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For me the ideal leader is someone who has a plan and knows where they want their library, business, school or what have you, to be. In a school, a librarian who is a leader understands her students, knows what the library needs and has the ability to manage the library and the students effectively. I think a leader should be someone who people look to for advice and who is good at solving problems. They are aware of what is new and up and coming and are excited to implement things they haven't tried before.
Additionally, for me, the perfect management style, the one that I like to employ and that I like to work under is one that is more friendly and team work based. I like to work with a supervisor who trusts me enough to give me a lot of free reign, but is interested in what I am doing and aware of the successes and what still needs to be done. I don't like to work in fear but prefer to be in an environment where I want to make my boss proud.
-Erica

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For me, a school leader is someone who embraces technology and allocates substantial funds toward revolutionizing the way in which students learn (i.e. iPads, various web applications,  Promethean Boards, laptops/Chromebooks for every students, etc.).
Additionally, I would like to see a leader who is present. At both of the districts where I work(ed), I could go days without seeing the principal. I know they are VERY busy, but I think it's essential that children see the principal on a daily basis.
I also think a strong leader is someone who advocates for the students. A leader knows their students and can foresee a need before it arises. My current principal frequently holds grade level meetings and I think that's so important. She checks in with the students not only to address issues (i.e. appropriate dress, no cell phones, etc.), but also to give them a safe place to voice their concerns.

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I respond well to a leader that has  informed goals and a vision.
With that vision in mind, making choices daily and in policy to make it happen.
Last a pincipal that will collaborate with teachers to re evaluate policy when nessesary. Sometimes a Macro view just can not see what the micro view sees.
One person already mentioned being a visonary. This is so true, but it can't be done without a strong knowlege base, accepting parents and teacher for who they are, and providing them with the opporunity to suceed on thier own terms WHILE working towards the vision.
There are personality traits that can facilitate the vision.
-Willingingness to hear people out, even when thier mind is made up.
-Being approachable in the face of anger and disapointment.
-Willingness to change that vision if it does not serve the students best interests.

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My ideal school leader would be someone who is firm, direct but understanding. I want someone who is able to give constructive criticism. I have seen leaders who are either too harsh, or too lenient, giving many people high scores because it is easier than giving advice and maybe hurting someones feelings. My ideal leader would understand the importance of a strong school library as the center and heart of a school. I did not get to go to NJASL last year, and it's because it was not understood how important it would be for me and my professional development. An ideal leader for me would trust and understand my professional vision and opinions for my school library (which my current principal does).

-Danielle

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Visionary, In Touch & Participative in Management

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Visionary, In Touch & Participative in Management

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Having worked as a librarian in a school for five years now, I can see where my principal's strengths lie, and I can see what I would wish for in an ideal principal.  Our principal has the first quality on my "ideal principal list" down pat:

1.  Be visionary.  This quality is one of the qualities mentioned in the "What Amazing Principals Do" Wordpress post on the playlist.  Having a principal who lacks vision is going to sap the energies and passions of librarians, teachers, staff, and ultimately students.  I think of the proverb: "Without vision, the people perish."  My ideal principal would be open to and able to catch a dynamic vision for the library: including the importance of reading and the need for the library to be the inquiry and learning hub of the school.  If the principal is someone who is open to change and able to think like a visionary, and if he or she is open to catching an inspiring vision for the evolving library and its programs, then we will be off to great start.

2.  The second quality is extremely essential, and unfortunately, while my current principal is visionary, this second quality is lacking.  I need a principal who is "in touch" with his faculty and staff.  I need a principal who "is visible" (as mentioned in the "What Amazing Principals Do" post), and who understands and sees what his teachers and librarian(s) do, and who has a very accurate, real sense of their jobs.  My principal, and really most of the administrative team, is extremely removed from what we do and from how our day-to-day schedules and jobs are actually run.  If he would only spend some time in the library, it wouldn't take long for him to get a sense of how things work.  But the administration is never to be seen in the library, or really most anywhere except in their administrative building. Even though we reach out and try to communicate all that we're doing, it doesn't ever seem to truly sink in.  The distance remains.  The impact of this is substantial, and it's very challenging.

3.  My ideal principal would also practice a participative style of management.  Currently, I would say that our school operates according to a consultive style of management.  Teachers' and librarians' opinions are asked some of the time, but we all very clearly understand that, ultimately, what we think or say is not a deciding factor.  Ultimately, decisions are made centrally, by administration.  Therefore, I understand how helpful it could be to have a principal who, instead, earnestly involved people in decision-making, with the primary stakeholders able to have significant input into the final decisions.

A principal who is visionary, yet in touch and participative in leadership could be such a force for good, empowering workers to achieve their full potential.
~Melissa

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My ideal principal would be one who has an understanding of what the library does and how advantageous & educational having a functioning, well-equipped library is. Barring that, I would say my top 3 characteristics of an ideal principal consists of a willingness to learn more about the library even if it means change to what's always been done, a passion for student achievement that focuses on the individual students rather than scores on a test, and a leader who makes the tough decisions about change and backs up his teachers and librarians. I was a little surprised when reading/listening to the lectures about how even the "good" types of leadership are rarely effective on their own, but it made sense- too lenient and it's possible to get stuck doing the same thing year after year, but too authoritarian and you risk alienating your employees. The ideal leader for me would be one that encompasses that mix of authoritarian/progress and supportive/team-orientive. That middle-of-the-road leadership style that walks between relationship-motivated and task-motivated is one that I know would push us to be better and change if necessary while maintaining a supportive relationship that acknowledges your expertise in your field.
-Rachael

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I like to consider myself a school leader. I am a person that faculty, teachers, students and administration can turn to with any type of need. I will help find the answer or resource, especially if it is not book related! I like to be the one stop shop of all things that need information or assistance. I am able to stand my ground as an individual and not be taken advantage of, this is most important in a school leader as you can give yourself into a situation where you are enabling others to not do things for themselves. I like to educate how to solve the problem while helping them locate the correct information or resource.
-Laura

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I have had a variety of Principals and the ones that are most successful are the ones that are not just appointed leaders but authoritative, approachable, understanding and open to suggestions and ideas. While it would be difficult to find someone who wholly exhibits all these traits, it is possible to dabble in the categories. The least successful Principals tend to be the ones who are more concerned with doing their job than insuring that the teachers are able to do theirs.

-Laura

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As a librarian, my top three characteristics in a school leader would be something like the following:
1.) Puts the students' interests first.  An ideal leader would make it a priority to support actual student learning over test scores or budget concerns. I understand that this is not always realistic in today's educational climate, but we are talking about ideals here. Furthermore, I believe, and I think the research supports this, that prioritizing learning will naturally lead to higher test scores. The important thing is to make kids excited about learning, and everything else follows naturally. Related to this is:
2.) Recognizes the value of the library and allocates resources accordingly. Of course, my ideal administrator would provide the resources necessary to make my own educational vision a reality. This may sound selfish, but I am working from an assumption of prioritizing student interests.
3.) Is adaptable and open-minded. As we saw in so much of our reading/viewing this week, a growth mindset involves constant change and self-evaluation. A great leader does not stop trying to improve, but always evolves and encourages others to do the same. As we saw, this is the difference between management and leadership.

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An ideal school leader would not necessarily be an administrator. It would be someone who can communicate across the natural cliques or groups of the school and recognize the common goals of the staff. A leader would welcome change and trial, and be an early adopter (or at least someone who tries things out.) An ideal leader has the knowledge of curriculum/state laws/requirements/etc, but never forgets that he or she is dealing with humans, both children and adults. An ideal leader promotes thinking like "We're doing great..but what else can we do better? or how can we share that success?"

Sarah

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As a librarian the 3 characteristics I would most like to see in my principal are:
1. to support and value reading
2. to be approachable
3.to recognize my knowledge within my discipline
(Opposite of Principal X!)
Other characteristics would be someone who sees the big picture of learning, but is willing to talk about the smaller day to day components. I would also appreciate a principal who would encourage teachers to make use of the library.
Sarah