Developing Leadership Capacity
A leader provides opportunities for members of the school community to develop leadership capacity and to support others in fulfilling their educational roles.
Coaching and Leading an Acting Assistant Principal
This year, I needed an acting assistant principal for 5 months. This was an opportunity to coach and mentor a teacher that aspires to become an assistant principal. We met every morning to set goals and intentions for the day. We strove to meet at the end of the day to debrief about challenges that students or teachers had encountered. This close mentoring and coaching was a really exciting opportunity. I enjoyed reflecting on processes and procedures as I taught her about administration in our building. It was refreshing to see the role of administration through her eyes.
Supporting Assistant Principal with Opportunities
I rely on my assistant principal to direct and manage tasks on my behalf. We meet regularly to update each other and collaborate. My assistant principal manages the Educational Assistants in our building. She sets the schedule at the start of the year and makes regular updates to the schedule. She approves all time sheets and tracks the non-student hours. When EAs are going to be absent or are ill, they communicate with her and she ensures that there is adequate coverage. She will also redeploy EAs if complex students are absent.
Supporting Staff with their Leadership Goals
I believe that leadership is more than holding an administrative position in a school. Early in my career as a teacher, this was not my belief. Once I read the 360° Leader as a part of the Leadership 2000 program, my understanding of leadership shifted. As an administrator, I have worked to help staff find areas that they can lead our staff. In some cases, I have offered a position to a staff member to provide them with an area they can develop and influence, in other cases I have simply facilitated their goals and vision. I am happy that we have staff leading in areas such as: literacy development, GSA Programs (Safe and Caring), athletics and intramurals, Student Wellness and Activity Team (SWAT), robotics, and First Nations, Metis and Inuit learning and teaching. Allowing other staff to take the lead on projects and passions has created many in-house experts that we can rely on. It also helps build community and collaboration among our staff.
