Reprint from MN Public Radio
with complete copy of Wallace Foundation Study, Learning from Leadership Project
"Investigating the Links to Improved Student Learning";
and video with Kyla Wahlstrom, study co-author
Study: Leadership in school administrators plays huge role in performance
by Tom Weber, Minnesota Public Radio
July 22, 2010
St. Paul, Minn. —
A new study from the University
Minnesota re-affirms the importance of having strong leadership from
school principals and superintendents.
Researchers surveyed more than 8,000
teachers and administrators in nine states, and found that the people
leading schools are more likely to affect student outcomes than other
factors like poverty or geography.
U of M researcher Kyla Wahlstrom
said her study was larger than others on the topic, but came to similar
conclusions.
"Leadership makes a huge difference,
and I think anybody who's in the field knows that," Wahlstrom said.
"But we've not had good empirical research-based information that has
proven that, and that's what I think that study does."
Wahlstrom said the study also found
that schools shouldn't change principals just for the sake of change --
because turnover in leadership also hampers achievement.
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