Over the last few decades, there has been much research into school effectiveness showing that the role of the school leader significantly influences the effectiveness of school performance. The significance of the school leader’s role stems from their position within the educational hierarchy and their duties. While, in theory, this position is at the bottom of such a hierarchy, it nevertheless plays a key communicative role between the upper and the lower leadership levels. Each program of educational policy created by the central administration is filtered by the school leadership. Therefore, the implementation of the educational program within individual schools is very much influenced by the abilities and psychology of the school leader. Indeed, in an appropriately organized educational system, the school leader plays the most serious and significant role in managing the human factor. This chapter is an an introduction to the science and practice of school leadership. In particular, this chapter:
Examines in brief the meaning, the significance and the functions of management within the school environment
Determines the significance of management as an art and as a science
Briefly presents the historical development of management thought
Describes the basic principles of management that can determine the strategy of an educational leader
Outlines the factors that make lifelong learning a necessity for educational leaders