to 0.15 for transformational leadership regarding student outcomes.
• 😀 In many regions, including Australia and Ontario, only a small percentage (5-10%) of school leaders identify as instructional leaders.
• 😀 Instructional leaders prioritize the impact that teachers have on students, fostering discussions on effective teaching strategies and professional development.
• 😀 School leadership extends beyond the principal, emphasizing the importance of creating dialogues among staff about teaching effectiveness.
• 😀 Identifying high-impact teaching practices is crucial for effective leadership, even if they come from various teaching philosophies.
• 😀 Achieving a critical mass of effective teachers (around 20%) can significantly change a school's culture and impact on students.
• 😀 Continuous evaluation of educational strategies is necessary, especially as new cohorts of students enter schools each year.
• 😀 Leadership in education requires adapting business insights, such as recognizing that a 20% market share can indicate significant influence.

Q & A

What are the two types of leadership mentioned in the transcript?

The two types of leadership discussed are transformational leadership and instructional leadership.

How does transformational leadership impact students compared to instructional leadership?

Transformational leadership has a positive effect size of about 0.15 on students, while instructional leadership has a significantly higher effect size of 6, indicating a much greater impact on student outcomes.

What is the current percentage of instructional leaders in schools according to the speaker?

The speaker estimates that only about 5 to 10% of principals and leaders are instructional leaders, though they suspect the percentage may be higher in Ontario due to recent changes.

What is the role of a principal as described in the transcript?

The principal's role is primarily focused on understanding the impact teachers have on students and acting as a lead change agent within the school.

How should principals create dialogue among staff according to the speaker?

Principals should foster discussions focused on teaching strategies and the impact of those strategies on student learning, rather than on resources or curriculum details.

What does the speaker mean by 'identifying defensible ways when high impact is happening'?

This refers to the need for leaders to recognize and validate effective teaching practices and high-impact teaching strategies, providing evidence of their effectiveness.

What analogy does the speaker use to explain variability in teaching effectiveness?

The speaker compares teachers to professional athletes like Roger Federer, noting that even high-performing teachers can have good days and bad days, yet overall, some teachers consistently achieve high impact.

What percentage of market share does the speaker mention as significant in the business context?

The speaker mentions that in business, achieving 20% of the market is considered a monopoly, which influenced their approach to educational leadership.

How does the speaker view the role of principals in relation to change in schools?

The speaker believes that principals should focus on gradually changing the school culture, aiming for a critical mass of teachers to adopt effective practices rather than trying to change everything at once.

What challenges do educators face each year according to the transcript?

Educators face the challenge of reinventing the problem each year with new cohorts of students, making it essential to maintain high standards and effectively teach them each year.