The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
-Colin Powell
I took an educational leadership class once…until I dropped it. The class was taught by a professor who has never worked as a school leader in K12. The course was supposed to be about the basic requirements of school leadership and it somehow ended up being about issues of racism, professional development, and making presentations. If this is any indication of how our current crop of educational leaders are prepared we shouldn’t be surprised that our schools are failing.
I’m in the process of working toward become a local school leader and I think there are several keys do’s and don’ts when working toward becoming a succesful school leader.
Do:
1. Start out as a teacher leader in a core content area. I have nothing against coaches/band teachers who become Principals and Assistant Principals but I think it best that you know the pressure of high stakes testing and being evaluated based on the academic performance of your students before evaluating someone else on those same guidelines. Experience is a hell of a teacher.
2. Get yourself a battle tested mentor. You don’t, and won’t, have all of the answers. An older, wiser ed leader can help you steer clear of the mistakes that they’ve made in their careers. Listen twice as much as you talk.
3. Work in business or take a business management class before trying to step into the position of an ed leader. Educators are taught to manage children. Individuals who work in business are taught to manage adults. Ed leaders have to manage both.
4. Lead by example. If your team sees that you are willing to do what you are asking them to do they’re more likely to trust your judgment and honor your requests.
Don’t
1. Try to run before you crawl. Learn the ins and outs of school leadership from every angle. Trying to step into an ed leadership position before learning all of the angles can leave you looking like a jerk. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen.
2. Do anything without a plan. Too many ed leaders make it up as they go. The kids suffer. Morale suffers. And ultimately you lose support from your people.
3. Fail to recognize the work of your people. Most often, people will work hard for you if they know you appreciate what they do. If you fail to recognize hard work morale will die.
4. Forget that all ed leaders started out as classroom teachers. Remember your roots and stay grounded.
5. Stretch the truth about your areas of expertise. Given enough time the embellishments will start to show. Again, your people will instantly lose respect for you and that’s a hard thing to regain once it’s gone.
I hope I can follow my own advice when the time comes.
