ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP: By Kristi Bush
This issue’s topic,
“Essentials for 21st
Century
century classroom. As I considered this information, however, I then thought about the leadership needed to allow for the professional development, learning community, and “toolbox” needed for this type of learning environment. There are some truly essential ways in which administrators can empower their staff to move forward with this important learning initiative.
Teaching and Learning,” created a dilemma for me. As a teacher, I immediately narrowed my view to that of the classroom teacher’s necessities. My brainstorming produced a rich list of resources, along with qualities and attitudes, which I believed would contribute to an ideal 21st
24 |
Paving the Path
Administrators
There is no question that administrators have the potential to lead their buildings forward with enhanced opportunities and resources. Some members of their staff will pursue 21st
century
teaching as a way to enhance their instruction and to enrich their students’ learning opportunities. As they determine both the requirements and the elective experiences presented to their staff, superintendents and principals pave the path that is either wide and easy to travel or narrow and difficult to traverse.
Leading By Example
Perhaps the essentials that we can identify here start with the administrator’s own exposure to the future of education. I have heard our building principal Doug Bush say, “We will either be ahead of the curve, on the curve, or behind the curve.” The point is, there is a curve. So how do administrators ensure that their staff is ahead of the curve? The first step is to lead by example. Administrators who embrace document sharing with tools such as Google Docs, data collection with web resources like Survey Monkey, blended instruction with e-learning platforms such as Blackboard or Moodle, networking with blogs and wikis, and so forth not only pave the way for their teachers, but they also take the first spin around the track to ensure that it is a solid, dependable and worthwhile road to travel!
Teachers as Additional Leaders
It would be impossible for one individual to master all of the tools and resources available, however, so the next challenge lies with tapping efficient and reliable resources to provide additional leadership. According to a contributor only identified as “Neil!” on the blog “21st
Century Learning” (http://21stcenturylearning.
typepad.com/blog/2007/02/teacher_as_lead.html), “Teachers who feel they are respected as educational leaders are more effective in and out of the classroom. Administrators who understand how to lead in such a way as to utilize the leadership skills of teachers while still allowing them to remain in the
Conference 2011 | MACULJOURNAL
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36