Hi Sally,
Let me start by saying I think teaching is one of the most influential jobs out there. I remember my favorite teachers with great fondness and am grateful for all they taught me. Education is student-focused, and the premise of Transformational Leadership is people based. In your post, you beg the question of if it is possible for transformational leadership to exist without critical analysis. My answer to your question is no. They need to coexist, to be an influential transformational leader you need to be able to get the facts, assess those facts and objectively formulate a plan without bias.
Whatever we do in life we do it better when we can use critical thinking. In the educational field, you have a chance to use transformational leadership every day. Students of any age are impressionable, they look up to their teachers and seek direction and clarity of the world around them. Without good educational leaders, I wonder where I would be at this moment in time?
Would you consider teaching your students about TSL? Do you think TSL would be beneficial for the students to serve each other in the classroom?
When we look to Jesus the ultimate teacher and servant leader, we can see that the elements of critical thinking are weaved into his teachings. Factors such as self-control, humility, treating your neighbor as yourself, the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Showing concern for others, servings others, and engaging them to work towards a common organizational goal. Until I read your post, I didn’t realize that teachers are transformational leaders in every way.
Northouse, P. G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and practice.
Hughes, R. L., Beatty, K. C., Dinwoodie, D. L., & Center for Creative Leadership. (2014). Becoming a strategic leader: Your role in your organization’s enduring success.