As I drove the thirty-minute commute to work each day, I would prepare for those anticipated debunks – the upset parent wanting a schedule change, the conscientious teacher wanting the air in her room regulated, the secretary trying to fill a classroom vacancy, and a
The instructional leader is a relic – an outdated caricature that never really existed. Note the emphasis on “the” and “leader.” Instructional leadership is alive and well – not to mention more necessary than at any point in history. Ask any great leader—I asked a number of them
“In 2012, we began work to develop instructional leaders at our schools that would have the expertise in the critical areas of leadership to effectively lead their schools to meet the increasing requirements in faculty development and student achievement. Through our work with Dr. Julie
Forget about being the person in charge, the one at the top of the pyramid, the “my way or the highway” manager. While that stale management paradigm was all about command and control of people and things, the new leadership standard is all about connecting
In the foreword to Paula Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Richard Shaull writes, “There is no such thing as a neutral educational process. Education either functions as an instrument that is used to facilitate the integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present
Leadership growth doesn’t get started until leaders do. To get anywhere, leaders have to do something! Leaders must move…take action…mobilize themselves, his or her time and energies in strategic, observable, measurable, and ultimately impactful ways. Sounds easy enough on the surface. But, leaders get paralyzed by
This post was originally published on Finding Common Ground. "Where do we start?" It's a question that we all hear often. Whether it's a faculty meeting or after an engaging and inspiring professional development session (YES, those do exist!), educators want to know where to put one
Today’s teachers function in a paradoxical environment. Students, families, communities, and educational leaders demand innovation in schools, while states and district leaders demand high test scores. Many teachers feel the weight of both demands and struggle to fulfill these seemingly opposing expectations simultaneously. A school
Leaders who make the most far-reaching impact have a knack for empowering the people on their team. Those who feel valued and encouraged produce more high quality work. In education, this means leaders who empower teachers and students are helping to build a culture of
Last night I had a dream that I was asked to take a principal’s job, and I was wondering where in the world I should start. In my dream I kept promising myself that I would be highly visible. I would not be confined to my office