Taking Action Part III

Encouraging the Heart

• Be creative when it comes to recognition.  Be spontaneous.  Have fun.

Educational technology integration may be daunting to some teachers. Trying something new whether it goes perfectly or fails, deserves recognition.  Setting up a digital recognition board for teachers would be a fun way to honor hard work.  Teachers could earn digital badges for each milestone met, and small celebrations could be held when every teacher met a goal or benchmark. http://www.badgelist.com is a great place to begin.

• End each of your team meetings with a round of public praise.

I would accomplish this by having each teacher share one success that happened in their classroom recently.  This would allow for others to reflect and find out something about what others are doing.  They would possibly find resources for things they are struggling with.  Meetings would always end on a positive, reflective note that leaves everyone leaving with a smile.

Tech Leadership: Taking Action Part II

Chapter 8:  

Share information about yourself - your hopes, your strengths, your fears, your mistakes - the things that make you who you are.

I would implement this action plan when I have the opportunity to share the vision for our site at a staff meeting.  Even though I have worked with most of the teacher for years, I feel it is important for them to really know my "why".  This also sets the scene for trust that is needed for others to be willing to "follow the leader". 

Chapter 9:

Set aside the time necessary to coach.

It's nice to go to a professional development session and be given tons of information and strategies to use in your classroom.  However, most of the time, teachers are left to implement on their own whether they're doing it right or not.  One piece that is continually missing from PD is the follow-up.  I would schedule time with each individual teacher to follow-up after a training.  At this time I could address concerns or assist with pieces of the program that they may be struggling with.  I would want to go into their classrooms at a time they choose when they are implementing the program with their students so I can be there side by side with them.

Professional Development

     Professional Development at my district in regards to technology is scarce.  If there is a need for teachers to have training due to a specific technology device or program being introduced, then it is provided.  Other than that, teachers are left to search out opportunities from our County Office of Education or other agencies such as CUE  for professional development in technology.
     I feel our district could support teachers much better in the area of integrating technology and also have more specific guidance as to what should be incorporated into the classrooms at each grade level.
Teachers do not have a lot of time to seek out technology training on their own, nor will all teachers even attempt.  If the district would provide it for everyone on our professional development days, then that would assure that everyone is at the same place in their knowledge and skills of educational technology.

Discussion about "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" Video by Simon Sinek

Quotation:

     "All leaders think, act, and communicate the exact same way, and it's the exact opposite of everyone else."

     "There are leaders, and there are those who lead.  Leaders hold a position of power or authority.  But those who lead inspire us.  Where they're individuals or organizations, we follow those who lead no because we have to, but because we want to.  We follow those who lead not for them but for ourselves.  It's those who start with "why" that have the ability to inspire those around them or find others who inspire them."

Question:

     Why don't more leaders act from the "inside out" if it is proven to work better?

Talking Points:

• Inspired leaders act from the inside out.
• People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it.
• If you talk about what you believe, you will attract those who believe what you believe.
• The majority won't try something until someone else has tried it first.
• Doing something to get recognition is not the right reason.
• Lead with your "why" because it is truly what you believe.
• We follow those who lead.