Definitions of effective instructional leadership inadequately address supervision and strategic deployment of student support personnel as critical resources for school success. Counselors, psychologists, social workers and other professional support staff can play a vital role in responding to changing societal and student needs and helping the school achieve its goals. Engagement of their skills and understanding expands professional discourse, improves teaching and learning, and helps the school reach new levels of effectiveness. School leadership must be informed, focused and strategic in maximizing the use of such personnel to carry out the school's mission. Practicing principals and university professors preparing future school principals must include student support personnel as a critical focus for strategic instructional leadership.
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