“To lead is to live dangerously.” I am intrigued by the phrase coined by Heiftiz and Linsky (Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading). To live dangerously conjures up images of risk, adventure, and going beyond what I think is possible. But what about leading could be so dangerous? Here I pause.
I am a teacher. When in the classroom I work tirelessly. During the day I teach. At night I prepare. I am forever on, ready to respond to questions and to face day in and day out challenges that life in a middle school brings. I work with colleagues who inspire and extend a hand, offering hope and encouragement. I bang my head against the wall as I try to navigate the educational legalese that seems to be so hurtful to those in education. I celebrate the successes of children and families. I shout hooray when the system does help. I smile deeply when a student offers his or her wisdom. These children before me our the future. How could I not advocate on their behalf?
Where does the danger lie in opening the door to leading? It lies in expressing an opinion or belief that challenges someone elses. It lurks in making a mistake or stepping on someone’s toes. It sleeps in the dark pockets of gossip only to awaken under the eye of public scrutiny. It haunts me and holds me back; a perfectionist at heart, I do not want to get it wrong.
Yet there is a thrill to danger too. This thrill exists in the moment when creativity blossoms. It comes alive when the change begins. It thrives when possibilities are realized. Well, to lead is an opening up to the hard work is ahead. It is a call to action.
Teacher voice – classroom teachers desire to be heard and listened too. Where shall we begin? Why is change so difficult? Who should lead change in schools?
Change is so difficult because there are so many different stakeholders and all of us have different opinions about how and what things need to be changed. But most educators see that things could be changed for the better and do what they can in their own environment to make improvements.
ReplyDeleteThink nationally, act locally. That's a start.
I would love to see if teachers got to say a lot in school reform, but my concern is that there would be so many teachers that I wouldn't trust to do that. I would trust teachers associated with TFA/KIPP to help lead because of the optimism/energy. We need to pull from selected areas. I'm afraid of what you might get in general: some are great. Some are not.
ReplyDeleteTeachers and students have to have a say. Telling us what to do without our input infuriates teachers, which ultimately affects the students. In some cases, states need to have a hand in t when it gets too bad. Change is just as political as anything else. Its about power and job security.
ReplyDeleteIf the change comes from the top-down, then people just act resentful because they're being told what to do. But if you have a voice in it... I mean I think it does take the administration sometimes to say, you know what, this is what needs to happen, and that is okay. I am fine with that. There's a place for them to make these certain executive decisions because they have other parties they need to be responsible for. But I do need to feel that I can advocate for the teacher's point of view and that I'm being heard. And that is really good.
ReplyDeleteWho should lead change? Educators, parents, businesses, community leaders. Change is difficult because it actually requires that people talk about serious problems and work at solving those problems.
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