Team Leadership

Generally, the designated leader of the SLT is not the principal.  The work of the team requires a time commitment that is generally beyond what a school principal can free up.  So, selecting a person to lead the team is critical to the success of the team.  The team leader needs to have a trusted relationship with the school leader.  They need to be able to communicate regularly, especially around resources.

Key SLT Leadership Characteristics:

The essential characteristics of the SLT membership are Leadership and Expertise. The SLT must have both to be effective. The SLT needs to have a committed person in a leadership position who can make decisions about budget, time allocation, and assignments. 

• LEADERSHIP: An administrator who can make decisions, nurture, and encourage their team.
• EXPERTISE: A mental health professional, school counselor, nurse, health educator, or teacher who has a background in human development, human behavior, school climate and academics.

Two Types of Leaders are defined as:

• Formal/Positional Leaders have a position (like president, CEO, principal, assistant principal) that defines their specific leadership responsibilities.
• Informal Leaders influence others through relationships without having a formal leadership position.

The formal leader (principal/director/head) must play a role in developing the team and must be supportive of the team efforts.  In planning, there needs to be an understanding of the distinction between school leadership and team leadership.

Here are some of the tasks for which team leaders are responsible:

• Liaison with the school and district leader
• Establish a clear vision,
• Share the vision with others so they will follow willingly,
• Provide support, information, knowledge, and strategies to realize that vision, and coordinate and balance any conflicting interests of all members and stakeholders.