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Philosophy of Leadership

My philosophy of leadership is really quite simple. Good leadership is a leader who can inspire others to work together to meet the goals that are identified in the school’s vision and mission statement. This takes vision, teamwork and people skills. Leadership is knowing what to do and how to do it. A good leader acknowledges the work that others have done, and continues to help them grow. Leadership is being real and honest with all whom you meet and being able to communicate effectively with them. Leadership then, is collaboration. It is not helping others solve problems they already know how to solve, but it is helping them develop their own problem solving skills.

Every successful leader has a basic set of beliefs that guide them in their leadership role. I believe that good leaders do more than talk about leadership; they actually lead by example. The following statement is one I try to follow and believe that it is a good one for all leaders to follow, “DO NO HARM!” These three words are important in an educational setting, because there are so many people who can be harmed by a poor leader. Not only can the students be harmed, but so can the teaching staff, support staff, parents, and even the community as a whole. Leaders in a Catholic school system need to model the values and behaviors that are in line with Catholic teachings. They need to set the example for others to follow. Finally, good leadership is leadership that encourages others to take on some responsibility as well. A leader who gets lazy or who does not grow professionally can hurt the growth and development of teaching and learning in the school community.

Summary Statement

I believe that I am a very good, strong, caring, and fair leader. I have been in several different types of leadership roles in the past and have learned from each one. I have seen several types of leadership styles within and outside the educational community. Six styles that I have seen include, Coercive—the leader demands compliance, (“Do what I tell you.”) Authoritative—the leader mobilizes people toward a vision, (“Come with me.”) Affiliative—the leader creates harmony and builds emotional bonds, (“People come first.”) Democratic—the leader forges consensus through participation, (“What do you think?”) Pacesetting—the leader sets high standards for performance, (“Do as I do now.”) and Coaching—the leader develops people for the future, (“Try this.”)

As a person who entered the teaching profession later in life, a delayed vocation so to speak, I have been in many different leadership roles, and I have learned and adapted as needed in each role. As a Drill Sergeant in the United States Army Reserve in the early 1970s, I used coercive leadership. As a member of the City Council for the Village of Tampico in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I used the affiliative style, “What is best for the people of Tampico?” As a lead-person for Do-It-Best Corporation in the 1990s, I used an authoritative style, trying to get the other employees to see the company’s goal. As I have matured, in age and in my Catholic faith, I can clearly see that the coercive style works fine in a military setting, but is not appropriate in an academic setting.

Wisdom is a great teacher for leaders. Unfortunately, not all leaders have had

the opportunity to attain a level of wisdom before becoming leaders. My leadership style today is nothing like my leadership style was 30 or 40 years ago. I am a better person/leader today than I was in the past, because of what I have experienced and learned from other leaders, whether good or bad. I have learned to seek advice from others, and to look at the whole picture, before making a decision. I also realize that some decisions have to be made quickly, but this does not mean they should be made haphazardly.

Taking time to visit each classroom on a regular basis, and getting to know the teachers can create an environment of trust. This can help to inspire them to see the school’s vision, accept this vision, and work with me to achieve the common goals we have set for the school. It also has the potential to show them that I care for what they are doing and that I care about their needs and the needs of the school.

Using a combination of the following styles, authoritative, affiliative, democratic, and coaching, I will be able to inspire others to see my vision. Allowing others to have some input into the decision making process can make reaching our common goals a reality, and not a stumbling block. Using a combination of styles, I will be able to ensure that others within the school’s learning community are involved.

Personal Essay

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once said, "The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been." In an article titled, Leadership Styles and Examples, a leader is described as a person who motivates and guides his subordinates, so that they perform to the best of their ability, to achieve a given set of goals. Both of these statements are saying the same thing. The wording is different, but the meaning is clear. Leaders lead.

As a current teacher in a Catholic School, I know the importance of setting a positive Catholic example for the students and their parents. It is important that Catholic school leaders and teachers teach the faith according to the Magisterium, as stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Catholic principals have the responsibility of leading their school community towards academic excellence, while ensuring that a strong, positive, Catholic identity is maintained. What makes me an effective, or potentially effective, principal is the fact that I have taught for nine years in a Catholic Elementary School, and I am an ordained Deacon.

As a teacher, I have kept up on the latest teaching techniques and teaching models. As a graduate student, I have studied the most recent and effective theories and strategies of principalship, and will be able use them as needed depending upon the situation. I have spent the past year working and studying for my administrator’s license. I have taken classes on Public School Law, Special Education Law, Developing Professional Learning Communities, Visioning and School Administration, Educational Research, and Elementary and Secondary School Principalship. This summer I will be taking two classes, Leadership in Curriculum—Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Assessment and Sustaining the Professional Learning Community Through School and Community Relations.

Another area of study was the Core Curriculum that will be implemented soon in the Diocese of Rockford. I have a good understanding of the changes, and I am excited by the opportunity to see them implemented. I feel that I can be an effective Catholic School principal because I understand Catholic doctrine and I work well with people. I understand the need for community (parish) support and the need for parental support. Keeping the lines of communication open between the school and parish, and school and parents, is vital in maintaining a successful learning environment. Being pro-active rather the re-active can give me the opportunity to avoid bumps in the road before they become pitfalls.

As an ordained Deacon who has taught high school religion in Tampico for over 20 years and who has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Religion for 9 years, I hope that I am a great example of the Catholic faith for those whom I meet. My faith is not just lip service, my students and their parents know that I live my faith. In other words, I practice what I preach. A Catholic school principal must be someone who lives their faith and one whom people recognize as a Catholic leader.

I will be a leader who will lead by example and who will try to inspire others to join in and become part of the vision and mission of the school. I hope to be the type of leader that can do this no matter what school I am at. I see myself as a principal who will work towards building a supportive working relationship between the office personnel, the support staff, and the teaching staff. I will be a principal that will be approachable as well.

As principal it is important that I and my staff know what the mission of the school is, and how are we going to fulfill that mission. I believe that if I as an administrator, and the teachers as educators, remember that we are to help all students learn, we have taken the first step necessary in creating a strong school community. As a principal, I would like our school to be known as a school where all students learn, and not as a school where some students learn and succeed while many others do not.

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