Programs that prepare educational leaders via field-based performance activities, or work out in the field of education, are key to their preparedness in taking on important leadership positions quickly. An effective field-based activity involves the alignment of curricula to standards, providing assurance that curricula meet rigorous state and national expectations, which flow directly into the assessments that hold students accountable for success or failure. A close review of standards can be a learning experience, forcing potential leaders into a deep look at existing curricula.
Teacher professional development is a mandate at most levels of education, and can make the difference in the delivery of instruction. Planning, organizing and delivering a course for teacher professional development is a performance-based activity that can teach prospective educational leaders volumes about what teachers need, what their strengths are, and how to meet their needs as they leverage them with individual and collective teacher strengths through an organized professional-development curriculum.
All curriculum programs need piloting, or trialing prior to actual purchase. Field-testing potential curricula through an effective pilot program can inform educators as to how to spend valuable educational dollars, and what curricula will achieve the highest results. Taking the lead on this field-testing and pilot is good practice for future leaders in education, forcing them to plan, survey teachers, organize data and make decisions about curricula.
Taking the lead in before- and after-school programs teaches educators how schools are run on a smaller, manageable scale, and is an opportunity for valuable experience in the day-to-day operations of a school without the day-to-day interruptions. Such programs can involve students who need additional help in school and are in jeopardy of failing, or students who want to take advantage of enrichment opportunities. Structuring the programs as tutoring sessions, small groups with low teacher-student ratios, or a combination of all are options that provide opportunities for important decision-making. The planning, organizing and maintenance of before- and after-school programs can provide high-level learning opportunities in educational management.