Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Week Four: Leadership ~ Teachers are Leaders

The prompt for this post is "reflect on leadership role models whom you respect and whose example you would want to follow. Look at individuals or organizations that you admire and spell out what it is that attracts you and how you might incorporate this into your own leadership style."

In a school setting, few people in the public think of the teacher as a leader.  If asked who leads the school, almost every parent, school board member, and citizen will say automatically "the principal".  Many teachers themselves will reply the same two words as the answer to that question.  I am the exception to the rule as I disagree.  I don't feel that the principal leads most schools.  Teachers do.  That is not to say that there are not some amazing principals that develop a great relationship with parents and their staff who work hard to make their school a great learning environment.  But teachers are the ones who have a direct, personal relationship with students.  Teachers are the ones who know their students' strengths and weaknesses, and what motivates each of them personally.  Teachers are the ones who make a difference to individual students every day.  



I have been recommended each year for the past five years for an administrator cohort in my district.  The district will pay for an administration degree for the few recommended teachers, and these teachers are then expected to go into administration for a minimum of 5 years in our district.  While it is an honor to be invited, it is something I have no interest in.  A principal has to see the forest, teachers see the trees.  A principal must make decisions that benefit the school as a whole. A teacher has to make each individual student in front of him or her feel Important.  Priceless. Powerful.  Smart. Valuable.  No tree in my classroom is ignored or sacrificed for the better of the forest.  I would much rather be a leader in my classroom and have a direct impact on each student daily, than a leader in a more general setting and make decisions that trickle down to students, yet don't impact them on a personal level.

With that said, role models to me are teachers I have had in the past and teachers I have worked with.  Teachers like my high school Latin teacher Mrs. Pawlowski who taught me life lessons.  Dr. DeBruin who taught me as an undergrad to make Science hands-on.  Mr. Birr who taught me how an intervention teacher and classroom teacher can work together to make the most powerful learning environment possible.  Mrs. Rusgo who taught me that kindness is as important than knowledge.  Teachers are Leaders! Even if I eventually decide to leave the classroom after Full Sail, I will never forget the impact teachers have.

9 comments:

  1. “A principal has to see the forest, teachers see the trees.” That was very well said, and can be applied to all different types of work environments. Do you think that some people who sit at a principle position or someone who is a V.P in a department gets disconnected for the teachers or workers and that is what makes them only see the forest? I always tell myself as I move up the corporate latter I will always try to keep one foot in the area that the “grunt” work is taking place. I think it’s important. How can one sit at the top and make choices for people when they aren’t connected to the situation or the people doing the job.

    It must be hard to choose not to go on to get the administration degree. As someone who works in administration for higher education, I love it. Just some food for thought. If you were to get the degree you would bring so much to the table with all of your teaching experience. You would be able to help shape the administration at your school with the values of a teacher. I know 5 years is a long time, and I’m not sure I could sign-up to do something for 5 years. However if you know your going to be working in education it’s really something to think about.

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    1. Thanks for the kind comments, Katie. After working with you this year I am certain you are a fantastic administrator. I have had a really fantastic one that I worked for in the past, and he and I often talked about how much he missed being in the classroom even though he liked the duties of principal. I just don't think it is for me. But who knows what the future may hold!

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  2. Cynthia, I really enjoyed your post and your story of the districts constant battle to pull the best teachers out of the classroom and put them into administration. Too many great teachers are tempted to flee the classroom for the higher pay out of administration, but your reflection on the impact these administrators have on the students is dead on. Administrators are on orders from the higher ups to increase test scores for the many different groups and sub-groups of students they have stored on their district computers. Many of these administrators, who once used to be teachers themselves, have forgotten that these names are actual people who need nurturing and care at the classroom level. I applaud your character to refusing these invitations and I wish many other great teachers around the nation would follow your lead.

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    1. Joe,
      You definitely touched on something that I was thinking about but didn't write about ~ subgroups. I have to look at data and know which students fit into the most subgroups. Low socio-economic status, special education, African American males are the quadruple whammy! We are told often to "focus on them the most" because they fit into four subgroups and will help our AYP the most. Really? Focus on them the most? How about focus on ALL students in front of us! Students are about more than just a number on a spreadsheet. Data is important, and I do take it very seriously. But nurturing and care at the classroom level (as you so eloquently put it) comes before data any day!

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  3. Cynthia, I can give a personal account of being pulled out of the classroom. I was asked to be dean of students one year. This was my most frustrating year. I was pulled out the Expressive Arts Department, where we do a lot of different activities with the students. I watched in pain as I saw my PE department take a downward spiral. When students came to me with problems it was truly amazing to see some of my own coworkers wanted to punish and not discipline. I became a babysitter. I wish I had read the book before I took the position. I actually felt myself losing focusing on having my students master fundamentals. I am glad to say that I had to come back to the PE Department due to budget cuts, but couldn't be happier!

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    1. Sometimes budget cuts can actually be a blessing, as in your case. From what I have seen this year, you are a top notch Physical Education teacher! Our specialists (PE, music, art) are on the chopping block next year if our levy does not pass in November. While I will certainly do my best if I am responsible for teaching these subjects in addition to core classes, I know I can not give them justice as you do. I think about your physical education background and creativity, Alyson's talent in music and band, Tessa's art classes: I could never give my students the same quality instruction in those areas as you all can. Thanks for your enthusiasm for the arts ~ you are needed and appreciated!

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  4. Excellent reflection on the challenges of being a teacher and a leader. I agree that teachers really are the one with the hands-on knowledge to make a difference, but so often they are either overwhelm and unwilling to lead in a meaningful way or their admins ignore them and lead from ignorance. I've known really good teachers who've made horrible administrators and I've discovered that the typical principal is basically just a local politician trying to balance the needs of the school board, the parents, the vocal teachers and the students. A good principal makes a huge difference, but they seem to be a rare phenomenon. In my 13-years teaching in Southern California I had one and he was moved to another position too soon for my needs. It's a tough job that eats it's young even more than the typical teaching job.

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    1. Thank you for the kind comments, JBB. I have seen many teachers who can lead in a meaningful way, and a great administrator who encouraged it to happen. I have also seen the other side of that coin, however. Yes, the typical principal (especially in a high publicity school like mine receiving huge grant monies) is like a politician. His number one priority is in fact to be a buffer between the board, staff, parents, media, and voting public. Individual students seem to be off the radar. But test scores are in the middle of the bulls eye!

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  5. Cynthia,

    Great Post! I really enjoyed the spoken word " What Teachers Make" by Taylor Mali. POWERFUL! I too have been asked to go into administration and I have the same out look that you do. I love music and I want to share that love of performing and creating music with my students to help them develop their and passion.

    Thanks for sharing

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