Leaders Vs. Managers

Focuses on maintaining structure and organization.

Ensures policies and procedures are followed correctly.

Makes decisions based on long-term impact, not just immediate results.

Motivates through accountability and expectations.

Empowers staff to take ownership of school initiatives.

Considers both data and teacher/student experiences before making decisions.

Inspires staff to feel ownership over the school’s mission.

Encourages innovation and risk-taking among staff.

Conducts required performance evaluations for all teachers.

Uses only quantitative data (test scores, attendance) to make school decisions.

Encourages staff and students to take initiative.

Monitors school performance data to ensure compliance.

Sees mistakes as learning opportunities for growth.

Creates a shared vision for the school’s future.

Focuses on fixing immediate problems rather than addressing root causes.

Meets regularly with students, teachers, and parents to hear concerns.

Delegates responsibilities to ensure efficiency.

Implements top-down decisions without teacher input.

Creates standardized rules for handling disciplinary issues.

Provides clear instructions to ensure tasks are completed on time.

Ensures attendance records and schedules are updated daily.

Provides constructive feedback in one-on-one meetings.

Builds trust by being visible and present in classrooms and hallways.

Implements district-mandated initiatives as instructed.

Ensures all staff submit their lesson plans on time.

Adjusts school-wide goals based on community and staff input.

Seeks feedback before making major policy changes.

Fosters a positive school culture by celebrating teacher and student success.

Focuses primarily on daily operations and logistics.

Ensures compliance with all district HR policies and procedures.

Encourages open dialogue about school challenges.

Provides information about school changes without room for discussion.

Uses email as the primary way to communicate with staff.

Works to develop leadership capacity in teachers.

Listens actively to staff concerns before making decisions.