ROLE 7: SCHOOL LEADER
Creating Conditions for Learning to Thrive
Joellen Killion often speaks about leadership not as a position, but as a responsibility to create the right conditions for learning. In her experience, the most effective school leaders don’t try to manage every initiative; they focus on coherence, clarity, and consistency.
In this learning series of the 10 roles of a coach outlined in Joellen’s book “Taking the Lead”, Role 7 is the School Leader role in coaching. This role is less about directing instruction and more about shaping the environment in which instruction improves. Leaders influence learning through the priorities they name, the time they protect, and the messages they reinforce day after day.
In literacy work, this role becomes especially important during times of change. When leaders anchor decisions in shared purpose, educators feel supported rather than pulled in multiple directions. When leadership actions align with instructional goals, learning feels intentional rather than reactive.
Joellen emphasizes that leaders don’t have to have all the answers. What matters most is modeling learning; asking thoughtful questions, listening to educators, and staying focused on what supports students best.
Action Step:
Identify one literacy priority and examine whether your time, messaging, and decisions consistently support it.
If you’re looking for space to reflect, learn, and apply alongside others, the Learning Forward Georgia Winter PL Conference is designed for that.
Bring a colleague or your team along as Joellen Killion will lead the keynote and an insightful breakout session in Atlanta, GA on February 27, 2026, at the Learning Forward Georgia Winter Conference.