"You will develop the ability to be a 360-Degree Leader by learning to lead up (with your leader), lead across (with your colleagues), and lead down (with your followers)." 

                                                                      - John C. Maxwell 

 

 

Leadership begins with you.  When I enter my favorite bookstore, I seem to be drawn to the leadership books.  You may have read the books or skimmed the titles on a recent trip to the bookstore.  The titles include The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Wooden on Leadership, The Servant Leader, Leading Change, The 360 Degree Leader, and Leadership Lessons of the Navy Seals.  These books inspire me and they provide me with strategies for supporting teachers and administrators. Today, I would like to emphasize the important role that leadership plays in K-12 education.  Regardless of your title, leadership matters.  I would also like to encourage you to share a leadership experience by posting your story at the end of this blog/article.

Superintendent

The superintendent sets the tone for the entire school district.  When you think of a strong leader, you think of a visionary, a communicator, and a person who respects input and feedback from others.  The role of the superintendent is possibly more difficult than ever.  With the 24/7 media and social media, the superintendent's comments and actions can be posted on Twitter or Facebook before the end of a school board meeting.  Strong leadership skills are required and great superintendents realize that they cannot be effective without strong leaders throughout the school district.  If you have ever met a superintendent who likes to run the district without feedback from principals and teacher leaders, then you met an ineffective superintendent.

Principal

Over the past decade, principals have been criticized for low test scores, low graduation rates, high dropout rates, a failure to create a safe school, and poor communication with students and families.  The role of the principal is scrutinized by teachers, families, business leaders, the media, and even blogs and social media.  It is a stressful job and it requires thick skin.  However, leaders across the United States have stepped up to the challenge.  Leadership at this level requires leading up and leading down.  Principals use their influence to gain more resources and opportunities for students and teachers.  They also need to be willing to listen to stakeholders.  The "John Wayne" principal is a thing of the past.  Today's principal needs to be a communicator, collaborator, visionary, and curriculum leader.  

Teacher

If I hear the phrase, "I'm just a teacher" one more time I may get sick.  Teachers are the backbone and the heartbeat of the American public school.  The role of the professional teacher is more important than ever.  With the nation's goal of College and Career Readiness for all students, teacher leaders are in a position to prepare more students than ever for the next level or course.  Teacher leaders are emerging across the United States.  At one point in history, the only [perceived] leaders in the building were the school administrators and the department chair(s).  As more schools begin to operate as a professional learning community, the role of the teacher leader is becoming more prominent.  A teacher does not need to wait until their twentieth year of teaching to become a leader.  He or she should feel empowered to lead because of their teaching certification or graduate degree.  Teacher leaders are the heartbeat of a school and a school district and their leadership role is more important than ever.

Teacher Assistant

Teacher assistants are leaders and they play a critical role in supporting students.  Long ago, teacher assistants would take students to the restroom, serve as monitors during lunch duty, and make sure students stayed on task.  The role of the teacher assistant in the 21st century classroom is to support the learning goals developed by the teacher.  As a second adult in the classroom, the teacher assistant can offer insight on student's strengths and weaknesses.  The teacher assistant can serve as a leader by learning more about the Common Core State Standards and supporting implementation of the new standards.

Additional ASCD EDge Leadership Articles for Educators:

Curriculum Leadership

Leadership Truths for Curriculum Leaders

Permanent White Water

The 360 Degree Leader

Please share one of your leadership experiences as a Teacher Assistant, Teacher, Principal, or Superintendent.  You can share your experience below by responding to the blog.