Be A Leader THIS School Year

It's that time of the year again. 

Your inbox is stuffed with sales and ads about back to school specials. 

Children are excited to know who their new teachers will be and they can't wait to see their friends. 

Teachers are anxious about their class lists, schedules, and making sure that all is ready for opening day. 

Administrators are scurrying to make last minutes decisions and welcome back faculty, staff, and students.

Everyone is looking for that new idea or strategy to help them be better. A last minute get away or trying to finish that summer reading list may be on the agenda before the start of a new school year. There are so many things to do and all are important.

The most important things you need to start the school year are inside you. You don’t need to squeeze in a college course, webinar or a last minute professional development conference.  It's all inside of you!

Be a LEADER THIS school year.  

Here’s how you can do it:

1. L - Listen

Listen more.  It’s a skill we all have but need to maintain and increase.  Children today and even most adults have short attention spans, working memory challenges, and other issues. Demonstrating this one skill will change people’s lives.  Put the cell phone down, text less, shorten your screen time (social media and videos), and be present.  Always put people, including your students, before paperwork. Listen. 

2. E - Empathize 

Putting yourself in other people’s situation (at least in your mind) can help you understand what they are going through.  You know the children in your school who are hungry, have material needs, lack opportunities, and most of all, need love.  Providing more attention is not enough.  Effective educators are capable of showing heart and making heart-felt decisions that display empathy.  Students and parents will know that you truly made a difference when you empathize.

3. A - Accept 

Accept people for who they are and NOT who you want them to be.  As a professional in an educational setting, you are trained, have experience and probably know a lot.  Students and parents you serve don’t care how much you know.  They care about how you will serve them and help them get better. Be the hope in their lives.  Put the people you serve first and their lives will be different.  You will be surprised that YOUR life will also be different.

4. D - Decide

Leaders make decisions and they learn from the good, bad and ugly ones they make.  The bottom line here is that YOU made a decision to teach: to make a difference and to shape the future.  Stay focused on this noble cause and give yourself reminders of your decision to be an educator.  Count your victories and always presume the positive especially when there is no praise or compliment.  You know why you do what you do.  You made the decision.    

5. E - Enthusiasm

No one believes (or follows) someone who is miserable and angry.  One of the most serious challenges in our field is educator burn-out or low morale.  We can all lay blame to so many aspects of our profession.  Effective educators are positive and love what they do.  They are also self-starters and motivated and look for solutions.  They are realists and are not naive about the challenges in our profession. They choose to emphasize the positive and work through all the mess. 

One more thing: they take care of that one thing that is very important: self.  

They exercise, eat well, rest, and do whatever necessary whenever necessary to sustain their mind, body and souls.  

Why? 

If they are the best they can be out of the classroom, they will bring that same enthusiasm and energy into the classroom. Enthusiasm is contagious and a great way for a child to learn.

6. R - Responsible

Parents send their best and the most precious parts of themselves to your school everyday.  The degree of responsibility is immense.  Effective teachers value this responsibility and care for it with all their heart, strength and wisdom.  Being responsible involves doing what is expected of you on a daily basis (attendance, lesson plans, meetings, instruction, assessments, etc.) It also involves going beyond what is expected (home visits, good calls home, special projects, etc.). Show your worth by doing your job and going beyond just being responsible. 

Finally, you don't need a title to be a leader. Educators who make a difference whenever and wherever they can are the real leaders in our schools. 

They also know their voice and use it to fill a gap, a need or an injustice. 

Finally, be a LEADER THIS school year. Keeping it inside of you is keeping the status quo. LEADERS seek to change the status quo so all can benefit.

Remember, it's all inside you! 

How do you show your LEADER qualities?

What other qualities would you add to this list?  

I am sincerely interested in hearing you comments. 

Please share!