The Challenges of Educational Leaders The educational environment is built and founded on principles that were created in the 20th century. Its roots lie in this previous century as well as in even more distant historical periods. More recently, the demand for 21st century skills has created great excitement and interest (Reeves, 2013). However, the curriculum and assessment process currently practiced in the learning environment continues to be used through the fundamental foundations of previous centuries. While the desire and urgency to acquire 21st century skills is widely publicized, the curriculum continues to be rooted in that of 20th century practices and current assessment practices struggle to advance from those procedures conducted as early as the 16th century through the he use of multiple choice tests established during the Ming Dynasty in China (Reeves, 2013). The desire for progress in both curriculum and assessment practices pales in comparison to inadequate and sincere commitment to modern learning. This article examines the presence of three challenges facing educational leaders today: assessment gap, teaching gap, and leadership gap. Each of these challenges has a critical impact on the learning environment of the current education system and it is vital that each of them is identified, addressed and corrected so that its presence can be minimized and its effects neutralized. Challenge no. 1: The Assessment GapAlthough there has been much discussion about the skills needed for modern effectiveness, there are some that can be adequately determined to be vital and necessary for personal and organizational progress. First, the need for effective communication is vital to the success… middle of the paper… for the actual benefit of its inclusion. This is how leadership could better address my concerns and desire to promote the well-being of my team and my store. Works Cited Bartalo, D.G. (2013). The teaching gap. Retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/47088_Bartalo___Ch1.pdf.Jaschik, S. (2009). The evaluation gap. Retrieved from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/12/11/assess.Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. (2008). The challenge of leadership. (4th edition). San Francisco, California: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Reeves, D. B. (2013). Three challenges for education leaders. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol5/507-reeves.aspx.Skinner, R. A. (2011). The leadership gap ahead. Retrieved from http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2011/09/28/skinner_essay_on_advice_for_university_boards_to_prepare_for_coming_leadership_gap.