Entrance Leadership Essay

Teacher Leader Models:

In my first school, I worked with an assistant principal who was one of the most inspiring and influential people in my professional life. As a new teacher, with no teaching experience or education degree, I had no idea where to begin. This teacher leader treated me like I was destined to be a teacher in her school, even when I felt that I had no place in my own classroom. She gave me valuable feedback and she treated me with the same respect as she would a veteran teacher. Her leadership gave me the confidence I needed to strive to become a great teacher.

The other teacher leader was a fellow teacher and we taught completely different subjects. Our classrooms were separated, but as I got to know her and begin to learn from her, I found myself gravitating to her room for advice. We collaborated, celebrated, grew, and learned together. She, like me, did not come to teaching through a traditional teacher education and she coached me as I faced new teacher challenges. She supported me and, at the same time, challenged me. She is still the teacher I aspire to be.

The impact of their leadership was as valuable in my formative years as it is today. One was nurturing, understanding and kind and the other challenged and pushed me to think creatively and work collaboratively 

Importance of Teacher Leadership:

Teacher leadership can make or break a school. Teachers who feel empowered to speak up and lead students and teachers create a culture of creativity, problem solving and support. I have had the pleasure of working in two schools where leadership was a top priority for the administration. Teachers are encouraged to improve their school community through collaboration and a shared vision for success.

In my opinion, the most important element of teacher leadership is relationships. As every veteran teacher knows, the hallmark of a good classroom experience for both teacher and student is the development of positive relationships. The same can be said of teacher leadership. Michael Fullan states in Leading in a Culture of Change that effective leadership should be “measured by the extent to which it awakens people’s intrinsic commitment (20).” The relationships teacher leaders can build within their school can have the most impact on the success of teachers and students in their community.

Further still, the impacts of teacher leadership reach into the depths of a school community– teacher leaders within a school create environments “conducive to learning and sharing that learning (Fullan, 79).” My current school is a great example of this model. We serve students through a PBL framework– student learning is driven through meaningful and engaging projects which have a component of presenting to a public audience. In each course, each semester, we reach out to our community for their support in our students’ learning. This process is not an easy one but is supported by the teacher leaders in our school, not only administration. These leaders have a passion for students to experience real-world, problem-based learning. By engaging with our community, the effects of the leadership within our school are felt far beyond the walls of our school. 

Exit Leadership Essay

My journey through this year has been full of ups and downs. I've found myself in a lot of places of confusion and frustration as I worked to discover what my place in education might be. I started this year on a really ambitious path towards my PhD, Coach Endorsement, and Teachers as Leaders. Now, I'm finishing Teachers as Leaders-- and that's it. If I've learned anything from Teachers as Leaders it's that being a great teacher is just as important as all of those other things. 

When I started this process I thought that to be a great leader I needed to know everything. I thought the reason that my assistant principal and teacher mentor in my entrance essay were my leadership models because they appeared to know and be able to do more than everyone else. But, what I failed to recognize is that they were my models because they put people first-- especially students. I want to be like them because of they way they care for others.

I thought that to be a great leader I needed to have all the education, endorsements, and letters behind my name, but I've learned that I can be a leader without those things. I can be a leader by the way I talk to others, by the way I work with my students, or by the way I approach a conflict. I am still working on all of these skills but I feel a reassurance that I made the right choices for myself knowing all that I have learned to make me a better leader. I hope to continue honing these skills as I grow into the role of leader at my school.