What is Leadership?

Dear Editor,

In my 40-year career working in both urban and suburban communities, I have developed a deep appreciation for the educational profession through my service as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, instructional supervisor, director of curriculum, teaching and learning, and superintendent. Over those four decades, one lingering question has consistently surfaced: What is leadership, and what does it truly look like?

Is leadership measured by individual awards? By public recognition? Is it some combination of both? Or is authentic leadership grounded in student achievement and an unwavering belief that children must come first in every decision?

Throughout my career, I have witnessed leadership at its very best—and, at times, leadership that was deeply flawed. Those of us who have ascended to the highest levels of this profession understand that personal accolades, absent meaningful gains for students, carry little real value. Too often, awards and recognitions are manufactured, accompanied by caveats that quickly diminish their significance.

I have come to believe that individuals who relentlessly pursue the “award syndrome” are often less concerned with advancing student achievement than with enhancing their own résumés for the next opportunity. In doing so, they can inflict more harm than good upon the very institutions and communities they are entrusted to serve.

True educational leadership is not about self-promotion. It is about service, integrity, humility, and the courage to make decisions rooted in what is best for children—even when those decisions are difficult or unpopular. The lasting legacy of a leader should never be the plaques on a wall, but rather the lives improved, the opportunities created, and the students who succeed because an adult chose purpose over prestige.

Dr. Anthony C. Azar