Former First Lady Laura Bush announces her “Alliance to Reform Education Leadership” initiative Wednesday morning at North Dallas High School, as George W. Bush Institute Executive Director James Glassman listens in the background. (Michael Danser/The Daily Campus)
Former First Lady Laura Bush, with other educators and leaders, presented the George W. Bush Institute’s first education initiative at North Dallas High School Wednesday morning.
The initiative, the Alliance to Reform Education Leadership (AREL), focuses on the principals in schools, as they are the leaders who influence teachers who, of course, influence students.
While there is a push for higher performance of principals, James Glassman, executive director of the Institute, understands that the current situation simply needs improving.
“Make no mistake,” he said, “there are good teachers and there are good principals today.”
Mrs. Bush took the podium, explaining the importance of a well-trained educator.
“School principals shape the environment in which people are able to operate successfully,” she said. “We believe that strong leaders create a cascade of success.”
The initiative will start in six cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Denver.
By 2012, they expect to effect 25 of the country’s cities, said Mrs. Bush. They aim to have nearly half of the nation’s principals by 2020.
James Guthrie, senior education fellow for the Institute, understands that this is a big goal.
“We know that’s an audacious objective,” Guthrie said. “There are already cynics who doubt our motives.”
The Institute estimates that by 2020, those improved principals will be responsible for an improvement of up to 15 percent in the students’ achievements.
Education is one of the Institute’s four areas of engagement. The overall mission is to prepare American high school graduates for college or a good job.
In order to achieve this, students must improve their current performance.
Each of the six regional sites combines school districts, foundations, education schools and business schools.
They will use innovative means to choose principals who will go through a training course, ultimately changing the way principals operate.
The George W. Bush Institute’s mission is to “unleash human potential around the world through expanding human freedom, educational reform, global health and economic growth,” according to the website.
It is part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes the library, that will be located on the SMU campus. Ground breaking for the Center is set for Nov. 16.
