Deborah Meier and Joe Nathan discuss the most important qualities of school leadership. 

Joe begins with two questions for Deborah.

Deb, you've helped start a number of schools and led at least two (maybe more).  So here are two questions for you:  What are the most important qualities of a school's leader? Or are there different qualities involved, depending on whether you are starting a school or, coming in after someone else led it at the beginning?

Deb responds 
That's a meaty question, which, no surprise, the answer depends on the kind of school you want to run, the nature of the obstacles you face, the amount of power you hold, and....My dilemma is that if one wants to build a school that outlasts you and the school's mission then it rests on your ability to develop colleagues (parents and staff) that can lead themselves without you while upholding democratic practices  then that's one problem.  If one want to start (or maintain) a school that is unlikely to rub anyone the wrong way and intends just to get somewhat better test scores and graduation statistics without rocking any boats or un-doing the school's norms--that's another problem altogether.   Yes, it's easier to start from scratch, especially if your aim is to remain small and democratic.  Then a good leader is defined as one who builds into the school and its constituents the skills needed to nourish and sustain it, as well as to respond skillfully to attacks on it--without you. 
I think the success of Mission Hill--its staying power-- might be related to the fact that I was in the hospital for several critical months during our first year--January through March. But I didn't succeed in doing it for CPESS.

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