Everyone has the need to feel safe; physically, emotionally and psychologically safe. When we feel safe, we free ourselves to become complex and reflective thinkers. As a leader, it is my job to reassure the teachers, staff, students, and parents that our school is a safe place to be. Just as a teacher desires and reassures her students to feel safe, an administrator should handle the teachers in the same manner. We require our teachers to show up each day and perform amazing tasks....if there isn't a sense of safety and it is something that weighs heavy on their minds, they will not be free to successfully accomplish all that we need them to.
I see how these leadership connectors intertwine with one another. When a staff receives clear communication, feels supported, and safe they also feel valued. They are able to become more productive and creative at their profession. They begin to trust their leaders and know they are there to cheer them on. When these leadership connectors are in place, leaders are then allowed to further develop those skills desired by the staff.
After teaching for 17 years, I am thrilled to say that I have worked for amazing leaders who have always made me feel safe: safe from physical harm, safe to try new instructional strategies, safe to make mistakes, safe to speak, safe to share, safe to ask questions. I believe that because I am a risk taker, I need to know that it's ok if things don't go as planned, or if I hit a bump in the road...I can continue on and overcome. It's our job as educators and leaders to allow our fellow teachers to feel the same, so that they, in turn, can lead the students in the same manner.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Leadership Connecter, Support
In This chapter the text discusses the importance of support: financial, material, emotional, and human/ moral support. Everyone needs to feel valued and as a leader one of the most effective ways to show value is to support your staff so that they may help guide the students and school toward success. A leader who shows support will yield positive results.
As a leader it is important for me to provide whatever kind of support the staff needs. I often ask my teachers for their input on how a particular system is working, or if they have suggestions on improving a procedure. I want them to know that I value their ideas and am willing to adjust- it's not just about what I think they need, its about what they KNOW they need. Teachers are the most important asset at the school site, therefor it's essential that there is open communication,where support is provided, and a safe and trusting working environment. As one of our site's leaders my goal is to maintain visibility in classrooms, out on the playground, and greeting students and parents upon arrival each day. Not only does this reinforce the support necessary, but also solidifies and builds relationships.
As a leader it is important for me to provide whatever kind of support the staff needs. I often ask my teachers for their input on how a particular system is working, or if they have suggestions on improving a procedure. I want them to know that I value their ideas and am willing to adjust- it's not just about what I think they need, its about what they KNOW they need. Teachers are the most important asset at the school site, therefor it's essential that there is open communication,where support is provided, and a safe and trusting working environment. As one of our site's leaders my goal is to maintain visibility in classrooms, out on the playground, and greeting students and parents upon arrival each day. Not only does this reinforce the support necessary, but also solidifies and builds relationships.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Leadership Connectors: Communication
Although I am just beginning to read our assigned course text, Leadership Connectors: Six Keys to Developing Relationships in Schools, I am finding the book to be an easy and applicable read. Chapter 1: "Leadership Connector, Communication" has been especially interesting, as I am now put into a leadership/ administrative role as our school's Resource Teacher with GIS duties. A significant portion of the staff at my site are close teacher friends of mine, and so the porton of the chapter that discusses the teacher that moves into administration and how old friends begin to edit what they say, and as a new administrator, edit what is said to teacher friends was very important for me to take in (I must have read it three times over). It is very important to me, that although I am in an administrative position now, to let my friends know that I still value them and will continue to support their expertise and friendship, even if I am bound to confidentiality.
As an administrator at a new school facility, I find great importance in believing in our school's vision and feel that communicating my expectations for the staff , believing in them, and trusting that they will meet the expections has proven successful thus far. Our school opened its doors just 3 weeks ago, and because of positive and effective communication from the leadership team and our ability to listen to the needs and expectations, to openly discuss our shared vision, our beliefs, and begin to establish our school culture together our teachers and staff have been able to pull-off the opening of a new school smoothly and effortlessly. So smooth, in fact, that the administrative team, the teachers, staff, and parents have all noticed that the from the first day of school we've operated like we had all been there for years. I believe it was the open communication amoungst the staff that allowed this amazing start to the school year to occur.
I belive in the power of positive thinking! I know that if you dream it and believe in it; great things will happen. Of course, this doesn't mean it will happen magically - there are goals to put into place, and steps to reach those goals. The section that discusses a positive tone of respect and "holding tight to a positive belief will develop roots and branches." At our school, without a doubt, the seeds have been planted and are already sprouting - - great things are going to happen at Clovis Unified's newest elementary school! It is part of my job to keep positive communication and reinforcement going. I find that I am becoming our staffs biggest cheerleader and they are responding to it!
Listening is a skill that must be practiced before achieving perfection. When I hear someone complaining, my first instinct is to help them solve their problem, and I certainly can if need be. However, I must remember that often times, a staff member or parent, just wants to be heard. "A hopeful administrator is likely to fram the situation as an opportunity, a challenge to be persued...." I know how great I feel when I've overcome an obstacle, so it's my goal to guide my staff to do the same. Not that I'm not willing to help them, because I have told them time and time again, that my job is to make their job a bit easier, but to I need to involve them in active participants in solving a problem or issue. In this way, a sense of ownership and pride will become established and will result in continued professional and personal growth.
I am fortunate, in that I have a great mentor, my principal who demonstrates daily amazing communication skills with the students, staff, parents, and community. I have much to learn, and am fortunate to have such a great role model to guide me as we establish our school's foundation building upon it trust, value, and high expectations.
As an administrator at a new school facility, I find great importance in believing in our school's vision and feel that communicating my expectations for the staff , believing in them, and trusting that they will meet the expections has proven successful thus far. Our school opened its doors just 3 weeks ago, and because of positive and effective communication from the leadership team and our ability to listen to the needs and expectations, to openly discuss our shared vision, our beliefs, and begin to establish our school culture together our teachers and staff have been able to pull-off the opening of a new school smoothly and effortlessly. So smooth, in fact, that the administrative team, the teachers, staff, and parents have all noticed that the from the first day of school we've operated like we had all been there for years. I believe it was the open communication amoungst the staff that allowed this amazing start to the school year to occur.
I belive in the power of positive thinking! I know that if you dream it and believe in it; great things will happen. Of course, this doesn't mean it will happen magically - there are goals to put into place, and steps to reach those goals. The section that discusses a positive tone of respect and "holding tight to a positive belief will develop roots and branches." At our school, without a doubt, the seeds have been planted and are already sprouting - - great things are going to happen at Clovis Unified's newest elementary school! It is part of my job to keep positive communication and reinforcement going. I find that I am becoming our staffs biggest cheerleader and they are responding to it!
Listening is a skill that must be practiced before achieving perfection. When I hear someone complaining, my first instinct is to help them solve their problem, and I certainly can if need be. However, I must remember that often times, a staff member or parent, just wants to be heard. "A hopeful administrator is likely to fram the situation as an opportunity, a challenge to be persued...." I know how great I feel when I've overcome an obstacle, so it's my goal to guide my staff to do the same. Not that I'm not willing to help them, because I have told them time and time again, that my job is to make their job a bit easier, but to I need to involve them in active participants in solving a problem or issue. In this way, a sense of ownership and pride will become established and will result in continued professional and personal growth.
I am fortunate, in that I have a great mentor, my principal who demonstrates daily amazing communication skills with the students, staff, parents, and community. I have much to learn, and am fortunate to have such a great role model to guide me as we establish our school's foundation building upon it trust, value, and high expectations.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Pink Reflection
Daniel Pink Drive Video Reflection
After viewing the Daniel Pink Drive video, I'd like to take some time to briefly reflect. I strongly believe that we as educators did not go into the field of education to become rich. We entered the field because we wanted to make a difference in the lives of children. In education there's always the latest, the greatest ways to improve student achievement. I believe that teachers are motivated by facts or proof. Teachers just need to be willing to "try" something new - - if what is being used isn't working, it's time to try something new. As a leader, when the desire to implement something new at my site I must provide my staff with short simple readings, research that backs what I want to implement, and discussion that includes shared input on how implementation may look. I strongly believe that most people strive with praise. Build them up, encourage, support, recruit them as leaders, and become their cheerleaders as they begin to take steps in the desired direction.
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