The five practices include modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart. After reading about the five practices of exemplary leadership, modeling the way and challenging the process both provided me with an “ah ha” moment. I never thought about how much the way I do something shows how I feel, positive or negative, about that something. After reading this chapter, it made it clear to me that I need to practice what I preach. For example, when I was the technology coordinator I would tell teachers one way to clean the computer so that it would be done the proper way, however I would not follow that for my computer. I now understand that people (teachers) follow what I do more than what I say.
Challenging the process stood out to me because during my 6 years working in an elementary school I always saw teachers and the principal doing what was told to them, even if it was not what was best for the students. I also witnesses teachers being forced out of their positions for not doing what was told to them. I guess I just assumed this is the way education is. After readings in week 1 and following weeks, I know that it takes challenging the process in order for change to happen. The school I worked in was struggling to make AYP. I think if the principal would have challenged something, then the school could begin to change.
I found the idea of school reform challenging because as a newly appointed principal in a school that needs reform, I think “How will I know what is the best model or way to help the school?” I think the whole idea of creating change in a school that will affect teachers, students, parents, and the community is a heavy burden for anyone especially a principal. I think it is challenging for a principal because they have all eyes watching, the superintendent from above and the school community from below. When thinking about school reform I think about the first school I taught at. The school was struggling and a first time principal was appointed my first year. Her job was to change the school in order for the school to make AYP. After knowing what I know now from this course and looking back, I can see things she did that were pieces of the puzzle of good leadership but she was missing vital pieces to successfully reform the school. Some items she left out of the puzzle include: creating a shared vision, creating a positive culture, and understanding the diverse population of the school. During my 5 years at the school, with her principal, it was not successful and borderline disaster in many aspects. I feel like once she was appointed principal she forgot the things she learned in her A&S program and I do not want to walk the same path she did.
To avoid the path that my principal walked, I think I have to remember to be an authentic leader. An authentic leader is someone who has integrity and is competent. A leader with integrity will “preach what they believe and practice what they preach” (Evans, 2007, p. 136). A leader who is competent has characteristics that include: “craft knowledge, life experience, native intelligence, common sense, intuition, courage and the capacity to “handle things”” (Evans, 2007, p. 136). I believe that if I remember to have integrity and am able to recall my knowledge gained form this course, future courses, and life experiences, then I will be able to be an effective leader.
I think educational technology issues are always changing and that makes it hard as a leader in a school to implement technology in an efficient way. Two years ago interactive white boards were all the “rage”, but now it is being realized that having a white board in the classroom does not increase test scores. So, now the new trend is 1:1 with tablets. I think it is hard as a leader to know exactly what technology should be used in the classroom to improve student achievement. I think the idea is less about the technology and more about teacher instruction. I believe that good teachers can make any item, material, and/or technology work in their classroom for students. As an educational leader I will support quality teacher instruction that also may or may not utilize technology.
I have found the course extremely challenging because of the quality of information given in the short amount of time. I have learned so much and hope I remember what I have learned when it comes time to application.
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