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Leadership Development

Leadership Self-Review Tool (LSRT)

The Leadership Self-Review Tool (LSRT) was developed to help school boards assess the support they offer their school leaders. This tool is designed to enable boards to plan implementation of the tool in their own districts.

It includes:

• recommendations for effective use of the tool
• the survey itself
• a gap analysis scoring sheet
• reviews of the research on leadership and student achievement
• reports on the piloting of the tool in five school boards.

Boards have the flexibility to determine how they will use the tool and can tailor aspects of the survey to their own context.

• A Letter to Directors of Education from the Institute for Education Leadership (PDF, 35 KB)
• Acknowledgements (PDF, 48 KB)

The LSRT is built on part two of the Ontario Leadership Framework (OLF). The OLF has evolved since its conception; the most recent changes reflected in the August 2008 OLF document are not yet reflected in the LSRT. Boards are encouraged to adapt the LSRT to meet their board needs.

The LSRT

• Instructions and Recommendations to Boards for Effective Use of the Tool (PDF, 160 KB)

Instructions for use, along with advice to boards on how best to approach the implementation of the Leadership Self-Review Tool. A four-stage approach – plan, study, reflect, act – is recommended.

• The Survey (PDF, 592 KB)

Designed to be completed by system and school leaders, as well as aspiring leaders and consultants, the survey sets out examples of successful board leadership development practices and asks leaders to rate their own board's performance with respect to those practices.

• Gap Analysis Scoring Sheet (PDF, 160 KB)

A tool to assist boards in analysing the results of their surveys.

Reports on the Piloting of the LSRT

• Piloting the LSRT – Two Reports by Barbara Bodkin (PDF, 20 KB)

Information about piloting the Leadership Self-Review Tool in five school boards in Ontario and about the two reports commissioned by the Ministry of Education on the implementation and use of the tool by the pilot boards.

• Report 1: Implementation of the LSRT in Five School Boards (PDF, 80 KB)

A report prepared by Barbara Bodkin on the design and implementation of the Leadership Self-Review Tool by five pilot school boards in spring 2006. Each board used a different approach to implementation, and their experiences are summarized in the report. Boards may find the observations and recommendations presented in the report useful in planning their own implementation.

• Report 2: Use of the LSRT to Support Leadership Development in Five School Boards (PDF, 72 KB)

A report prepared by Barbara Bodkin on the ways in which the five pilot boards used the Leadership Self-Review Tool as part of their leadership development planning process.

Literature Reviews

• An Overview of the Research on Leadership and Student Achievement (2006PDF, 164 KB)

A brief overview of the research related to the domains of the LSRT survey. The board planning team may choose to include this document in the distribution package for survey respondents. The team might also find the report useful in generating discussion during a planned pre-survey activity for respondents.

• A Detailed Review of the Research on Leadership and Student Achievement (2006PDF, 252 KB)

A more extensive review of the research, providing a more in-depth view of the role of system leaders in supporting principals and thereby promoting student achievement in their boards. The board planning team might find the detailed review useful as they plan for implementation or for other aspects of leadership development in their boards.