Educational Leadership at Loyola: A program that prepares future great school leaders to lead great schools
“I have never seen a great school without a great principal.” Early in my leadership journey I attended a leadership conference sponsored by the
Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). As usual, the sessions
on school leadership were very insightful, especially the opening session. The former
Superintendent of the Maryland State Department of Education, Dr. Nancy Grasmick,
gave the keynote speech. Dr. Grasmick eloquently shared her wisdom on the important
role and work of the school principal. However, what really caught my attention was
the memento or giveaway for the attendees. On the table in the back of the auditorium
was a pile of long white note pads. I grabbed a handful of pads for me and my colleagues.
My eyes were immediately drawn to the bottom of the note pad where in green ink I
saw this statement. This short but powerful statement in green ink has remained with
me throughout my career in education. What does it take to be a great principal?
Is there a list of characteristics, or a “How to” guide out there somewhere?
I have continued to search for the ingredients in the secret sauce of great school
leadership in my work as a lecturer in the Educational Leadership program at Loyola University Maryland. While there is a measured dose of common sense
in the answer, there is specific course content to be explored and studied by our
graduate students and the successful completion of a two semester 6-credit internship
experience in the Educational Leadership program. Fast forward and review how all
of our lives and our programs have been impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic. The pandemic
has highlighted and tested the ability of school leaders to provide and support the
needs of their students and staff in the midst of uncertainty and change in the school
building and daily instruction. Do our programs reflect and support these changes?
The Educational Leadership program at Loyola is invested in providing a program for future great school leaders
to acquire, practice, and apply the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively
lead schools in the 21st Century. As such, our leadership internship program is currently
a virtual platform designed to build and maintain strong relationships between the
Loyola internship supervisor and the intern.
Since many of our internship supervisors are currently or have served as school leaders
and teach the courses in the program, foundational relationships strengthen and grow
during the internship. We have designed monthly seminars to model effective virtual
instruction and provide pragmatic content, discussion, and networking closely aligned
with the authentic work of leading schools, staff, and students. In the spirit of
Cura Personalis, flexible office hours for small groups and one-on-one sessions are provided for
interns by the internship supervisors for mentoring, problem-solving, coaching, and
support.
In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins (2001) explained how organizations make the
leap from good to great with the leadership of a great leader, or a Level 5 leader.
The Educational Leadership Program at Loyola is ready to help our future school leaders
make the leap and become great school leaders leading great schools.
Dr. Regina Massella is a lecturer in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (Admin I) program at Loyola University Maryland's School of Education.