You may have been asked by a mentor to lead.
You
may feel drawn to lead.
You
may want to push yourself to grow.
Teacher leadership requires that you be
open to new experiences – and to learning.
Take the first step.
You
need to trust your abilities.
You
wouldn’t be in this position if people didn’t believe in you, so…
Believe
in those who believe in you.
Don’t
doubt your talent.
Know who you are.
Not everyone is going to understand
why you want to step into this role;
some may even question your motives.
It will require you to carefully straddle
two worlds.
Sometimes
you will feel torn in different directions.
Build a PLN.
Look outside the classroom and school
for professional learning opportunities.
It may SEEM like more work at first, but the
connections will leave you refreshed and re-invigorated.
Grow it through
local networking opportunities, Twitter, and conferences – start
today.
Be flexible.
You
will feel your views growing and changing; this is normal.
You
may find yourself questioning your previous beliefs; this is not a sign of
weakness.
Keep
stretching.
Trust the journey.
Sometimes you will feel you are
moving a million miles a minute.
Other times you will feel you are barely moving a
mile a minute and it feels as though you’re going nowhere
This is normal too.
Always be solution-oriented.
See
the possibilities.
Leadership will open up opportunities for you to
see what’s possible.
Your networks will help you identify
solutions you may not have even seen.
Take
risks.
Do
not be afraid to explore ideas that may initially seem
implausible/impossible… or impassible.
Dedicate time to thinking through the
process.
Identify the steps it would take to
become a reality.
Make it happen!
There will be stumbles; look at
these as learning blocks for success.
What
did you discover along the way – About others? About yourself?
What
do you still need to learn? How will you find it?
Build capacity.
Many times you will want to act like the
top picture and need to act like the bottom one (buy-in).
Look for enhanced perspective when
others’ disagree.
Encourage others to shine.
Know when to speak and when to hold
your tongue.
Sometimes it’s okay to remain quiet; this is a sign of strength.
Take
good notes and give yourself time (and possibly a thought partner) to generate
a response.
Give
others space to share their thoughts as well.
Make good choices.
This will not always mean pleasing
everyone; as a matter of fact, it will hardly ever mean this.
Consider the variables and stakeholders.
Always lead with students in mind, even
if it’s not the most convenient decision for adults.
Celebrate
the success
of others.
Look
for
the positive all around you; notice what
others are doing.
Make
time to recognize
others; put the word “recognition” on your
task list and make it a daily habit.
Parties – of every kind – are
important for team morale.
This doesn’t have to be a plaque;
it can be a quick connection in the hallway.
Remain involved.
Stay
close
to the classroom and involved with students whenever possible.
Keep the gap closed.
Don’t give someone a chance to say, “You forget what it is like in
the classroom.”
Make
time for reflection.
It’s
okay to be alone.
Close your office or classroom door.
Turn off the lights.
Be quiet.
Be the bridge between teachers, administrators, and students.
You
will get to see all their various perspectives.
Things
that appear large from one side of the looking glass will appear much smaller
from the other side.
Advocate for all of them.
Keep the goal in mind to
guide you.
Don’t just know who you are – know where you’re going.
When
you’re at a crossroads and don’t know which direction to go –
use students as your guide
Your
day should begin and end with kids; they will anchor you.
Where
to begin?
The
beginning is different for everyone…
Just
start – or continue to grow – and keep going!
Teacher
leadership is a special role.
Take
the first step.
Be
crazy.
The
best of us are.
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