Lead Through Service

Image Credit: T Tun

What is Leadership?

To create change and lead, a TL needs to be visible. This is one of the ways to stand up and be counted. When I first started this course I was profoundly inspired by Karen Bonnano’s speech and her five finger plan (Tun, April 13, 2022).

Since then, to be the librarian who can instigate and empower transformation, I focus on agenda to create a brand and establish my eminence. Collaborating and communicating about the library, I have written newsletters, delivered professional learning, ran book fairs, coordinated the Premier’s Reading Challenge, taught and delivered Digital Technology lessons, created resources to support inquiry units etc.

Despite all these activities, I did not see myself as a leader.

Current learning with ETL 504 - Teacher Librarian as a Leader, has opened my eyes to leading through servant leadership. I begun to reflect upon the the servant leadership abilities that I possess:

I create trust by replacing self-interest with service to others.
I do not control or dictate. I would try to guide my colleagues with my knowledge and expertise.
I am willing to listen and fill the gaps required. I provide stewardship and show empathy.
I create a sense of community.

(Doc Martin Leadership, 2019)

I also learnt that all good leaders are servant leaders who serve the needs of others so that the persons they serve can be a better version of themselves and serve other in return (Crippen & Willows, 2019).

Build Trust

This video about trust in an organisation opened my eyes to the importance of trust to a person who wants to lead the change (Tun, 2023, July 14b). It points out the actions below to build trust:

Get to know your colleagues
Take risks and admits to mistake that occur
Appreciate the efforts of your colleagues
Evolve with the role and be willing to step up and take responsibility
Be authentic

(Ezard, 2015)

All this effort leads to the creation of trust. My colleagues have seen me take risks and pursue knowledge in this course to support the learning of the school community. I have evolved with the role each year taking more responsibility and ownership that comes with experience. I created connections with my colleagues and gave due credit and acknowledgement. Most important of all, I have aligned the role with myself, and the library reflects my identity as well as the school’s vision (Tun, July 14, 2023a). Drawing the diagram below based on this knowledge also made me realise all the elements are interconnected and support each other.

Guide to Transform

The mission statement of the library is a statement that aligns with the school's vision.

Teacher librarians are in special position to see the need for change and lead the way to transform (Tun, July 14, 2023a) . Cox and Korodaj (2019) points out that they see the holistic view of the school. I learnt that they can carry out environmental scans, identify gaps required and guide career planning pathways. I realised all this leads guiding the school community towards the changes that are required.

My chance to apply this occurred when setting up the new library for a very important community event. I wrote the mission statement and presented it to my principal. I aligned it with the legacy of the school and included acknowledgement of the Darug people as custodians of the land upon which the knowledge transfer occurs. I realised this is the measure of my growth as a TL to identify the need for one, and to create it.

Fill the Gaps

My learning in this course has highlighted the fact that TLs are information specialists with sound knowledge and application of information searching skills. The search for information and the way it is perceived differs according to the user (Tun, Sept 6,2022).

I explored how different search engines are useful for certain information searches(Tun,Sept 6,2022). This is knowledge I am currently using to demonstrate research techniques in the library. I also built a website for a history research unit using all these skills. The delivery of general capabilities such as creative and critical thinking and ethical use of intellectual property is also essential skills TLs have engendered (Cox & Korodaj, 2019).

My growth and willingness for stewardship is acknowledged when the Year 3 teachers asked for a delivery of a history research unit in the library. As mentioned above, I ventured to use the skills I gained and created a website for the students. I also used the knowledge from ETL 402 to create digital bento boxes with the students. The website I built is shown on the left. I still have plenty of room for improvement and my technology knowledge is a skill I will have to work on.

Sense of Community

According to my learnings in ETL 504, connecting with community is one of the essential qualities of a servant leader(Crippen and Willows, 2019). This lead me to reflect how I am meeting this requirement.

I build trust and sense of community by getting to know my colleagues. These are not just members of my team but all the teachers in the school. I acknowledged their trials and provided assistance when needed (Tun, July 14, 2023b).

I coordinated the Premier's Reading challenge, Scholastic Book Fairs, CBCA Book Weeks, created displays in the library for special events, wrote social media content, and news letters. The whole school community was involved in the set up of the new library.

All this I realised is creating a sense of community. My colleagues recognise that I am the person to go for queries relating to these events.

My ability to transform through the learning in this course has surprised me.

I am standing up. I am waving my arms. I am to be counted.

I am visible.

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