Distributive Leadership for Capacity Building...

Distributive leadership is used among teams and departments at my school site.  At my school site, each grade level does grade level planning together as a team.  There is a grade level chairperson who is responsible for making sure that the lesson plans for the week are submitted to the assistant principal each week.  It is the grade level team's choice to decide is they want one person to complete the lesson plans every week or if they would like to rotate the responsibility so that all of the team members share the responsibility of planning the lessons.  All members of the team contribute to the lesson planning process during team planning through discussions and sharing ideas about the upcoming units.  During this time they discuss differentiation instruction and what techniques have and have not worked within their classrooms.  They also distribute leadership among the members to the teachers who are strong in specific subject areas.  This allows each grade level to distribute leadership among the teachers who are strong in each subject area.  It also allows them to share the responsibility of leadership.  

Distributive leadership is also used among many teams throughout the school.  They distribute leadership among the members of groups and teams to share the responsibilities.  Administration also distributes leadership throughout administration and through the grade level chairperson's.  This allows the administration to get less copies of lesson plans since each grade level submits one plan for the grade level versus one for each teacher within the grade level.  There are many ways that distributive leadership is used throughout the school site, these just name a few.

Capacity building is emphasized at my school site.  The Principal encourages people to voice any concerns that they have that are pertinent to the school running effectively.  He also encourages teachers to make suggestions of things that they would like to see introduced at the school especially things that will improve the students education.  For example, in the 2011-12 school year, they began issuing teachers with IPads to complete assessments on students in K-2.  Every teacher did not have one at this time.  It was a trial with select teachers to see how well it worked for them and if it would be effective for all teachers.  In the 2012-13 school year, all teachers have been issued an IPad to conduct assessments with as well as progress monitoring and interventions.  This has been very effective and went beyond the expectations because the IPads, have become such an asset to the technology in the classroom.  The Principal is on the School Improvement Team and very involved with the Teacher Advisory Committee.

Leadership Theory...

The leadership theory that most closely matches my leadership style is Participative Leadership Theory.  First, my leadership style is that I am a relator, consistent, a learner, developer, and strategic.  I also, care about people as much as I care about the task.  The people and the task are equally important.  It is important to complete the tasks that we are given but the people that are affected along the way are also important.  This being said, I am a team player.  I want what is best for my team and its members.  The Participative Leadership Theory states that a Participative Leader, rather than taking autocratic decisions, seeks to involve other people in the process, possibly including subordinates, peers, superiors and other stakeholders (Participative Leadership, n.d.). Often, however, as it is within the managers' whim to give or deny control to his or her subordinates, most participative activity is within the immediate team (Participative Leadership, n.d.). The question of how much influence others are given thus may vary on the manager's preferences and beliefs, and a whole spectrum of participation is possible (Participative Leadership, n.d.).  Participative leadership theory has positive and negative attributes.  It does include the opinions of others however, that can prove to be a negative attribute if the opinion is not used.  However, if it is a part of a collaborative effort to come to a mutual decision of all members of the team it can be very beneficial.

References:

Participative Leadership. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2013, from http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/participative_leadership.htm: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/participative_leadership.htm

The Power Dynamic

The Power Dynamic...within my school is among many different people.  Overall, the power dynamic is among the Central Office and the Superintendent.  The Central Office and Superintendent collaborate together on a regular basis.  The power dynamic then trickles down on many levels.  At the school site level, the administration has the most power however, that power is limited by the Central Office.  The administration has the power that governs the everyday actions at the school, everyone at the school is under the power of the administration.  The teachers have the power within their classroom and grade level.  The grade level chairperson has the power over the grade level teachers.  Then there are the custodians, cafeteria staff, and bus drivers.  Each of these subgroups of employees have a supervisor that they answer to.  The system of the school is similar to a hierarchy.

I can use this information to influence change at my school by knowing who to go to.  If I would like to volunteer time or materials to one of the subgroup I would know who to contact.  Other creative ideas, could include a Recycling club which, would have to involve the custodians to allow students to collect recycles instead of the custodians.  I can also use this information to know who to talk to for help for myself or for those that I mentor.

Strength-based Leadership

How strength-based leadership can support a community of practice.....Strength-based leadership can support a community through positive guidance and focusing on one's strengths versus one's weaknesses.  When in a position of leadership, we often lead by example.  During that process if we focus on one's strengths and collaborate with other leaders with strengths in other areas we can form a great team of leaders.  We can also show those that we mentor how to embrace one another's differences and how to promote each other's strengths.  We live in a very diverse culture.  No two people are alike or do things the in the same manner.  Therefore we have to embrace the diversity and the successful collaboration of teams and leaders.  If we focus on one's strengths they can teach others who are weak in those areas how to become stronger in those areas.  Focusing on strength-based leadership provides a positive community of practicing effectively as leaders.

Personal Leadership

Personal Leadership, Part One

I hope to learn from the Personal Leadership class.  I hope to learn how to be a great leader to those around me as well as myself.  I want to be a positive influence in the lives of those around me.  I would like to be a leader that inspires others to make good choices and live a great life.  I hope that I am able to share ideas with my classmates as we collaborate in our teams and learn not only through instruction how to be an effective teacher leader but also through collaboration with our peers.

Learning how to be an inspirational leader will further my leadership skills.  If I am able to inspire another, I will be able to guide them as their leader.