Shared Leadership for School Communities: Characteristics, Practices, and Effects

Abstract

This capstone study examines shared leadership in response to increasingly diverse student needs. Drawing upon and optimizing the unique knowledge, skills, and expertise of teacher leaders positively affects staff efficacy and student achievement. First, a shared leadership model possesses the key characteristics, evidence-based practices, and competencies of a shared vision, trust, efficacy, and positive relationships. Leaders must facilitate the collaborative creation of a clear school vision to increase student success and achievement, and they must build relationships and trust by actively listening and trusting the expertise of teachers, supporting teachers, building a shared vision, and giving teachers a voice. Leaders must also increase teacher efficacy by promoting a strong culture of training and collaborative instructional work. Second, this study shows the positive effect that shared leadership has on student achievement, team effectiveness, and team goal achievement. Finally, this capstone study presents recommendations on the implementation of shared leadership in response to the increasingly diverse needs of students. These recommendations are recruiting high-quality principals; creating a shared school vision; cultivating of a safe and collaborative school culture; promoting professional learning communities; developing relationships, trust, and teacher voice; building teacher capacity; and supporting teachers while ensuring accountability.