Leading Innovation in Education

Overview & Synopsis

Our education systems must provide access to quality and equitable educational opportunities so all students can reach their full potential. Increasingly urgent issues, such as environmental threats, economic crises, and the recent global pandemic, have highlighted the need for education systems to be flexible and resilient in times of stress to ensure there is no loss in learning for children. Leading innovation in education requires creating an environment that encourages creative thinking to solve education challenges and support continuous improvement. Teachers, principals, school counselors, advisors, administrative staff, NGO staff, government ministry officials, and all those in a position to guide actions that improve education and learning outcomes can be innovative leaders. This article describes implementations to innovation by answering questions like: what does it mean to lead change in schools and in education systems today?; what are the characteristics of a leader in education innovation?; and what are some challenges to fostering leadership for innovation in education?