Educational Leadership: The Relationship Between Spirituality and Leadership Practices

Abstract

Throughout American history, schools and educational leaders have been in the spotlight because ofthe eminent task of preparing the young of our nation for competition within a global economy and themarketplace of ideas. Educational leaders have moved through the stages of management, industrialefficiency, and cultural leadership finally concluding that school management requires more thanefficiency and organization (Brickham, 1996). With the advent of tough-minded management and therealization of the difference between a leader and a manager, combined with an increase in the highschool dropout rate, awareness developed that something was not working in American Schools(Batten, 1989). Changes in the organizational landscape of America gave rise to the idea of theprincipal as the cultural leader (Rollins and Roberts, 1998). This plan also, was doomed to demise. Thebeginning of accountability spurred the popularity of the idea of the principal as the instructional leader.This initiative was the basis for holding someone accountable when the school failed.