Leadership Influences on Student Learning: 1

As a school leader, how many different groups/individuals do you influence (or are you influenced by) on a daily basis?  Have you ever considered the sheer number?  Research supports the idea that the role of principal is closely linked to more groups/individuals than any other role.  Consider the figure below:

By count, there are eight different groups that have some sort of influence on principals.  However, there are also five groups that principals directly influence.  Although, student learning is not in a direct line with school leadership, the role of principal directly influences three separate groups that have direct influences on student learning. 

It is a very sobering thought that the role of principal has so much influence.  Yet it also should be very exciting that the role of principal is so ripe with opportunities for influencing student learning.  As a principal/school leader are you maximizing the opportunities that present themselves when working with the many different groups you have influence with?

Louis, K. S., Leithwood, K., Wahlstrom, K., A., & Anderson, S. E. (2010).  Investigating links to improved student learning. The Wallace Foundation.  http://www.wallacefoundation.org/KnowledgeCenter/KnowledgeTopics/CurrentAreasofFocus/EducationLeadership/Documents/Learning-from-Leadership-Investigating-Links-Final-Report.pdf