Distributive Leadership Use In Schools:

Leadership is applied in various ways in school settings.  Some leadership is affective and some is frustrating and leads to conflict.  One way to effectively practice leadership is by using distributive leadership.  This type of leadership was in place at my last school site and allowed teachers to hold positions in the school that had more responsibility.  By teachers serving as either vice principals, mentor teachers, committee meeting leaders, club coordinators, and by reporting and sharing effective teaching practices, school board policy, and community events with other teachers, it allowed the leadership to be more active and present.  By distributing the leadership roles, the administration was not overwhelmed and was able to still be present and active in both the school and community, serving in a positive and effective capacity.  

Leadership Theory and Leadership Style

What type of leaders do you admire?  What kind of leader are you?  What kind of leader do you want to be?  Can great changes still happen through inspirational leaders?  Great leaders are present and active.

This process of exploring leadership and thinking about how I could best use my skills and talents to make a difference has been very interesting and reflective for me.  It is apparent that education is in the midst of turmoil and another reformation and I am being very careful about where I decide to invest my time and energy because I really want to be a support, a resource, and continue to grow and learn professionally and personally.  I want to inspire and be inspired!  I don’t take this life calling lightly and by stepping out of the classroom for a time period to work with my own children, (since they absolutely deserve the best I have to offer too!)  I’ve been able to listen and objectively assess what the needs are in public schools. I feel taking this time to expand my knowledge base and skills will help me be an even better coach, mentor, and trainer encouraging others to lead by example when looking for solutions to problems.  I just want to find where I'm needed most.  Honestly, a Discovery Channel show where I makeover Classroom Nightmares keeps coming to mind as the most effective way to overhaul our most challenging educational settings the quickest, but we'll see where life leads me.

Through reading articles and participating in discussions through my EDL/500 Course in Personal Leadership, I have been pushed to identify the leadership theory that most closely matches my leadership style.  While some are more rigid and formal, I feel my leadership style is one that is depicted in Rethinking Leadership and views the school as a moral community. “This theory provides for moral connections among teachers, principals, parents, and students, and it helps all of them to become self-managing” (Sergiovanni 2007 p. 86).  I believe this is my leadership style because I really see the value in helping people see their strengths and talents and having everyone feel they are a part of the learning team by contributing their best work to it.  When everyone has a common goal of being critical parts of the learning experience with their own unique set of experiences, background, knowledge, questions, and ideas, each person is seen as a necessary part of the learning community with purpose in our greater society and world.  When a school is viewed as a place people want to be and there is a positive, welcoming environment where high standards are sought after and creative active thinkers are present; this is a place I get excited about working and can foster solutions to problems through inventive project based learning.

I create learning experiences, help people form friendships, take risks to push themselves to improve for the better, and honestly have the whole person’s best interests at heart by wanting them to achieve goals they set for themselves based on informed decisions and accurate information.  I believe in creative outlets, active and engaged thinkers who are students and professional educators, and am not giving up on the hope for the best education for our students through diligent, inspired, and knowledgeable professional teams of educators.  Having a common purpose, understood mission statement, and articulated goals to achieve gives us a guideline and it is through personal self directed responsibility with guidance that we achieve those goals.

Just on an end note of encouraging and modeling continuously learning, if you haven't read about curriculum driven leadership and compared it to managerialist leadership, it is an interesting topic for discussion.  Thank you for all you do to encourage and educate our youth.  We might not be able to solve all the problems of the world, but what if we start by solving just one?

Power Dynamic At School Sites

The power dynamic at my last school site was one in which the Principal and Assistant Principal valued and recognized the skills and talents of the professional teachers they worked with.   They would encourage us to work in teams, share our expertise, materials, and opinions, and gave us opportunities to lead and facilitate trainings.

I want to use that experience to bring to the school districts in my new area because I think it was a balanced example of leadership.  When teachers are looked to as mentors and coaches and feel like they are valued professional leaders in an effective and efficient learning community, it is exhibited in positive students’ achievement and the feeling of a welcoming school community.  I would like to work to help teachers develop and grow their leadership skills and potential so that more teachers will step into leadership roles as mentors and coaches of integrating best teaching practices so all students will have access to a wonderful, meaningful, and positive learning experience.

I think that PLCs (Professional Learning Communities) have gotten a bad reputation because many teachers feel they are not best uses of their time.  Some administrators are micromanaging PLCs and it defeats their purpose.  I have taught workshops for training in-service time and during them, we shared some specific techniques, brainstormed solutions for areas that were challenging, and then let teachers work together and create materials they needed for their upcoming lessons and units of instruction.  We really practiced what we preached.  Everyone thought this format was fantastic and it was a successful real PLC time in action.  Have you had any positive experiences with PLCs that makes you feel they are a life changing use of your time or do you think your time is better used elsewhere?  

I think as a leader we always need to be mindful of that saying, "If you are leading and nobody is following, you're just someone going for a walk."  Being a leader is a tremendous responsibility that impacts others in an enormous way.  Use it wisely to make a positive difference!

Strength-Based Leadership And A Community Of Practice

Personal Leadership Blog, Part Two

I am learning so much about my personal leadership style and ways I can improve so that I can help others step into leadership roles and grow as future leaders.  Part of my classes have involved watching videos and reading about strength-based leadership and the ways it can support a community of practice.  By developing leaders from existing staff, teachers feel valued and are able to share their expertise.  When we share best teaching practices and techniques to refine instruction, the students are the ultimate benefactors of our learning and progress, which is the ultimate goal.  Better leaders make better instructors which results in stronger schools and communities. When our students see us taking on leadership roles, it inspires them to do the same.  When we give them the opportunity to take on leadership roles and be responsible for their learning, we create lifelong learners.  What a fantastic process we get to be a part of as professionals in a learning community!

After delaying completing my Master's Program for 14 years, I recently enrolled in the University of Phoenix's Program determined to complete a Master of Arts in Education/Teacher Leadership by June of 2015.  My first six week course is EDL/500 and I hope to learn additional skills and resources that I can use to improve my abilities and allow me to be a resource to others as I grow my leadership skills.  Specifically, I hope this course will help me develop additional technology skills, networking resources for communicating with other professionals, and elaborate on other potential careers with this specific advanced degree program. I am thankful for my teaching experiences and the opportunity to use my skills to help others through this program.