TL;DR: Watching my sons, I have noticed their leadership skills develop. It has allowed me to reflect on different leadership approaches. Becoming a leader is a journey and different people take different paths. Take time to learn and develop as a leader. It will help you be ready for the right position. Every opportunity is a learning experience that will … Read More
The Gift of Leadership
TL;DR: There are five aspects to the gift of leadership. We need to see potential, believe in others, nurture the skill, teach leadership explicitly, and then we must provide opportunities to empower them to lead. Leadership is a skill that needs to be developed. Just like all teachers are leaders, all students are leaders too. Notice, name, and nurture. Show … Read More
I’m Not Perfect
TL;DR: We have to model what we want to see, and that is that we aren’t perfect. Leaders should model imperfections and vulnerability to their staff. Mistakes should be seen as learning opportunities or learning experiences. No One Is Perfect In my last blog I talked about “how your people see you” and “being intentional about who you are to … Read More
The Road to the Principalship
TL;DR: The road to the principalship involves the following five behaviors and demonstrated leadership skills developed over time with evidence of action: good leaders ask great questions, build relationships, stand out in the crowd, and are risk-takers and collaborative leaders. The words on the resume should match the leader’s actual work in schools. Each spring, assistant principals begin applying for … Read More
What If We Had Engaging Meetings?
TL;DR: It’s important to prioritize our time with staff during meetings to connect, grow, discuss important issues, and allow for collaborative decision-making. Be intentional with how you structure meetings. Flip the staff meeting and share information ahead of time via email, Flipgrid, Smore Newsletters, Padlet, or a Google Document with hyperlinks. Offer an opportunity for teacher voice through the Amplify-Sunset-Create … Read More