I believe that this is one of the areas that I need to grow in the most but an area that I think will develop quickly for me. My current Principal has said that in the 2.5 years that I have been in the school that staff are now seeing me as a leader and someone whos ideas are taken highly. I know 2 points that I have tried to purposefully do to bring this about.
1. In my current work in the office I know that many teachers felt like there is no follow up on what they think are classroom issues. This included skipped detentions, small discipline issues and truancy. I took this on as a project and follow up 100% of the time with the students that they have issues with. Even if a student is absent for a number of days I will go talk to them and nothing is every left. I also either tell teachers what has happened or send an email to let them know that I have followed up. I know, because many teachers have told me this, that this is very very appreciated. Many teachers now come straight to me with these sorts of issues and bipass the VPs because they know that it will get done. I know that this has made me see dependable and in that role of servant leadership that we have talked about. It is funny to me because I just see it as being competant. I know though that many teachers saw the people who were taking admin periods as just giving them another prep. It was my goal to change this and I know it has worked while giving me a lot of experience that I needed.
2. I listed to other people no matter what their idea is. I then try and steer them in the direction that I believe is correct but without forcing them to do something. This has been easier in many parts of the school than in my own department. It also meant that in my first year or so in my job I did a lot more without pushing others into doing. I think that time buffer of not being pushy and getting to know them as people and as educators has served me well and I will take on the same approach when I enter a new school as an administrator.
With these points in mind one of the reflections that I have written is on the balance between being a manager (supervisor) and being a leader (motivator). This has come up many times directly and indirectly in our conversations in class. In my first year as a department head I was very much just a manager as I needed things to cool off and to get to know the people. I also needed them to know that I was competent at my job and could do it. Once I had them I then tried to start being more of a leader and slowly steering in the direction that I though was best. Once again I think that I will do the same in an admin job with a lot of observation in the first few months of my stay in a school.
Through my work at the National Coaching Institute I have also found a model of leadership (Kouzes and Pozner) and that I try to apply to myself and the people that I interact with. This includes:
Sharing an Inspired Vision
Modelling the Way
Challenging the Process
Enabling Others
Encouraging the Heart
I believe that these 5 points can be well applied to the vision of a school.
Staff and community need to share a vision for the school and the quality of education, activities and person that should grow through their years in the school.
Students, Teachers and Administration need to model proper behaviour and practices for others.
Existing norms and practices can be improved, revisited and revised to make a more inclusive, safe and challenging environment.
Students and staff need to be given opportunities to improve themselves. This can range from improving chances for students at risk to enhanced opportunities for enriched students to enhanced or new education for adults.
Everyone has something that they are passionate about. Not only should this be encouraged and given the opportunities to flourish but we should look for everyone to learn from the passions of others.
1. In my current work in the office I know that many teachers felt like there is no follow up on what they think are classroom issues. This included skipped detentions, small discipline issues and truancy. I took this on as a project and follow up 100% of the time with the students that they have issues with. Even if a student is absent for a number of days I will go talk to them and nothing is every left. I also either tell teachers what has happened or send an email to let them know that I have followed up. I know, because many teachers have told me this, that this is very very appreciated. Many teachers now come straight to me with these sorts of issues and bipass the VPs because they know that it will get done. I know that this has made me see dependable and in that role of servant leadership that we have talked about. It is funny to me because I just see it as being competant. I know though that many teachers saw the people who were taking admin periods as just giving them another prep. It was my goal to change this and I know it has worked while giving me a lot of experience that I needed.
2. I listed to other people no matter what their idea is. I then try and steer them in the direction that I believe is correct but without forcing them to do something. This has been easier in many parts of the school than in my own department. It also meant that in my first year or so in my job I did a lot more without pushing others into doing. I think that time buffer of not being pushy and getting to know them as people and as educators has served me well and I will take on the same approach when I enter a new school as an administrator.
With these points in mind one of the reflections that I have written is on the balance between being a manager (supervisor) and being a leader (motivator). This has come up many times directly and indirectly in our conversations in class. In my first year as a department head I was very much just a manager as I needed things to cool off and to get to know the people. I also needed them to know that I was competent at my job and could do it. Once I had them I then tried to start being more of a leader and slowly steering in the direction that I though was best. Once again I think that I will do the same in an admin job with a lot of observation in the first few months of my stay in a school.
Through my work at the National Coaching Institute I have also found a model of leadership (Kouzes and Pozner) and that I try to apply to myself and the people that I interact with. This includes:
I believe that these 5 points can be well applied to the vision of a school.