What constitutes a good leader?
How does one become a leader?
What are some goals of today’s educational leaders?
In what ways should a leader lead?
In thinking about these questions I can't help myself but to think about the many leaders I have had the pleasure of working with up until this point. One of the many characteristics these leaders possess is passion. All of these leaders possess the desire to make a change or a difference in the lives of a child/a neighborhood/ a community. Focusing not only on test scores or mandates but having the ability to see the larger picture and educate with purpose of life. These people don’t come to work for the pay, or benefits, or summers off; they’re here because they have a genuine love for their job. A good leader has passion to make change.
A good leader also recognizes the importance of their staff, colleagues and community members. A school cannot grow and learn unless it has a team of dedicated teachers and staff who are willing to work together toward a common goal. A good leader acknowledges each staff member’s strengths and provides opportunities that will not only nurture each teacher but will also allow him or her to grow in their field. Administrators recognize that any teacher can become a leader and it is the school leaders’ responsibility to present occasions for those teachers to run, guide and facilitate programs, curriculums, and overall take responsibility for tasks around the school.
A good leader sets both short and long term goals for their school. Allowing opportunities for their staff to comment, change or adjust any goals set forth by the administration. Perhaps one of the major responsibilities for a school leader is to allow his or her staff to take ownership of the goals. One of the best ways to do this is to provide weekly or bi-weekly opportunities for staff members to work together, compare notes, and overall allow collaboration on school activities and functions.
One of the most important goals for me as I become an administrator is to always recognize the hard work and dedication of my staff. A lot of hard work and effort goes into making schools run smoothly. It is the school leaders’ job to make sure that their staff gets recognized for their efforts. Appreciation for teachers and staff will play a major roll for me as I begin my career in educational leadership.
A good leader should extend their reach beyond the brick and mortar of the school and expand out into the community. The community plays an important role in school functionality and should be one of the main focuses of an educational leader. It is the educational leaders responsibility to provide opportunities for the school and local community to work together. There are many possibilities for different programs, extended learning opportunities, and parent involvement when a school’s leadership team allows for community involvement.
I believe I possess various strengths that will help me as I continue my goal to become an educational leader. I feel I have the ability to multitask which is a great skill set to have in dealing with the day-to-day goings on of a school. Being able to juggle many tasks is also not enough for today’s educational leaders. Having the ability to prioritize those tasks in a timely manner is also a very important aspect of the job. Another strength I have is the ability to pick up on the strengths of other teachers. Knowing teachers’ strengths plays an important role when you need to delegate responsibilities. If a school leader is unaware of their faculty’s strengths and weaknesses he or she will be unable to assign tasks to the appropriate people. Not making use of your staff’s abilities can lead to frustration, anxiety and low performance levels. I also have the ability to handle crisis situations well. Being flexible and adaptable is very important quality to have in handling urgent situations especial when dealing with school emergencies and displeased parents. I am also highly goal driven and time line oriented. This quality will prove to be very important aspect in today’s testing climate. Probably one of the most important strengths I possess is creativity. Currently, I am the art teacher for my school which has afforded me the opportunity to be creative, imaginative and resourceful. Without creativity and imagination a school’s environment will be stale and displeasing. School should be a fun and imaginative place where learning is cultivated from natural interest and curiosity; I believe I have the ability to make school just that for both students and teachers.
