Stuck?

The school's power dynamic demonstrates both explicit and implicit power dynamics, which in my mind could only function well with a very effective leader at the helm.

This top down approach to teacher leadership is the most effective approach. It will not only foster growth amongst the team, it will build the strengths of the individuals along the way. No one wants to feel stagnant. It all depends on the vision of the leader at the helm. Where is this ship going? It depends on what each team mate delivers to fuel the journey. Space for sharing, creating new ideas, and presenting them will perpetuate changes to meet the shared goals of all.

How do we, as teacher leaders motivate each other best?

What do you do when you encounter a professional who is "stuck" in the status quo?

Old habits die hard. Seasoned professionals are sometimes the most resistant to change. Strengths based leadership asks each of us to dig deeper, and deliver more. The newbies to the trade arrive with the tools and techniques of the day. Plenty of seasoned professionals are technophobes amidst a sea of digital natives. How do you get them all on board? How does your principal merge all of the strengths, old and new, into one fine-tuned mechanism? That seems like it would be very difficult at times. Every era has it's bells and whistles. Sooner or later what's "new" is a twist on a recycled idea that others just forgot about! Clear vision includes looking both directions, forward and backwards.

A great Teacher Leader knows how to pull the very best out of each of us without even asking for it out loud. This takes a great ability to listen carefully with intent, and to activate ideas when the timing is right. In the end, the implicit drivers within each of us are explicitly modeled for the best interest of our students.


~Diana