Introduction
The key factors selected for analysis from the file are school improvement change initiative for climate change and school leadership for environmental degradation. The current status of the climate change and environmental degradation in a school district in New Jersey can be described as one which has resulted into changes on education thus affecting the normal school operations. For example, air pollution can cause respiratory problems and other health issues, making it difficult for students to concentrate. The degradation of the natural environment can also make it more difficult for schools to provide students with access to outdoor learning opportunities.
Literature Review
Many factors, including fast social change, and the impact of technology, have had an effect on educational leadership in recent years. According to Browne (2021), there exist many pressing problems in educational leadership which impact any proposed change initiative program. The author suggests solutions based on the most up-to-date research and practices that have been shown to improve student results and teacher retention. A school change initiative program needs to be maximum oriented and should have large-scale impact for the problem being solved. Additionally, there is always a need for all school partners to work collaboratively to realize their visions and values towards a leading change.
Additionally, school leaders play a critical role in solving challenging issues which often require unique and special traits. According to Chun et al. (2022), school leaders are tasked with developing change management initiatives in a coordinated manner to create long lasting solutions. School leaders need to think the change management process in three phases which are designing, transferring and implementation phases as it will help provide planning models and solutions.
Consequently, effective school leadership for change initiative should be based on knowledge and experience gained from research. According to Hutton (2018), school leaders need to have an underlying and basic premise which entails having a clear understanding of how change leadership works and explore its dimensions, elements and components before implementing. These aspects shape a basic working behavior of the leaders. In addition, school leaders should adopt a conceptual framework for change initiative which elaborates on six dimensions of change.
School leadership networks also play a critical role in ensuring effective school leadership and management. According to Leithwood (2019), school leaders need to possess effective school leadership networks characteristics which aid in the development of an individual and their collective professional capacities. The analytical study revealed that leadership networks are important as they enhance inspirational motivation and transformational approaches to leadership which aid in change management processes.
Equality in a change initiative program also plays a critical role in ensuring that all stakeholders are kept on board. A study by Radd (2021) revealed that there are five factors which aid in equity-focuses school leadership. According to the study, these factors include race, disability, language, religion and socioeconomics. All stakeholders need to be given equal chances in participating in the drafting of a change model without any form of biasness based on the identified factors.
Planning Model
Creating a planning model for climate change and environmental degradation requires a comprehensive approach that considers multiple factors, including the causes, effects, and potential solutions to these challenges. Schools provide a wide range of educational needs, both time-tested and cutting-edge, to meet the requirements of their students (Helen & Gloria, 2020). An initiative in the school would be to choose, implement, and maintain a new program. There are several measures that may be implemented to counteract the negative effects of climate change on education. School leaders and students need to be made aware of the problem and its significance if they are to take any kind of action to prevent further damage to the environment (Casazza et al., 2021). Environmental education courses and local outreach activities are two examples of educational programs and initiatives that might help achieve this goal.
Taking measures to lessen environmental degradation and waste is also crucial. This may include promoting the use of eco-friendly products and transportation options, as well as instituting recycling programs and decreasing the usage of single-use plastics (Casazza et al., 2021). Green energy source and energy-efficient building design are only two examples of the ways in which educational institutions may aim to preserve energy and lower their carbon footprint.
Changes Expected, Not Expected and Consequences
Planning is an essential process for any organizations that want to achieve their goals and objectives effectively. Some of the strength of the above planning model include provision of a clear direction, ensures adequate resource allocation to mitigate environmental degradation and minimization of potential risks such as global warming issues (Casazza et al., 2021). The weaknesses of the model include being time-consuming, inflexible and resulting into unrealistic outcomes.
Changes expected as a consequence of the change plan include changes in processes and procedures which can result in changes to the way the school operates, including changes in processes and procedures. Similarly, the change plan may result in changes to the roles and responsibilities of school leaders, requiring them to take on new tasks or responsibilities. Changes that might be unexpected include stakeholder’s resistance to the change plan, resulting in delays (Rjoub et al., 2021). Similarly, a change plan may result in unforeseen costs that were not considered in the planning model process (Rjoub et al., 2021). Responses to these consequences may include communication, identification of potential risks and plan for contingencies to minimize the impact of unforeseen events and creating flexible plans which are adaptable to changes in the environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the success of any school improvement initiative depends on the ability of education leaders to anticipate and respond to the challenges that may arise during the implementation of the change plan. This requires a deep understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the planning process, as well as the potential consequences of the changes being proposed. The proposed planning model for the environmental degradation and climate change issue is creating awareness of the problem and its significance if school leaders are to take any kind of action to prevent further damage to the environment. Some of the key measures that can be taken include environmental education courses and local outreach activities.
The key strengths of the planning model suggested include provision of a clear direction which ensures adequate resource allocation to mitigate environmental degradation and minimization of potential risks such as global warming. The weaknesses of the model include the aspect of being time-consuming, inflexible and resulting into unrealistic outcomes. The possible changes as a result of adoption of the planning model include changes in processes and procedures and changes to the roles and responsibilities of school leaders. Unexpected changes may include delays and emergence of unforeseen costs. However, the school leaders may respond to these consequences by having clear lines of communication and creating effective risk management procedures.
References
Browne, L. (2021). Effective school leadership in challenging time: A practice-first, theory-informed approach. Routledge.
Casazza, G., Abeli, T., Bacchetta, G., Dagnino, D., Fenu, G., Gargano, D. & Rossi, G. (2021). Combining conservation status and species distribution models for planning assisted colonisation under climate change. Journal of Ecology, 109(6), 2284-2295.
Chun, J., Tingley, T., & Lidwell, W. (2022). The elements of education for school leaders. Taylor & Francis.
Fisher, D., Frey, N., Smith, D., & Hattie, J. (2020). The distance learning playbook for school leaders. Corwin Press.
Helen, A. & Gloria A., K. (2020). Enhancing the sustainability of school improvement initiatives. Journal for school effectiveness and school improvement, 31(4), 660-678. Web.
Hutton, D. M. (2018). Leadership performance model for the effective school principal. Journal of School Leadership, 27(4), 553–580. Web.
Leithwood, K. (2018). Characteristics of effective leadership networks: A replication and extension. School Leadership & Management, 39(2), 1–23. Web.
Radd, S. (2021). Five practices for equity-focused school leadership. ASCD.
Rjoub, H., Odugbesan, J. A., Adebayo, T. S., & Wong, W. K. (2021). Sustainability of the moderating role of financial development in the determinants of environmental degradation: evidence from Turkey. Sustainability, 13(4), 1844. Web.