"There is no greater moral imperative than revamping the principal's role as part and parcel of changing the context within which teachers and students learn." (p11)
What does that mean? I mean I know what it is trying to say, but what does that mean. What does it mean by a moral imperative? Or revamping the principal's role? Or part and parcel? Plus what does this have to do with Jim Collins' five-levels of leadership, as Fullan is making this statement about? Lets take these important key words in this statement; Moral Imperative - a principle originating inside a person's mind that compels that person to act, Revamping - revise or restore, and Part and Parcel - "a portion" and "something integral with a whole." Ok maybe that doesn't make it any clearer. In laymans term, "We must act! We must revise and restore the role of a principal within the schools to help the teachers and students learn." I hope that makes that statement a little bit more clearer.
SO WHAT? What about the 5 Levels of Leadership?
Jim Collins talk about from being good to great. He states that although a leader may fit into his first four levels of leadership they are only qualify to be good. You must be in the 5th level to be consider great. It is then you can change the context you are surrounded in. It is then you can best help teachers and students learn.
Personally, this takes away accountability on each teacher and student. They should take action for their own learning. At my school as mention before, we are in a freeze, no money for conferences. I debated with our school board that this is bad because our teachers do not do anything else for their own professional development. Our yearly conference was it for most of the teachers. I told him luckily, I am responsible for my own learning, although I want to go to the conferences for many different reasons. But, I am my own barrier if I do not learn. Writing this blog, is one way I am taking my learning into my own hands. Taking Master classes is another, reading blogs another, following educators on Twitter is just another way.
We do need to change how we look at teachers and students learn and how can we reach them in more efficient and effective ways. What are you doing to reach your students and teachers?
Completely agree that that teachers and students are responsible for their own learning. Unfortunately, most teachers and students don't understand what that means (in a web, PLN sense). Can't remember who said it, but teachers are really at being taught. Which most likely why they became teachers to begin with.
ReplyDeleteThe roles of a principal in Lutheran schools are many and varied, but I think the two roles that echo strongest for me are "servant leader" and "Chief Learner."
At the two schools I've been at in my short teacher career, I've seen the spectrum of principals. The distinguishing feature for me was that the principal exercised an important leadership role in helping her staff grow. I was first introduced to Differentiated instruction from a principal. It was my principal who changed our faculty meetings from a scheduling/information time into a learning time for us. That was an important and trans-formative piece for me. Along with that was the highly visible servant attitude. The best principals I've had made it very clear that they are there to work for you, just as much as you are there to work for them. A good principal is invested in their staff.