Shaping the School-Wide Learning Environment Through Supervisory Leadership

• In Event: Intents, Enactors, and Outcomes of Educational Supervision

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors characterize supervision in the broadest terms, suggesting that supervision includes a full array of leadership and organizational policies and practices intended to support and improve a school’s teaching and learning environment. That is, a school leader’s supervisory responsibilities go far beyond that of routine classroom observations, annual teacher performance evaluations, or even faculty development. Rather, supervisory leadership responsibilities include shaping school conditions that promote the central educational mission of effective teaching and learning. To achieve these goals, the chapter authors review literature on school leadership and the learning climate and instructional capacity elements of an effective school learning environment. The authors suggest and discuss supervisory leadership practices that can favorably shape a school’s learning environment.

Authors

• Erin Anderson, University of Denver

• Diana G. Pounder, University of Utah