"There is a profound difference between management and leadership, and both are important. To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, to conduct. Leading is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action, opinion. The distinction is crucial" - Warren Bennis
As many of my classmates have already posted there is to some extent a fine line between managing and leading and in many cases that line can be unclear. In my opinion it is safe to say that each involves the other to some degree. One can not be an effective manager without some basic understanding of leadership just as a good leader must have the ability to manage certain aspects of the job. While there is definitely a difference between managers and leaders I feel that many times that line can be blurred for a number of reasons and change change throughout the day.
Managers in my understanding simply do what needs to be done for the sake of getting it done. I think of this in terms of having a "to do list", a manager would likely only do what is on the list, nothing more. Whereas a leader would be more likely to complete the list and then go above and beyond doing things that would make the jobs of others easier. Essentially doing things for the greater good and success of the team.
In terms of personal experience regarding technology and the difference between leaders and managers I have a few sources to draw from. When I worked in Detroit because of their budget constraints, high rate of theft and destruction of school property, and the "management style" of the administration at that time, technology was not anywhere on the "list" of what was important to the success of the students, school, and district. Their focus was on working metal detectors, campus police, patrolling the hallways and parking lots, and maintaining the building (lights, water fountains, bathrooms, etc). While I understand the hesitation of the administration to make purchases when in their mind they would just be throwing away money, it seems to me that it was a decision based on the need to save money not the needs of the students. The administrator at the time was under pressure to keep costs down and enrollment up, he was very much into maintaining "status quo". Being that this administrator did not fully realize that advancements in technology would likely encourage student attendance and achievement, he was definitely more of a manager than leader in terms of technology. It is my understanding that this particular school has since been closed.
The administrator I work with now is completely opposite in terms of leadership style and views on technology. I consider him to be a leader in most every way; he is visible on campus, the students know and respect him, he is most always available to listen to requests for technology purchases and makes it a point (to the extent possible with our budget situation) to ensure that all students have access to said technology. Most administrators have a focus on the two main subjects (English and math since that is what accounts for their scores), however our prinipal seems to realize that English and math happens in other classes as well. For example I teach biology, earth science, and health - within my special education classes we focus on graphing, statistics, reading, and writing (my biology class just finished an essay) as well as the sciences and health. When I approached him earlier this year with a request for technology he wanted to know who would benefit, how it would be used, and to what extent it would improve my instruction and by December we were able to get LCDs and Elmos for our content area teachers within special education. He has made using and accessing technology a priority for both teachers and students at our site as well as the district level. Even with funding being virtually non-existant he has ensured that the core content area classrooms are equipped with LCDS, interwrite boards, scientific equipment, etc to the extent possible. Under his leadership we have instituted the Apple 24/7 program where select students recieve an Apple laptop for the year to be used in classes and at home to help these students become more interested in technology and learning. I could go on and on about how he has changed our school for the better in terms of technology (and other aspects as well) however, it is clear he is more of a leader than a manager and it shows in everything that has been accomplished in the four short years he has been with us.
Angela, you have definitely experienced the opposite end of the spectrum with these two principals. Luckily, my principal, while recognizing the possibility of damage and theft, has not let him keep from making the necessary purchases for technology to be available for teachers and students. A major problem though recently as been being able to find in the budget the funds for the technology that has broken or become obsolete. If he has the funds he will replace it, but sometimes he has to take from Peter to pay Paul.
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