The Future of Educational Administration is behind Us *

Abstract

Scholars and practicing administrators face rapid change and information overload in their respective roles in educational leadership. These forces are pushing professors of educational administration to stress skills in mixed scanning and visioning to future school leaders. These critical skills will assist these leaders to navigate through the currents of complex social change and political waves of criticism, conservatism, and greater cries for accountability of the education dollar. The challenges these forces bring require school administrators to quickly frame problems, use targeted information, and inspire others to share a vision about schools which serve all children and youth. To develop these school leaders for the years ahead, professors must model and teach students to be visionary men and women who center their lives on the following three anchors: the capacity to care deeply for others, the ability to communicate a clear message in simple, persuasive words, and the commitment to persist under the most difficult of circumstances.