@TeranceShipman Over my 25-year career as a teacher, I have had 11 principals. This year, I get number 12. There have been numerous assistant principals and other administrative staff, but what separates a great administrator and leader from the ones who shouldn’t be in that position at all? As I see it, there are certain core leadership skills that ensure a leader’s, and ultimately, their entire team’s success.
1.We are a team. Leaders who understand and embody the concept of teamwork are most likely to be successful. Administrators who understood they cannot do it alone and that their teachers and staff can’t do it alone either tend to be the best administrators. These administrators know that team bonding takes time and effort, and they watch their school’s dynamics carefully, knowing when to step in, and when to let the individuals do their thing. In the end, the team concept makes for school successful.
2.Be Firm, Fair, and Focused. I’ve witnessed teachers and staff respect leaders who were firm, fair, and focused. There are times that leaders must be firm, but a good leader recognizes that firm doesn’t mean being confrontational or belittling. It means to vocalize in way that leads to the betterment of the person and the school. I think that trying to be fair to everyone is very important for a leader. If a leader isn’t consistently fair to the entire faculty and staff, the word gets around quickly and leads to mistrust of the leader. The overall mission of the organization will fail if the leader fails to garner and maintain the trust of his faculty and staff. Lastly, a leader must always be focused. The school leader is the driving force behind the organization achieving the goals they set. A focused leader with a clear vision helps the teachers and staff realize achievement and growth.
3.Do the Right Thing. Great leaders don’t jump on every new bandwagon; great leaders do what was best for their schools. It takes a lot of guts to stand up to the state and school boards. Great administrators find that courage because they know their teachers, staff, and students and they are keenly aware of the best practices for their teachers, staff, and students. And although there may be some mandatory regulations that must be followed, the strong leaders I’ve known recognize when it is best to encourage their teachers, staff, and students to continue on the path that leads to achievement, growth, and ultimately, success rather than standing behind arbitrary impositions.
4.I Too Was a Teacher. One characteristic of many excellent educational leaders is that they were teachers and lean on their knowledge and experience of being a classroom teacher to help guide their leadership. These administrators are keenly aware of the angst and uncertainty new teachers experience as the work their way through their beginning years. These administrators clearly understand the importance of administrative support to all teachers. Moreover, these administrators know how to approach teachers with the respect and dignity that the profession deserves. Unfortunately, not all administrators who have teaching experience lean on that experience, and I have seen so many administrators lose perspective and understanding of the specialized nuances and circumstances that make teaching a noble and unique profession once they gain a leadership position. But I do indeed loved the administrators who don’t forget what it is to be a teacher and those who appreciate the art of teaching and are respectfully thankful for the hard work their teachers do each day.
Dr. Terance Shipman is a veteran educator and writer. He works as a middle school teacher. He is also the author of Mr. Shipman’s Kindergarten Chronicles. He has worked in this field for 25 years and is an alumni of Tuskegee University, Hampton University, University of West Georgia and Clark Atlanta University.
1.We are a team. Leaders who understand and embody the concept of teamwork are most likely to be successful. Administrators who understood they cannot do it alone and that their teachers and staff can’t do it alone either tend to be the best administrators. These administrators know that team bonding takes time and effort, and they watch their school’s dynamics carefully, knowing when to step in, and when to let the individuals do their thing. In the end, the team concept makes for school successful.
2.Be Firm, Fair, and Focused. I’ve witnessed teachers and staff respect leaders who were firm, fair, and focused. There are times that leaders must be firm, but a good leader recognizes that firm doesn’t mean being confrontational or belittling. It means to vocalize in way that leads to the betterment of the person and the school. I think that trying to be fair to everyone is very important for a leader. If a leader isn’t consistently fair to the entire faculty and staff, the word gets around quickly and leads to mistrust of the leader. The overall mission of the organization will fail if the leader fails to garner and maintain the trust of his faculty and staff. Lastly, a leader must always be focused. The school leader is the driving force behind the organization achieving the goals they set. A focused leader with a clear vision helps the teachers and staff realize achievement and growth.
3.Do the Right Thing. Great leaders don’t jump on every new bandwagon; great leaders do what was best for their schools. It takes a lot of guts to stand up to the state and school boards. Great administrators find that courage because they know their teachers, staff, and students and they are keenly aware of the best practices for their teachers, staff, and students. And although there may be some mandatory regulations that must be followed, the strong leaders I’ve known recognize when it is best to encourage their teachers, staff, and students to continue on the path that leads to achievement, growth, and ultimately, success rather than standing behind arbitrary impositions.
4.I Too Was a Teacher. One characteristic of many excellent educational leaders is that they were teachers and lean on their knowledge and experience of being a classroom teacher to help guide their leadership. These administrators are keenly aware of the angst and uncertainty new teachers experience as the work their way through their beginning years. These administrators clearly understand the importance of administrative support to all teachers. Moreover, these administrators know how to approach teachers with the respect and dignity that the profession deserves. Unfortunately, not all administrators who have teaching experience lean on that experience, and I have seen so many administrators lose perspective and understanding of the specialized nuances and circumstances that make teaching a noble and unique profession once they gain a leadership position. But I do indeed loved the administrators who don’t forget what it is to be a teacher and those who appreciate the art of teaching and are respectfully thankful for the hard work their teachers do each day.
Dr. Terance Shipman is a veteran educator and writer. He works as a middle school teacher. He is also the author of Mr. Shipman’s Kindergarten Chronicles. He has worked in this field for 25 years and is an alumni of Tuskegee University, Hampton University, University of West Georgia and Clark Atlanta University.