Ethics and Leadership: School Administrator Interviews

Introduction

Morals, philosophies, and core beliefs are essential societal aspects. The shared morals, philosophies, and values adhered to across a social order are considered the basic foundations of any society. Leaders play a fundamental role in forming communities that are not only thriving but also effective. On an everyday basis, leaders participate in decision-making that substantially affects the lives of their subordinates and followers. Among the most important leaders in contemporary society are educational leaders, who significantly influence the lives of students.

Leaders ought to make decisions that prompt constructive change in the social order, particularly with respect to education. Simply remaining comfortable with the existing state of affairs is not adequate. Taking this into consideration, it becomes clear why the values held and adhered to by a leader are pivotal. The ethical context of leadership within an educational setting has a direct impact on followers, which reflects the considerable influence a leader holds. As a result, the system of values, morals, and beliefs demonstrated by leaders within the school setting should mirror the morals and philosophies of all stakeholders.

Summary of Administrator Interviews

For this reflective paper, I interviewed three administrators within the school setting. Administrator 1 is the school principal. Administrator 2 is an assistant principal. Administrator 3 is an assistant principal who also serves as the athletic director.

Each interviewee was asked the same set of five questions regarding ethical standpoints:

1. What does the term "ethics" mean to you as a practicing school leader?
2. What are a few of your absolute ethics that cannot and will not be compromised under any circumstance?
3. What is an ethical person in your opinion?
4. What is the most challenging ethic for a current school leader, and why?
5. What ethical considerations must be addressed in your role in the school or district organization?

These open-ended questions gave the interviewees the opportunity to provide extensive responses. All responses were sincere and direct. In addition, key themes emerged from the common threads across responses.

After analyzing the interview notes, it is clear that all three administrators considered the term "ethics" to involve being aligned with and compliant with the law. The school principal was keen to point out that values and the law are not always in alignment, and that he is inclined to follow his values when he believes the law to be incorrect. He stated: "The two don't always align. I often lean to the side of values when I don't believe the law is correct." Similarly, the assistant principal emphasized that ethics continually evolve and carry different meanings for different individuals. I agree with the statements of all three practicing school leaders, who are expected to make daily decisions based on their ethical values while simultaneously adhering to the law — a balance that is essential to influencing their followers in a constructive manner.

The second interview question asked each administrator to identify their individual absolute ethics — those that cannot and will not be compromised under any circumstance. This question is important because leaders frequently face decisions and actions that may conflict with their fundamental values and beliefs. How a leader responds in those moments speaks to their effectiveness. One shared theme identified by two of the administrators was integrity and honesty. One administrator stated plainly: "I will not tell untruths to a child." Respect and equity were other values the administrators would not compromise. One assistant principal noted that she cannot tolerate "any staff member that is disrespectful to kids, or anyone who purposefully tries to fail students."

The administrators were also asked who they consider an ethical person to be. The most common response was that an ethical individual is one who does the right thing even in difficult circumstances and even when doing so is not the popular choice. The principal added that an ethical person is reflective, understands the limitations of their own perspective, and consistently works to comfort the afflicted and challenge the comfortable. I am particularly in agreement with these perspectives, as I consider an ethical person to be one who adheres to moral standards at all times, regardless of the circumstances they face.

The interview also asked participants about the ethical considerations specific to their individual roles within the school or district. According to the principal, the ethical considerations he must address include deciding whether to side with teachers or students regarding grades and self-confidence, navigating issues between teachers and parents, and handling matters involving teachers themselves. The assistant principal responsible for administrative oversight identified checks and balances as a key ethical concern, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that no single individual is permitted to sign off unilaterally on decisions, and advocating for reporting on a twice-weekly or quarterly basis. The assistant principal who also serves as athletic director stated that he is "responsible for making sure that all students follow all of the promotional requirements."

Regarding the most challenging ethical issue for a school leader, the principal identified understanding the distinction between influence and power. He explained: "I have more influence than anyone else, but I don't hold the power." The assistant principal reflected on how her perspective on ethics had evolved over time. In her current role, she noted that she now sees the interworking of various systems and has a broader understanding of how things operate at scale — shaped significantly by her interactions with families. The athletic director described the ethical challenge he faces daily as avoiding the preferential treatment of student athletes. He stated: "One ethical consideration I face daily as the Athletic Director and Head Basketball coach is preferential treatment of my athletes in school." He added that he works hard not to treat them more favorably and instead holds them to higher academic, behavioral, and moral standards than their non-athlete peers.

Conclusion and Reflection

This paper underscores the importance of morals, values, and philosophies held by leaders. Leaders have the potential to significantly influence the individuals who look up to them. This is especially true within the school setting, where students not only look to principals and teachers as role models but are also shaped by the values and standards established within their schools.

From my own perspective, I believe that school leaders must embody ethical standards in their actions and behaviors, largely because they are expected to make important decisions on a daily basis. Those decisions must reflect the highest moral standards. Furthermore, having a strong ethical foundation enables leaders to make the right choices even when regulations conflict with moral values. The interviews conducted and the analysis undertaken both suggest that the school administrators, as well as the institution as a whole, adhere to well-established ethical standards and values.

As noted by researchers in the field of school leadership, the ethical dimensions of a leader's role are inseparable from their effectiveness. I believe that values, morals, and beliefs are pivotal for any leader, and that school leaders in particular ought to embrace and epitomize moral values and standards at all times given their profound impact on students.

References

Noble Network of Charter Schools. (2017). Staff Handbook.

Noble Network of Charter Schools. (2017). Student and Parent Handbook.