Educational Leadership Innovation Simulation | Reculturing & Creative Leadership
Small Group Scenario
Chapter 11 argues that rapid change requires creativity and innovation in educational leadership (p. 269).
It also reminds us that innovation collapses when leaders fail to build environments that support collaborative problem-solving.
Small Group Scenario:
By 2035, education reform failed.
Innovation became compliance. Reform became checklist implementation.
You are sent back to 2026.
Your task:
Apply Chapter 11 to prevent the collapse.
“According to Chapter 11, the collapse happened because leaders failed to ______.”
Chapter 11 Insight
Chapter 11 suggests collapse occurs when leaders:
- Fail to build environments that enable innovative problem-solving (Hill et al., as cited in Ch. 11)
- Implement reforms as checklists instead of engaging in reculturing (Fullan, as cited in Ch. 11)
- Prioritize symbolic or transformational rhetoric over pedagogical leadership (Robinson et al., as cited in Ch. 11)
- Neglect the trust, risk tolerance, and shared responsibility necessary for creativity
In short: collapse happens when leaders manage compliance instead of designing culture.
Chapter 11 - Leadership Intervention Small Group Discussion
1. In your work environment, what environment did leaders fail to build, if any?
2. Has reform turned into checklist compliance instead of reculturing?
3. What ONE structural change could you support to demonstrate your educational leadership?
Whole-Class Debrief (5 minutes)
Is innovation primarily about bold ideas - or leadership design?
What would “reculturing” look like in your institution?
STOPPING what leadership behavior - would most likely prevent the 2035 scenario?
Chapter 11 concludes that sustainable innovation is not about charismatic vision. It is about shaping culture, structure, and pedagogical practice so creativity can survive complexity.
Wang, V., Kaiser, S., & Mitchell, D. (2024). Educational Leadership and Organizational Management: Bridging Theory and Practice. Innovative Ink Publishing.
Available through Kendall Hunt: https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/educational-leadership-and-organizational-management-bridging-theory-and-practice
Chapter-based instructional simulations and discussion prompts on this page are original applied instructional design grounded in the cited text.