What Does It Mean to Embody Transformational Leadership in Education?

The transformational leadership model has been adopted by school districts, universities, and other educational organizations since the 1990s. Originally viewed through the lens of business and government, transformational leadership is particularly effective in education because it involves shared visions of success. This model emphasizes collaboration, open communication, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

Principals, superintendents, and other leaders in educational spaces magnify positive impacts on students by adopting transformational leadership practices. They also support the growth of teachers and staff members into the next generation of educational leaders. Defining this leadership model is a good starting point on your way to becoming a transformational leader.

What is Transformational Leadership?

The concept of transformational leadership dates to the 1978 book Leadership by historian James MacGregor Burns. This book used historical examples to categorize past political leaders as transactional and transformational leaders. A transactional leader deploys penalties and rewards to motivate followers, while a transformational leader empowers followers to become leaders and work toward lasting change.

Transformational leaders give individual consideration to their followers’ personal and professional development as part of any initiative. They model desired behaviors, challenge the status quo in their organizations, and encourage followers to reach their best selves. Adherents to the transformative leader model follow principles identified in Michael Poutatine’s What is Transformation? including:

• Transformation requires assent to change
• Transformational change involves a letting go of the myth of control
• Transformational change always involves a broadening scope of worldview
• Transformation is always a movement toward a greater integrity of identity

In education, transformational leadership may involve an entire district, a single school, or an academic department. An example of this leadership model in education is a principal trying to improve academic performance in their school. This principal encourages teachers to innovate in their classrooms through professional development opportunities, open communication, and a shared vision for how the school should operate. By contrast, a transactional approach would use teacher compensation and reprimands to spur change.

Impacts of Transformational Leadership in Education

Measurements of educational success like standardized test scores are informed by many factors. A school or district’s financial resources, the socioeconomic background of student families, and state education policy are among the myriad determinants for academic performance. Decades of academic study, however, point to a connection between good educational leadership and student success.

A 2023 Wallace Foundation report compiled academic research to identify leaders’ impacts on their students. Large-scale studies involving different school types and sizes revealed that leadership effects were just below classroom factors in explaining student outcomes. The foundation also found that effective principals improved math and reading outcomes for students in another report.

An earlier analysis of academic research by Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) connects transformational leadership to these outcomes. McREL developed a framework for educational leadership based on 30 years of academic studies. The following characteristics of successful educational leaders overlap with the concepts of transformational leadership:

• Fosters shared beliefs and a sense of community and cooperation
• Has quality interactions with teachers and students
• Involves teachers in the design and implementation of policies
• A willingness to challenge the status quo
• Inspires and leads new and challenging innovations

Traits of Transformational Leaders in Education

Now that we’ve explored what transformational leadership is, the next step is understanding how leaders implement this model in educational settings. Transformational leaders are typically measured against traits called “the four Is.” These leadership elements include:

• Idealized Influence - Act as a role model for followers
• Inspirational Motivation - Inspiring followers toward a shared vision
• Individualized Consideration - Exhibiting genuine interest and concern for followers
• Intellectual Stimulation - Challenging themselves and others to innovate

Succeeding in the “four Is” requires enough humility to recognize that improvement is always possible and to prioritize the team over oneself. Transformational leaders can communicate and collaborate with different audiences, always with shared interests in mind. They can also recognize and develop follower talents to improve the individual and the organization.

Benefits of an Ed.D. for Transformational Leaders

An advanced degree in educational leadership can build further on skills learned in previous degree programs and workplaces. A Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) is a good fit for aspiring leaders because it focuses on applied research, whereas a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) centers on academic research. Coursework and dissertation requirements for the Ed.D. are geared toward how students can solve problems in the workplace.

If you want to become a transformational leader, it is a good idea to learn from an innovator in higher education. An Ed.D. from a leading university can connect you to faculty, colleagues, and learning resources necessary for career growth. St. Bonaventure University’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership builds on more than a decade of growth in online education to support future leaders.

Becoming a Transformational Leader at St. Bonaventure University

Our Online Ed.D. provides experienced professionals with opportunities to learn how to lead in education and other industries. The entirely online program can be completed in three years, with flexibility built into course schedules to accommodate working professionals. Successful applicants have earned master’s degrees from accredited universities and completed at least five years of professional experience.

Faculty members with experience as teachers, administrators, and consultants connect theoretical principles to real-world examples. Online Ed.D. candidates complete 60 credits of coursework designed for the educational challenges of the present and the future. Our Online Ed.D. curriculum includes coursework on subjects like:

• Analyzing Diversity Policy & Practices in Education
• Complexity, Communication, and Collaboration
• Introduction to Applied Research in Educational Leadership
• Introduction to Leadership Theories and Practices

We challenge the status quo among Ed.D. programs with a trio of dissertation options. The Dissertation in Practice requires in-depth research and problem-solving related to existing educational challenges. Students can use lessons learned through their coursework to solve problems in their current workplaces with the Dissertation in Praxis. The Dissertation in Planning asks Ed.D. candidates to craft education policy changes based on existing and new research.

Students in the Online Ed.D. benefit from our strong reputation for excellence, as confirmed by the U.S. News & World Report. Graduates join a global network of alumni who promote university values like compassion, integrity, and wisdom through their work. Learn how to lead with these values with St. Bonaventure University’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.