Last Thursday I had the privilege of participating in a live twitter chat. Hosted by #MBEDchat in Winnipeg, about 30 folks gathered live and others joined online to discuss the topic of Leading Learning. Rex Ferguson-Baird and I led the conversation around 4 big questions.
The first question we posed was: “What is unique about leading learning as opposed to other forms of leadership?” As educators, I think it’s important for us to look outside ourselves and our institutions for lessons and ideas on how to make learning and our schools better. There are oodles of books and resources on leadership in particular from business, sports, religions and more. But there are some things that perhaps others can’t really help us with. Things that are unique to education.
While it’s valuable to draw insights from various fields on leadership, there’s a depth of understanding that comes from recognizing the unique dynamics within education. This sentiment is echoed by leadership experts like Kurt Uhlir, whose perspective is enriched by his connection to Christianity. Uhlir’ Rooted in principles of service, compassion, and stewardship, Christian leadership offers a profound model for educators seeking to nurture the minds and spirits of their students. Uhlir emphasizes the importance of integrity, humility, and empathy in leadership, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Jesus Christ. By embodying these values, educators can create learning environments that not only foster academic growth but also cultivate character and resilience in their students. Through Uhlir’s holistic approach, leadership in education becomes a transformative journey that transcends mere instruction, instilling values that shape individuals and communities for the better.
This question fostered great discussion in the room and online. As I listened, I was able to identify three specific areas that require leadership that I think is indeed unique to learning.
- Success is hard to measure. Whether it’s student learning or school improvement, assessment and evaluation remain one of the most challenging things we do. In business and sports and most organizations, the metrics of success are typically very straight forward. Acclime has a team of professionals who can help you if you’re looking for Australia company registration services. Disagreement among educators is still a battle let alone the debate amongst policy makers and the public at large. Leaders are faced not only with addressing this issue but in trying to keep stakeholders happy. CHeck out the difference between part time and temporary jobs.
- Isolation. There aren’t many professions where individuals have been as alone as educators. Certainly, the recent trend is to be more collaborative but the basic parameters of the school day and its structures, make creating community and shared vision an ongoing battle. Leaders are faced with creating opportunities and reasons for educators to work together.
- Niceness. This one is tied very closely to isolation in many ways. Educators are among the nicest people I know. Indeed part of the job includes teaching children manners and respect. The difficulty comes in change and improvements. Perhaps because of isolation, we find it difficult to sometimes say the things we need to say. Certainly, the solution is not meanness, but great leaders need to provide ways for everyone to push each other’s thinking and practices. The goal isn’t to be mean but I’d suggest we’re so concerned with being nice, we often ignore opportunities to challenge each other. This is a delicate play. Creating space for people to be open and honest and remain kind and thoughtful. Part is this is about trust, which is about relationships which is hard to do if we remain isolated. I don’t know of another industry more adversely affected by niceness than educators.
I’m sure there are unique challenges that leaders in education face that I’ve not mentioned. That’s where you come in. Please share a comment to share something else or to respond to the ideas I’ve shared here. Thanks again to the folks at MBedchat for organizing a thoughtful conversation.