School Leadership: Relationships & Shared Commitment

Leadership in schools is about connecting people to each other and to their work - sounds easy, but for anyone who has sat in the principal's chair, s/he understands the challenge of this duty.  It's not about reward and punishment; it's about making moral connections and leading from the heart, serving others, and listening to each other's stories.  In Sandra Dean's book, "Hearts & Minds" she speaks about making staff, students, and parents feel valued and this makes all the difference.  When we know that someone values us, we do our best to show that their belief and trust in us was not misplaced. 

Leadership based on bureaucratic authority relies on compliance, but as Thomas Sergiovanni states in his book, "Leadership for the Schoolhouse", leadership based on moral authority relies on ideas, values, and commitment - it seeks to develop shared followership in the school - a followership that compels parents and principals, teachers and students to respond from within.  If we concentrate on people first and build them up by trusting them and increasing their capacity, their commitment will increase and they will feel a sense of obligation and commitment to do the right thing. 

How do we get people to do this?  We get them to do this by encouraging connections with each other, by developing a culture where "your story is my story" and it is important to me.  Relationships, Relationships, Relationships: our Modus Operandi - sounds easy, but it is not.  Thank you to all Black Gold staff for your commitment and dedication to our students, their families, and each other. And thank you to our principals for your leadership and effort to help others find purpose and meaning in their work beyond tomorrow's test - it's challenging work but work of the noblest kind.