Comments on: Are Teachers Leaders? http://www.edtechswami.com/are-teachers-leaders/ Not another expensive paperweight Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:25:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Russ Goerend http://www.edtechswami.com/are-teachers-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Russ Goerend Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:14:25 +0000 http://www.edtechswami.com/?p=190#comment-148 Scott, I agree and understand. However, in the position I'm (teachers are) in, as I said in my original post, that leaves us just a few choices: become an admin, get after it anyway, forget about being a leader. I'm (teachers are) choosing to get after it anyway. The problem is <strong>not</strong> that some administrators don't know. That's just a fact of life. A lot of teachers don't know either. The problem is when those who do <em>get it</em> are told to wait around for the people above them to get it, <em>instead of being pushed to show those above them what <strong>it </strong>is. </em>If administrators are <strong>smart enough </strong>to invite teachers into their scope of influence, that change we're all looking for can happen more quickly. That's what's going on in my district. That's why I'm optimistic about the way I've gone about leading. I can recognize, though, that it takes an administrator with the right mindset to allow this kind of leadership. Scott, I agree and understand. However, in the position I’m (teachers are) in, as I said in my original post, that leaves us just a few choices: become an admin, get after it anyway, forget about being a leader. I’m (teachers are) choosing to get after it anyway.

The problem is not that some administrators don’t know. That’s just a fact of life. A lot of teachers don’t know either. The problem is when those who do get it are told to wait around for the people above them to get it, instead of being pushed to show those above them what it is. If administrators are smart enough to invite teachers into their scope of influence, that change we’re all looking for can happen more quickly. That’s what’s going on in my district. That’s why I’m optimistic about the way I’ve gone about leading. I can recognize, though, that it takes an administrator with the right mindset to allow this kind of leadership.

]]> By: Scott McLeod http://www.edtechswami.com/are-teachers-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Scott McLeod Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:45:40 +0000 http://www.edtechswami.com/?p=190#comment-147 Thank you for your thoughtful comments and extension of the conversation between myself and Russ. Teachers CAN BE leaders. The challenge is that the scope of informal leaders' influence is limited. If someone like myself is aiming to beget SYSTEMIC change, it's better to focus on folks like principals, superintendents, and state policymakers than classroom teachers, not because teachers are not leaders but because their scope of power and authority is on a smaller scale. So, faced with a limited number of seats and needing to use them as strategically as possible, I chose formal leaders, not informal leaders. If a teacher gets it, a classroom (or few) changes. If a superintendent gets it, the whole district begins to change. If state policymakers get it, the statewide climate begins to change. It's an easy decision for me. No apologies for including two of my graduate assistants who are assisting me with statewide technology leadership training. They help me influence leaders all across Iowa on a larger scale. Take care. Thank you for your thoughtful comments and extension of the conversation between myself and Russ. Teachers CAN BE leaders. The challenge is that the scope of informal leaders’ influence is limited. If someone like myself is aiming to beget SYSTEMIC change, it’s better to focus on folks like principals, superintendents, and state policymakers than classroom teachers, not because teachers are not leaders but because their scope of power and authority is on a smaller scale. So, faced with a limited number of seats and needing to use them as strategically as possible, I chose formal leaders, not informal leaders. If a teacher gets it, a classroom (or few) changes. If a superintendent gets it, the whole district begins to change. If state policymakers get it, the statewide climate begins to change. It’s an easy decision for me.
No apologies for including two of my graduate assistants who are assisting me with statewide technology leadership training. They help me influence leaders all across Iowa on a larger scale.
Take care.

]]> By: Karen Barnstable http://www.edtechswami.com/are-teachers-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Karen Barnstable Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:01:51 +0000 http://www.edtechswami.com/?p=190#comment-146 Your article raises an excellent point.  Teachers often do not FEEL like leaders because of their lack of political influence  or their lack of financial control over educational funds.  As as former classroom teacher, I will admit that I often felt that my impact on the BIG picture of Education was discouragingly minimal.  Over the years, however, I have come to realize the importance of impacting even ONE life for the better.  Also, teachers tend to forget how they are viewed by the parents and  other professionals in the community.  Teachers can make the difference through their positive relationships and their persistent voice in the community on matters they believe in.  We need to be reminded of this! Thanks again for your post! Your article raises an excellent point.  Teachers often do not FEEL like leaders because of their lack of political influence  or their lack of financial control over educational funds.  As as former classroom teacher, I will admit that I often felt that my impact on the BIG picture of Education was discouragingly minimal.  Over the years, however, I have come to realize the importance of impacting even ONE life for the better.  Also, teachers tend to forget how they are viewed by the parents and  other professionals in the community.  Teachers can make the difference through their positive relationships and their persistent voice in the community on matters they believe in.  We need to be reminded of this!
Thanks again for your post!

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