Modeling the way

Modeling the Way - Assignment - who were my models of leadership?


When I look back at the people who have influenced my leadership style, I would have to begin with my first principal, Dorothy. A faith-filled, soft-spoken, yet strong leader, Dorothy modeled a collegiate style in everything she did, from staff meetings, to organizing her team of teachers and support staff at the school. I always felt that I could go to her with a problem and that she would hear me. Many times, I would come up with my own answers in my discussions with her. Her sense of humour and affection for children fit with my own belief in how an educator should behave and she often would affirm my own beliefs for me and the students I worked with. I never felt that I was inferior as support staff. In fact, her gratitude towards support staff often shone through and gave me the boost of confidence that I needed.

When I first went into administration as an assistant principal, my supervisor and principal, Gary, provided me with a different model. Strong convictions and passion for Catholic education was always evident in his dealings with staff, students and the public. Gary was also tuned into parents and the community, often considering them in decisions regarding the school. If he did not consult them directly, he would put their views before the rest of us when we were planning lessons, student activity days, or putting comments on our report cards. His leadership style was different from Dorothy’s in that although he consulted staff on issues, he often made decisions behind closed doors. I never questioned these decisions at first, because, quite honestly, I was a little intimidated. Also, these decisions too often made sense. After we got to know each other better, Gary would often consult me in my areas of expertise and in fact, let me carry the load at times. The transition to principal for me, in Gary’s footsteps, was not onerous as we had similar values and beliefs. In fact, his modelling of strength of conviction, combined with Dorothy’s affectionate ways proved to be a great combination that I adopted in my own leadership style.

As I continue to grow in leadership, I am provided with yet another model for leading and learning: my superintendent, Betty. She is intelligent, experienced, and believes in a team approach to leadership. She often reminds us that we need to build capacity in our schools, support for ourselves and for our students. While her expectations are high for us, she is an understanding leader. In our principal’s meetings, she models how we can also lead our own teams. Under her leadership, we are also reminded that we are learners and we do not need to do everything alone. Her team supports her and she expects us to develop teams at our schools to support us. While we are developing these teams, she provides her support either directly or indirectly through her team members. It is because of Betty and her encouragement that I am taking this leadership course, and because of her support, I feel I can achieve greatness.

Credo

Credo Memo - Assignment - to leave a fictitious memo to staff, letting them know the principles with which I make my decisions as leader while I am away on sabbatical.

This Credo is not only representative of the 'work' me, but of the 'home' me as well. :-)

I believe in God. All life comes from God. This is evident to me each day: the survival of children born too early, genetics, rainbows, a woman living for 35 years with Multiple Sclerosis, and the resiliency of children, to name a few examples. Between God’s grace and my faith in it, I get through days that would otherwise defeat me.

I believe in the power of family. Family can have a positive or negative impact. Children need their families and when their home life is unstable, or they have little family support, the school becomes their family...in loco parentis. We need to take this seriously, building relationship with our students and their families. Parents are the first educators of our students and we must always maintain open communications with them, including them when we can in our planning, teaching, and in the evaluation process. Understanding the culture our students are being brought up in is critical to maintaining these open communications.

I believe in Catholic education. Teaching and leading in a Catholic school allows me to bring hope into the picture, using prayer, virtues education, and faith in God to bridge the historical, the present, and the future. I also believe in lower case “c” catholic education, universal, for all and for each student. Students in rural Alberta, from poverty stricken and/or broken homes deserve the best education, equal to any other in the province. It is education that will bring hope for the future, breaking the bonds of poverty and ignorance, and changing narrow attitudes. Education is more than academic, involving making connections between students’ lives and the outside world.

Leadership - where does it come from?

Where does leadership come from? I think I 'got' it from my family. As the eldest of 8 children, there was always someone to lead. Then I just felt right joining groups at school and in the community. Eventually, I was elected or volunteered for executive positions. My husband says it's because I don't sit on my hands. :-) Sometimes I think it's because I'm impatient. I know what I want and how to get it and I don't wait for someone else to lead the way.

Leadership can be a gift or a curse, depending upon how you look at it. I prefer to look at things from the sunshiny side and I would say that it is a gift. I enjoy my job, even though sometimes it is extremely challenging.

In this leadership course I am involved in, one assignment was to write a Credo memo to my staff, role playing that I would be gone for six months and using this Credo as a basis for decision making while I was gone. The other assignment was to reflect on role models that prepared us for leadership in education. Both of these assignments allowed me the time and space to think about how I became a leader and what it is that I stand for. I did not have to think long and hard, but putting these thoughts down on paper is holding me accountable to both. :-)