I certainly think that my definition of leadership has been reinforced throughout this course. Quality leadership is a daunting task, and although everyone can lead to some degree, becoming an effective leader requires the cultivation of personal talents. Many people claim to be leaders, but don't grasp to scope of what leadership is all about. First and foremost, I believe that leaders must be good at their craft. For example, a teacher could be good at motivating others, but without excelling as a classroom teacher, no one will follow or respect that individual. I also believe that leaders must be solid in their personal lives. A captain of a team may be good at a particular sport, but if he or she is breaking training rules, the leadership will suffer. People, by nature, seem to look for faults in others, and jealousy is a poison that pervades any workplace. If someone is trying to be a leader but has excess baggage or inadequacies in his or her life, I don't think he or she will be effective leaders. Others will focus on the faults of this leader and not be willing to follow his or her lead.
Teacher leadership can be found in people who truly put the students before themselves. Many people talk a good game, but are more interested in serving personal needs. A teacher leader must be selfless, and look at what he/she can contribute to the betterment of classroom, school, and community. There are a multitude of areas that must be balanced for this to occur. There will be conflicts to soothe, compromises to be made, and a desire to work with others regardless of personal feelings. A teacher leader must not allow setbacks to stop momentum. A thick skin is required because there will be many more failures than successes. But as long as the teacher leader is committed to students, I believe he/she will be successful.
Obviously, some people have a more natural aptitude for leadership than others, but that doesn't ensure success. Potential must be cultivated over time for true leaders to emerge. There are many people with unlimited potential who never do anything with this gift. There are those with leadership potential who don't feel comfortable leading, but again, a selfless attitude should help steer the ship in the right direction. Even with potential, factors outside of one's control may thwart progress, but a leader that uses potential will not deterred by failure.
Many school districts are rife with failures and missed opportunities. There is no question in my mind that changes must happen within the walls of our schools. This task may seem impossible after witnessing any number of faculty meetings. But I have always maintained that there is nothing anyone can do to control what I do in my classroom, and that is where I must start contributing. I care about my students, and I want to be the best guide that I can for them. From the classroom, I want to help bring more cohesion to my department, by being more vocal with my ideas. Although difficult to control, the faculty must look at other teachers as professionals with common tasks to accomplish. It would be great if everyone at a school liked each other, but that is not realistic. Regardless, we must work together. I must be willing to constantly scrutinize what I do so that it is relevant for my students. As Gabriel suggests, I want to make my principal to look good because I wanted to be trusted with leadership roles. We must find a way to get people committed to common goals. Those that don't want to be a part of that should find another career. Since those people who are not committed will often teach seemingly forever, their teaching assignments should be adjusted so they can do as little damage as possible. I hope that I demonstrate a willingness to be a solid contributor to my school. My focus will always be on the students, and I will continue to do what I feel is best for them, whether in my classroom or throughout the school.
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