Characteristics of Great School Leaders

About a month ago there was an interesting blog started on the AASA Linked-In connection on "What are some of the characteristics that great school leaders possess?". I was taken with the thread of comments that followed but one struck me as outstanding and a model that we should all adhere to in our lives as educational leaders. The following comment was submitted by Dr. Diane Hatchett, an Assistant Middle School Principal from Owensboro, Kentucky:

" I believe that great school leaders possess a sense of urgency and with-it-ness that contributes to their ability to motivate others to do great things. They take ownership for their actions, while maintaining accountabilty and knowledge of best practices in the areas of teaching and learning. Notably, they listen to the stakeholders, invite others to collaborate and share in the decision-making process. In my opinion, these leaders have vision, clarity, openess, visibility and high expectations for themselves and those around them. 

Great school leaders utilize data to make informed decisions. They are not afraid to admit when they are wrong. They do not pretend to have all the answers. They ask questions and consult experts. They set goals, monitor progress and celebrate achievements. These leaders give others pat's on the back. They create a positive learning environment. These individuals are aware of their strengths and weakenesses and address them accordingly. They give credit where it is due. They share the joys and the sorrows. They never give up. The greater the obstacle, the harder they fight to overcome it. They look for win-win solutions.

Ultimately, leading by word, deed and action. Leaders such as these are both thinkers and doers who bring out the best in those around them. Great school leaders are effective communicators.They are able to speak the lanquage of students, faculty, staff and the community at large. They engage in partnerships. Great school leaders are never left behind. They utilize technology to captivate 21st century students. They are on the cutting, creative, innovative and willing to take risk. Above all great school leaders put students first."

I love the model that Dr. Hatchett describes, and I offer it to others around the world that seek to be invested in the educational lives of their students and their faculty. I hope it inspires others as we prepare for the 2011-12 school year.

The Jump to Light Speed: Life is a Highway

ISTE 2011 is over. The crowds have disappeared from the Philadelphia Convention Center (and especially the Reading Terminal Food market!). I am back in my office trying to put it all together for what it means for my school district, and how we will begin the new school year. Then, while driving into school I hear the Rascal Flatts song "Life is a Highway".

"Life's like a road that you travel on

There's one day here and the next day gone

Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand

Sometimes you turn your back to the wind"

 Then, it suddenly hits me, that we are all engaged in a journey with many bumps, turns, and speed variations. Despite the dinosaurs that refuse to consider change, we are still on that journey, anyway.

A journey on the open road of education is similar to Walt Whitman's poem the Song of the Open Road:

"AFOOT and light-hearted, I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose. "

So, some educators wonder, how they can begin that journey with students that are already engaged in the voyage.  Kim Cofino (http://goo.gl/p0xfw) created some interesting suggestions for those that would attempt the change: 

1) Learn to become a user of Web 2.0 tools. There are many different "apps" for every platform that will make a teacher's work so interesting and rewarding.

2) Organize a PLN (Personal Learning Network) with colleagues in your district or around your region that will support each other in this wonderful journey.

3) Join a social network such as My Space, Facebook, Twitter, or Classroom 2.0, Next GenTeachers and learn to become engaged with the net generations. As a school superintendent I have been actively engaged in these networks and have connected with hundreds of colleagues around the world, struggling on the same journey as well.

4) Learn how to use an RSS feed (Real Simple Syndication). I use Google Reader and subscribe to hundreds of different publications, including newspapers, magazines, and blogs. It has become my new Sunday paper, so to speak.

5) Attend conferences with other educators and see the world anew.

Dinosaurs don't really exist, but people do. It's ok to have your fears about all of this stuff, but take a chance, test the waters, and jump to light speed.

Dumb and Dumber Club

One of my worst learning nightmares at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in 1961 was being assigned to the "pewter" reading level due to some of my delayed learning issues, while everyone else was assigned to aqua, gold, platinum. For the rest of that year, I was pewter! So much for the SRA Reading Development Series in those years. When a student is assigned a number or a color, it predestines their life.

Day 3 at ISTE had a wonderful treat, Stephen Covey. How wonderful it was to hear him speak on the 7 habits and how they apply to our schools. Of particular note was his reference that test scores are the worst form of identity theft that exists. Reducing someone to a number that will determine their ability to get ahead in life without taking into consideration their humanity, creativity, and innovative skill sets is something out of a science fiction episode, such as the Twilight Zone.

But, tell that to our elected officials that have created this boondoggle entitled NCLB. They are so sure that testing students will encourage low performing individuals to get ahead, have no idea of the human spirit, and the capabilities of people to learn differently. US  Education Secretary Arne Duncan spoke at a conference saying :“I think one of the most insidious things that’s happened in this country over the past couple of decades has been the dumbing down of standards for children. In far too many states, including the state I come from, Illinois, we have been lying to children and lying to families in telling them they are prepared for college and careers when, in fact, they are nowhere near ready.”

I caught this quote from an article by Maureen Downey of the Atlanta Constitution Journal. I had to read it four times and I laughed that it came from none other than our US Secretary of Education, the purveryor of Race to the Top (or as I refer to it, Slip to the Bottom). In one statement he suggests that the standards are dumbed down. Then he proposes to fix that by making every student across the country take more tests, and forcing teachers to teach to the test in order to pass some "standard" determined by the likes of politicos at various levels of society.

So, refer back to Stephen Covey's comment. We dehumanize potential when we assign a number, a score, or an achievement descriptor that does not allow some people to be creative or to get ahead, or as Secretary Duncan describes, "dumb and dumber".

Time to have an alumni meeting with the other "pewter heads" at ISTE!!!

ISTE Day 2: How Do We Release the Potential?

21st Century School Leadership is an involved and challenging process, and so many of us realize that who are active in the profession. One initiative leads to another challenge, that leads to another failed attempt to break the structural impediments of 19th Century learning. To summarize today's sessions at ISTE2011 I can say the theme of relevance, sustainability, and replicability are necessary considerations for those of us that seek to build these systems.

A reminder, 21st Century best practices includes dynamic leadership, vision, culture of collaboration, an adapted reform process, new approaches to teaching and learning, high quality infrastructure and technology. Systems that instill in students the critical thinking skills that prepare them for college, and the world of work will achieve these rare feats of success. But, in the lyrics of the old children's song they are "petunias in onion patches".

The component structural model of 21st Century learning follows a model such as the following set of components, evidenced in model school districts in Louisiana and New York State:

1.  Setting the stage for innovation; creating a dynamic vision with appropriate stakeholders.

2.  Leadership; that uses the dynamic vision to to guide decision-making, hiring the right leaders and teachers to fulfill the vision.          

3.  Teaching and learning; aligning pedagogy with the vision, and reorganizing the physical structure of an older model of learning.

4.  Technology implementation; develop a plan for the implementation of technology

5.  Professional development; to reinforce training and support for employees

6.  Culture; establishing a true environment for collaboration, facilitation, and mentoring

7.  Partnerships; external and internal partnerships

8.  Replicability; using a within-the-budget mentality to control budget.

9.  Sustainability; creating induction programs to ensure the vision continues.

In one interesting session by Kipp Rogers, a MS Principal in Virginia, a wonderful presentation on the world of Web 2.0 activities and tools for school leaders. He is also the author of two books that focus on the use of cell phones, smart phones and other devices in the classroom. 

21st Century schools are possible and are very much needed and sought after. Here's hoping that the right people get the message.

Unlocking Our Students Potential

We had an excellent first day of the ISTE 2011 Conference in Philadelphia. The theme of the conference is "Unlocking the Potential", and we heard that echoed in so many ways by the various speakers at the general session. Beginning with host Mario Armstrong who echoed the idea that teachers are actually "secret agents" on a desperate mission to unlock the potential of children against the challenges of the economy, the APPR, NCLB, and our elected leaders!

The current educational system kills the dreams of children. We need to work within the system but to challenge it. The unconventional, can become the conventional. Creativity, innovation  and being incredible. Igniting the passion of children and turning on their learning. Education needs an overhaul.

And with that challenge I believe we need to encourage each teacher to accept one new initiative this year and challenge the system.

We need to become fearless as educators,  and reclaim our dream. Renew your dream and renew your promise as an inspiring teacher.

Professional Development for a Superintendent

Superintendents need professional development. As a 21st Century school leader, that is exactly how I am beginning the summer, right after graduation. I am sinking my proverbial professional development molars into the ISTE conference in Philadelphia, PA. It's amazing that more people do not take advantage of going to such a stimulating conference. I hear that only 12,000 people from around the world are here. Well, 12,000 people will be enlightened to learn the newest and greatest ideas on technology, data driven decision making, 1:1 learning system, a keynote by Steven Covey, and another by Johm Medina.

I will be covering the conference for all of my blog fans, so stay in touch and keep the faith. 

Digital Darwinism and My Mother

I have a wonderful mother. She is 85 years young and she has been a widow for over twenty years. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with her talking about things, and she surprised me with two startling questions:

What is "Facebook"? and "What does it mean to Twit-ter?"

Now, that may not sound so startling or amazing to some people, but for my mom to ask these questions was quite enlightening. My mom is the kind of person that would only use an automatic dishwasher when people were sick in the house, and she would never entertain the use of a microwave for fear of atomic radiation. So, for her to ask me what these two social media devices were was truly interesting. Her friends at the senior citizen center are all abuzz on using Facebook to stay in touch or connected to their grandchildren and other relatives. After showing my mom the wonders of Facebook and allowing her to see how she could stay in touch through social media with her family she became excited and wanted to have the capability to do the same.

In many ways, this is the perfect example of what has been recently defined as "digital Darwinism". That is when technology evolves faster than the ability of people to stay up with it. The fact that smart phones and tablets are proliferating thoughout the world, and most people still are only working with a desktop computer, is an example of this. There is a commercial for Best Buy that offers to buy back a former version of technology when the newer version comes out, so that people start realizing savings from their investment, if that is possible.

This past budget season we were asked many times by people about iPads being used by our administrators, and was this a good use of resources. I can only comment that upgrading the technology for our employees enhances the work they do and makes the school community more paperless and less dependent on many other traditional forms of resources. Next year, we are working on plans for students in the high school to begin bringing in their personal devices for use in taking notes, working on projects and classroom assignments. Eventually, we hope to stop purchasing the heavy and expensive textbooks in favor of electronic texts and other Internet-based media.

And who knows what the next level of media will be ?

For now, I plan on getting my Mom connected to the World Wide Web, and welcome her to the Global Internet!!