Power Dynamics

At my school, I believe that everyone has power in their own area of the school.  The custodians have the power and responsibility of keeping the school clean.  The cafeteria workers have the power and responsibility of making sure the kitchen is clean, breakfast and lunch are ready on time, an making sure that every student gets a nutritious meal.  Teachers and students have power and responsibility in their classrooms.  The secretaries have power and responsibility in the office and administrative aspects of the school.  The principal and assistant principal have power and responsibility over the entire school.  Part of their responsibility is making sure that all of the other individuals are preforming their duties (aka what their power is).

This information is very useful if you want to influence change.  When you want to change something, you first have to look at what is being changed and who has the power over this change.  /you would to talk to these individuals out the change and try to get to get them on your side or if hey have reasons why the change would not be good.  After you ha gotten the okay from all of the individuals whose range of powers fall under the change, you can then bring the change to your principal and/or assistant principal.  This way you can let the principal and/or assistant principal know that you have already taken these steps and adjusted the change's proposal based on these individuals' input.  By seeing that you have already done your research with all of those who will be effected, the principal and/or assistant principal will be more likely to back up your plan for change and allow it to occur.

For example, if you wanted to change what time your students came to receive their breakfast or lunch for a special day, you would want to involve the cafeteria staff as this is where their power is.  You also would want to talk to the other teachers who either normally have the same meal time as you or that your time change will put at the same meal time as you.  Once you have discussed with the cafeteria staff this change and together have come up with a plan, you can take the plan to your principal and/or assistant principal for approval.  Seeing that you have already gotten a solid plan form the cafeteria staff, the principal and/or assistant principal will be able to either approve the change or give you reasons why change is not possible at this time.

Strength-Based Leadership

There are several ways that strength-based leadership supports a community of practice.  Strength-based leadership focuses on one's strengths.  As a mentor or administrator, you want to look at the strengths of those that work under and with you.  Encourage these strengths.  Encouraging strengths will encourage people to practice their strengths, thus building the strengths even stronger.  By focusing on strengths, others will be more motivated and happier in whatever they do.  This is not to say ignore theie weaknesses.  However, if you only see weaknesses and never any positive, thosee working with you will lose motivation and will power.  People need to hear that they are doing well on something to give them a sense of accomplishment.  This will build confidence and motivation.  People will then be more willing to practice on their strengths and their weaknesses making them better all around.  As a leader, it is important to focus on the positives (strengths) while not ignoring the negatives (weaknesses).

Personal Leadership?

So you want to be a teacher leader?  That''s great!  But where do you start?  In order to be a great teacher leader of others, you first have to start with yourself.  Throughout this course I hope to learn what skills and characteristics are necessary in an effective leader.  Once I know what these characteristics are, I will be able to determine how they fit into my personality and style.  I will then be able to build on my weakness and turn them into strengths while at the same time honing my strengths.  Once I become a better leader of myself, I will be able to become a better leader of others.