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Why School Leadership?
School leaders play a critical role in ensuring that teachers are supported and
students have learning experiences that set them up for success in life. Yet school leaders’ voices are often underrepresented in the global education space. We know that the prolonged school disruption due to the pandemic has resulted in many challenges in school communities. Given this, school leaders become the center where opinions and visions are gathered and synthesized and where policies are contextualized and translated at the school level.
School Leaders are critical to ensuring schools work for all students.
Deepen knowledge
and share perspectives
Deepen trust between school leaders and policymakers
Design for network-led global community
2021
Since 2021, we have engaged over 165 Educational Leadership Experts from across 32 countries. These experts, comprising policymakers, researchers, students, teachers, and representatives of international development organizations, have shared invaluable insights on how members of the School Leadership Network can navigate challenges and broaden their perspectives.
2022
In 2022, the School Leadership Network launched Working Groups - an opportunity for members to deep-dive into key factors that influence school leadership, and lead spaces of learning, and sharing of perspectives and promising practices.
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Members of the School Leadership Network explored three topics: School Management Practices, Community Outreach, and Professional Development. Leaders of these Working Groups led discussions to gather perspectives on best practices, challenges based on varied contexts, and the role that School Principals can play in elevating the current reality.
2023
In 2024 the UNESCO GEM report will specifically focus on the crucial topic of education leadership. Therefore, the three global meetings focussed on:
In 2023, the Network organized three Global Meetings in partnership with the Global Education Monitor (GEM) Report team that provided a valuable opportunity to contribute with ideas and experiences as input to the next Report. Published annually by UNESCO, this report serves as a vital resource for decision-makers seeking comparative research and knowledge to inform actions toward inclusive and equitable quality education at national, regional, and global levels.
2024
In 2024, we focused on the challenge of teacher shortages as a central barrier to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in education. We recognized that school principals play a key role in addressing this global challenge by providing valuable data from their schools and leading transformations to improve learning outcomes.
Throughout the year, we carried out multiple activities that advanced our mission. We hosted three global meetings where school leaders from around the world shared challenges and solutions, launched the "Around the World" initiative with virtual visits to schools in India and Colombia, and developed the “Inspiring Leaders” interview series featuring 12 principals from eight countries. In addition, we facilitated workshops with experts on the pedagogical role of principals, professional development, and support for novice teachers, and we participated in the GEM Report Summit to showcase successful practices that inspire and strengthen the teaching vocation.