Leadership Connectors: Putting it all Together

As I read through this book, it was very clear how all connectors were linked together. It is apparent that with clear communication, support of staff, providing a safe working and learning enviornment, proving competency, allowing for continuous renewal and growth, and trusting your staff a leader will prove to be effective.The book certainly provided me an opportunity to reflect on what kind of a leader I want to be. I want to be the type of leader that I hear others saying great things about: "She's wonderful!", "I feel so supported and respected!", and "She makes my job easier and more enjoyable." I hope that as I cross into the leadership role I am able to provide the key elements of an effective leader.
I think the thing I gained the most from was to be a reflective leader.... looking back on my day, my week, my month, my year and asking myself, "What went well? What needs to be improved? What can I do differently next time?" is a great opportunity to grow and learn as a leader. I have always reflected as a teacher, and year after year challenged myself to grow and change. Now that I am in a leadership postion it's important to continue this reflection.
From this particular chapter the biggest learning for me: "Always remember to think before you speak and act. You dont' have to always say or do something immediatly. Give it a little thought, determine the consequences and reactions, and then respond proactively." Throughout my courses, this message has been delivered over and over again....LISTEN- THINK-RESPOND.

October Face-to-Face

Our time together was very informative. I especially enjoyed listening to Dr. Linda Hauser share with us how to hold effective meetings. Being in a position where part of my job duties include providing support and staff training/developement to our teachers, this was so enlightening. I felt that Dr. Hauser provided us with great ideas, tools, and insight on how to get the most from those meetings. I will definitely share this knowledge with my principal as we prepare for our next staff meeting.
I really enjoyed hearing from Kevin Torosian. He was straight forward and  the information he shared was so helpful. Although I am limited right now as to what disciplinary actions I can and cannot enforce, I'm only months away from being an administrator on site that will have to refer to Ed Code for suspensions and may one day go through the process of expelling a student. Currently, I meet with students who are referred to the office and I do make parent phone calls and issue consequences, however, my prinicipal still handles all suspensions. I am fortunate that she also has me sit with her as she explains the Ed Code violation, preparing paperwork, and parent notification. I am receiving great guidance and training in an area that I need to feel more confident about. Kevin was able to provide some sound advice, explain procedures and protocol as to how to handle those tough disciplinary occurances.
The time in class was a bit of a reality check for me.....we are only months away from completion, this is the serious stuff we need to know to be effective leaders at our sites. I'm excited for the challenge and can't wait to move on to the next level!

Leadership Connectors, Trust

The big TRUST word.....the foundation to any kind of relationship. I've always said, "if you want to get rid if me, lie to me or destroy my trust in you, and I'm gone". That's how serious I take trust- and I am assuming others as well. When I was a teacher in the classroom, my friends and I watched many colleagues move up into administrative positions. We would then place bets on how long it would take before each person would forget what it's like in the classroom- and now that I think back, maybe we really wondering was how long would it take before we lost trust in that person?? As part of the administrative team at my site, it is top priority that I establish and maintain trust. I need them to know that when they need me, I'll be there and as a result, when I need them they will be there. Before opening our doors to our brand new school, our staff sat together and had a great conversation about how we wanted to feel when we walked onto campus. We listed all input...bottom line: trusted, supported, heard, safe...everything we've been reading about. One teacher even changed the Golden Rule: "treat others the way THEY want to be treated." - a little more to think about in how we treat each others.

Leadership Connector:Continuous Renewal

Well, this chapter certainly gave me much to think about. . . Myself and how to balance my life. I know that I don't, or haven't, taken much time to take care of myself since I began the cohort. I have let my priorities change. It has been a difficult journey trying to balance job, school, mommy, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. I love my new position as a leader- the relationships that are being built with teachers and staff, the new things I learn each day from my mentor about leading, and of course the students that are excited when I walk in their classroom to "hang out" for a bit. I love that my family and friends have become my biggest cheerleaders and, like me, can't wait to have one less plate on the table as I near the end of my studies. I have tried to keep my life organized and prioritize tasks so im not stressed at the last minute. The section on emotions validated many feelings I have had since starting my position. I really have had to focus on what makes me happy, what makes me tick, ect. What makes me happy is laughter.....plain and simple. Laughter is therapy for me....I feel all my stress escape me when I laugh, and so I seek the laughter (at work it's the playground, at home my family surrounds me with laughter, and my friends).
Ok- so, I know my busy schedule is not an excuse, but I am so busy I need an extra hour in my day to exercise! Once I am done with all this coursework, I'm re-activating my gym membership- promise! :-)

Leadership Connectors: Competence

     Well, this chapter certainly grabbed my interest. In my new position as part of the administrative team (Resource Teacher with GIS duties), I found much of this chapter helpful and reassuring. As I go through my days learning my new job, there are times when I question if I am doing a good job and am I providing the teachers with the support they need? After reading, I am confident that I am doing my job well and learning what/ how I will change so that I may perform my job even better.
     I am so fortunate to have an amazing principal and mentor who continues to guide me and teach me what I need to know and do to be an effective leader. I have made mistakes, and as tough as it is to admit when I've done something wrong, I've also used that opportunity as a learning and growing moment. In my position, I have already come across MANY times when I just don't know the answer - - but I am calling on people I trust who can direct me to the answer, so that I may continue to support our team. I want to be a good administrator, and so I must pay attention to those around me: listen, observe, reflect, analyze, refer to my mentors, make mistakes, learn from my mistakes, and make necessary changes. Fortunately, I love to learn. I was raised to be an independent, hard worker and to never give-up, never stop learning, never turn down an opportunity to challenge myself and grow. The words "I can't" or "I don't know" were not allowed in my home as a child, nor are they allowed in my home as a parent. As a teacher in the classroom, we followed those same rules, and my students were successful year after year..... seems now more than ever, I  am living by those words on a daily basis as I continue this path of learning my to become a successful leader. I can do this! I will learn how, I will find out, I will try, I will be the best I can be.