Jared's Module Two Post

A Leader Who Became my Example For Life

I have had the good fortune of working under a few exceptional leaders in my life.  The most memorable of these, I met when I was thirteen years old.  His name is Chris, and he was the youth pastor at my parent’s church.  His example has become a standard by which I tend to evaluate others in leadership positions even to this day.  Now that I’m a leader of young people, I can see why Chris’s leadership was so effective:  He would not rest.

As a young person, I had always assumed that one day I’d “arrive” at something.  My teachers seemed to have arrived at their knowledge and their methods.  Many of the adults I was close to seemed have done the same in their respective careers.  In fact, college was often pitched as a way to achieve knowledge (when you get the degree, you have arrived!).  From there you can begin a career in which you will remain for the rest of your life.  Adults seemed like static figures.  Chris’s example seemed much different.  His attitude was that things needed to change for the better, and this could only be accomplished by reaching young people where they were.  He, better than anyone else, understood that this was a moving target.  The culture of youth changes slightly from decade to decade, and this is often guided by the technology to which young people have access.  So, when Chris found success reaching students in one generation, he was would never assume that this would work for the next group coming in.  This guy was always reading a book youth leadership for the next generation, and I am convinced he could write a few.  He has always been an early adopter of communication technology (and the philosophy and lingo that go with each new wave), and since his career began in the early 1990’s he has a multitude of changes.  I think Chris’s skillful use of everything from e-mail, to podcasts, to web design, to Twitter has been instrumental in helping many teens through the emotional, social, moral, and spiritual turmoil of one of the most difficult periods of growing up.

From his example I have learned that I cannot rest… especially not in public education.  Things have changed even in the past seven years of my career, and I have no doubt that the next seven will bring many more changes.  I have to adapt, and I have to lead others to adapt as well.

Leadership Skills Assessment

I scored a 65.  According to the grading scale, that means I am on my way to being a good leader, but I have a few things to work on.  I wasn’t surprised that my strengths were believing in others, caring about morale, and trying to be a good example.  I also wasn’t surprised to find that my weaknesses were providing a good sense of goals to my people. I am notorious for keeping the end-vision in my head without really taking the time communicate that to others.  Perhaps this is why I work so hard, and do not expect others to work as hard as I do.  If they can’t see the ending goal as clearly as I do, how do they know what they are working toward.  I scored only a 4 out of 10 on managing performance effectively, so I think I need to learn to ‘let people in’ on what we’re trying to do here. No one should be outside the loop.

Secrets of Change

“Love Your Employees” is an important concept.  I you love them enough, you can encourage them strive for better in both personal and organizational goals, while giving them room to take risks (and possibly make mistakes).  I get this!  If you make employees afraid to try new things, they won’t.  As Eric Shaninger says, “trust and support them unconditionally” (2014).

“Learning is the Work” means that everyday growth is important.  Real development is a process in which all participants take an attitude of lifelong learning.  This much more important than occasional professional development sessions.

Philosophy on Social Media

Schools should stop shunning social media.  When I started teaching, social media was looked at a serious problem for both students and teachers.  It was a place where employees went to ask for trouble.  Around the country, some teachers were fired for what they had said about students or co-workers… or for pictures they had posted.   The warnings were issued, “Avoid social media.”  However, social media did not go away, and now there are more people on Facebook than there are Catholics in the world.  That’s no exaggeration.  Even the grandparents are on social media.  And with students, social media of all kinds is the preferred form of afterschool communication when they can’t be face to face with peers.  Teachers can’t hide in a cave.  Policies about social media are outdated and should be revised.  Here are the guidelines I use:  In general, don’t “friend” or “follow” students on non-school media.  The exception to this is on public sites like blogs, etc.  “Friend” or “follow” students on school social media, such as Schoology.com, where teachers set up digital classrooms and can regulate content.  Schoology, for instance, is a ‘members only’ type of site where you must be enrolled in the class to interact… and teachers can moderate comments to help catch harassment and bullying before students can see it. 

Schools should embrace this type of social media.  It meets the students where they are.