Life-Changing Experiences Ahead

Well it is official... after two years, I have completed my specialized Turn-Around leadership training. The Principal Rapid Orientation and Preparation in Educational Leadership (PROPEL) program is designed to create leaders with the skills needed to work in my district's neediest schools. Our final course in Critical Urban Education was the end of a rigorous fast-paced program, during which I earned my degree in Educational Leadership along with both my Level 1 & Level 2 (Principal) credentials. So now that I am done....what's next?

Now the process begins....While I have my principal credentials, I will still need Assistant Principal experience before I am ready to take the helm of my own school. So my application for Assistant Principal positions is in the process of being "tweeked". Included is the extensive list of trainings with more than a dozen leadership trainings with the Center for Leadership and Learning, DDI training, SREB training, Marzano's Interrater Reliabilty Training, trainings in Data Teams and " Visible Learning". We studied Strategic Leadership, learned change theory, and all about 90-90-90 Schools. I understand how to build internal and external relationships, cultivate partnerships, and can develop a marketing plan that would rival an ad agency. More importantly, the PROPEL program was designed so that we gained real- world practical experience as learned about and applied the theories being taught in class. If you followed my blog over the past two years, you will see how these experiences have changed my thinking and ignited in me a desire to make a difference for a group of students that needs a leader with all the tools they can possible have!!

So... Its time to take the next step... to venture off in a new direction. This blog will continue to evolve as I transition into an official leadership role, and as I continue to learn and grow as a leader. As a life-long learner I have plans to continue on in school...working on my Ph.D.  All the classes I have taken this past year are part of that program, but I suspect it will take another 4 years to complete my Ph.D, so grad school will be in my future for a while! For now, I will begin applying for positions and hope that I will be placed wherever I can do the most good for children. Changes are in store, and I am looking forward to the ride!!!

Relationships and Leadership

Successful leaders need to be able to cultivate and nurture relationships. While this is true for leaders, it is equally true for us as individuals. On March 31st, the Huffington Post published an article called 8 Signs You're In The Right Relationship. According to the author, the 8 telling signs are designed to provide more concrete proof that you are with that special person. As I read the article, I reflected on a past relationship... Based on the fact that very few, if any, of the "signs" existed, it is no wonder that things worked out the way they did. On the other hand, almost all of the signs do exist in my current relationship, so if I view the information as truthful, I'm hopeful that I got it right this time around!!

Of course, as is often the case, when I reflect on what I have read, I relate it to all aspects of my life. This was no different. So taking a little creative liberty with the content of the article by rephrasing it to address leadership relationships, here are signs that you have a positive relationship with individuals in your work place:

1. You know what your staff needs to feel appreciated, even if those needs are different than yours. (Try reading  "The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace:Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People" by Gary Chapman and Paul White)

2. Conflicts are handled in a respectful and productive manner. Try reading "Working with Difficult People" by Muriel Soloman.

3. The relationship bolsters each person's self-esteem.

4. You are different enough to bring new perspectives, but on the same page where it matters most.

5. You are willing to put "we" before "me." There is a commitment to the greater good.

6. There is a genuine concern and emotional response when the person is not around.

Obviously, some if the signs in the article are NOT appropriate for the workplace, but the desire to put the people and the relationships with the people we work with in the forefront is essential if we hope to develop the relationships that can transform our schools.This focus on the development and well being of others and the desire to serve is consistent  with a model of leadership known as Servant leadership.

 Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership is an organization designed to share information about aspects of Servant Leadership. They offer a multitude of training materials, have a wide selection of books and even host an annual conference. Building effective relationships is crucial for all leaders, but for leaders in "Turn-Around" schools relationships are even more important.