Doug Callahan: Jones MS - Gwinnett County Public Schools

Teachers as Leaders
Portfolio
Mr. Doug Callahan
Class of 2012
Glenn C. Jones Middle School

Mr. Doug Callahan- Jones Middle School

Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Developing Personal & Classroom Direction
• Identifying a Personal Leadership Style
• Building Culture, Climate & Community
• Designing & Leading Change
• Facilitating Learning, Part 1
• Leading from the Classroom
• Leadership Essay

Introduction: Leadership Philosophy
I believe that positive leadership results from a
personal willingness to serve others, while also
communicating a direction in which others will
choose to join and follow. Leadership requires a
clear understanding of your core beliefs, and the
mission and vision of your organization.
Leadership requires a decision making process
that moves you ever closer to your defined
vision for your group in which you lead.

Module 1
Developing Personal
and Classroom
Direction

Overview of Module 1
• Beware of “Fuzzy Purpose”. We must work to
avoid being the captain of a drifting vessel in
the fog!

Personal Mission statement
The clear and current purpose of my life is:
• to be a supportive and present husband and father.
• to serve as an effective and positive school leader at
Jones MS through teacher- leadership.
• to become qualified for and acquire a GCPS
administrative position in the near future.
• to maintain an active role in the area of awareness
and research for children’s heart disease.

Grade Level Mission Statement
Since January, I have been out of the classroom while serving as
the 7 th grade lead teacher while our AP was away for QPLA
residency. During my tenure as a grade level leader, I
communicated the following “grade level mission statement” to
our teachers, in support of our school and district missions:
“While building positive relationships with our students
and community members, we will be provide an
unparalled seventh grade experience to our students
through both high levels of academic achievement, and
the preservation of the Jones Middle School brand of
caring and kindness.”

The 7 th grade office- my home away from home!!

Jones MS Brand of Caring & Kindness

Module 2
Identifying and
Developing a
Personal Leadership
Style

“Know Thyself”
Socrates, one of many attributed to the importance of “Know Thyself”

My Core Values- Personal Strengths
Integrity
Judgment
Sustainability
Dependability
Character

DISC Profile

Growth Challenge
Mike Rutherford stated the following during his
description of the classic “C” pattern:
“C’s have a tendency to stay in their job too long.
They are comfortable in their jobs and often need to
be pushed to future opportunities or career paths.”
I have been a middle school math teacher for 15
years, many of which have been in a gifted setting.
Have I stayed too long? Time for a move? Yes.

Planks to Support
My Leadership Platform
• Conscientiousness- Primary DISC Profile
• Dependable, Diplomatic & Deliberate
• Positive Prophesy- In 2 nd grade, I met with
Sen. Gordon Humphrey (R-NH) and served as
host at an event at my elem. school. He told
the entire community that
I would make an formidable
future Senator.

Positive Prophecy
Newspaper clipping of
me, 2 nd grade, serving
as Master of
Ceremonies during a
school event in which
Senator Humphrey
presented our class at
Dame Elementary
School with an
Environmental
Awareness Award.

Christa McAuliffe- Hometown Hero
Christa McAuliffe was a US History teacher at
Concord High School. She was also a member of
the community, as her son Scott was about my
age as a child and were friends through youth
hockey. I remember when Mrs. McAuliffe was
named the winner of the “Teacher in Space”
program by President Reagan. We had a
hometown parade for her prior to her departure
to Cape Canaveral for the launch.
I was in 5 th grade, and remember the national
news media reporting from my classroom for the
launch. We were personally devastated when
the Challenger disaster occurred. Christa
McAuliffe was an inspiration to us as children in
Concord, NH. She is an inspiration to me now as
a member of the teaching profession.

My Model Resonant Leader
Dr. Richard Holland has been my Principal since 1998. He is a inspirational leader, who
effectively communicates his vision for our school. He is a leader amongst leaders, as he
has developed a one of a kind student leadership academy at the MS level. He is a
leader to whom I have great admiration and I am thankful to work with him.

My Leadership Style
During my experience as the grade level leader, I
have molded my leadership style.
I have maintained a positive approach to problem
solving and problem- preventing. I have asked my
teachers to focus on positive student relationships.
I have clearly communicated that we must be
vigilant in preserving our school brand of caring and
kindness. I have strived to be both direct and
optimistic in my approach to grade level leadership.

Module 3
Building Culture,
Climate &
Community

The Elements of Culture: Heroes
Glenn C. Jones

Glenn C. Jones- Our School Namesake
I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Jones, as he
would visit the school on his birthday each year
around Thanksgiving. He was well into his 90’s
when the school opened. He would visit and
enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with both his
extended family, and his school family. He was
a legendary educator, principal, bus driver,
lunch room innovator, among many other roles.
He serves as an inspiration and role model for
the faculty at Jones Middle School.

The Dead Bush Phenomenon
What presently exists in our school
or district that is not working, but
is accepted because it is only seen
by insiders?
During my time in leadership I have
removed some dead bushes:
• Yellow placement cards have been
replaced with electronic database
scheduling system.
• Awards Ceremony has moved to a more
prestigious venue with an evening
agenda and dress expectation.
• Teacher negativity has been addressed
and improved.
• Agenda books will no longer be
provided by school. They were unused
by students who depend on websites
and Smartphones.
• Student supply lists will be provided in May
report cards with individualized supplies
requested by the student’s actual teachers
for next year.

Module 4
Designing and
Leading Change

The Cast of Characters-
Understanding the Common Roles of a Staff
How does a leader use these roles to affect positive change?
Priest
Storyteller
Whisperer
Cabals
(Secret Friends)
Gossiper
Spies
Members
Saboteur

The Change Formula
As a Math teacher, this formula really stood out to me as a powerful analogy as to how
positive change must be led and communicated.
D x V x FS > R
Dissatisfaction x Vision X First Steps Must be Greater than the Resistance to Change
Staff Members must feel dissatisfied enough to be open to change. They must
see a vision of a better way moving forward, and the First Steps to reach that
vision must not be overwhelming. All of this must outweigh the resistance to
change, which is exists normally.
Values are multiplied. If any of these values are zero, the inequality is no longer
true and change will not occur.

Reflection Activity for Module 4

Module 5
Facilitating
Learning Part I

Developing the Artisan Teacher

Reflection on the Artisan Teacher
The comparison of an artisan and a teacher is striking to me. Artisans have many
talents they utilize to create a tangible, unique pieces of art. They use their hands to
mold and guide a project into fruition.
Some think of teaching as innate. “Teachers are born”. Although this may be true to
an extent, I found the laminated bookmark that Mike provided as an impressive and
comprehensive list of skills that great teachers possess.
Some of these items I find as personals strengths. Personal Presence, Success and
Neural Downshifting stood out as skills I possess more so than others.
Other skills on the list as a struggle for me. Stagecraft & Theatrics are not a specialty of
mine, though I recognize their potential power. Locale memory is a concept I wish to
explore and learn more about.

“The most successful
teachers capitalize on
their strengths and
manage around their
weaknesses”

Non- Talent
85% Already Developed
15% Room for Improvement
Talent
50% Already Developed
50% Room for Improvement

The Power of Connections
Three Branches of Government is like
Rock, Paper, Scissors. (None dominate)
Caution- Connections are a Double Edge Sword!
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America, and
to the republic, for Richard
stands”….. Who is Richard? You
mean Nixon? Why did he stand?
(7 th grade student question)

Module 6
Leading from the
Classroom

Dr. Tim Elmore: Leading from the Classroom
Dr. Elmore spoke to us about the students we have in our classroom today.
Generation iY students- “Screenagers” They are confident, social, tech savvy, family
oriented. Technology is a birthright. They feels uncomfortable when not connected.
They sleep with their Smartphones. Often the possess low empathy, are selfabsorbed,
are ambiguous about the futures and maturation is delayed.
“26 is the new 18”
Gen iY’s greatest needs are:
EQ, Character Development, Strengths Discovery, Leadership Perspective.

Neverland- Today’s Gen iY’s Doesn’t Want to Grow Up
Social Silo’s of Public Schools
Time Investment in Video
Games
Over- Medication
Parent Advocates
Endocrine Disrupters
Media & Technology
Niche Marketing
Cafeteria Marketplace (iPods,
digital realms are tailored to
individuals)

The five Metro- Atlanta Superintendent’s
used their time speaking to TAL as a call
to arms in many ways. The situation
with the legislature and the budget has
reached the point where teachers need
to stand up and make their views known.
What does it mean to support public
education? Who will the legislators
listen to? Teachers are a large, silent
force these days, comparable to a
sleeping dragon. It is time to reclaim the
agenda from the politicians and fight for
what we know is right for our students
and our public education system. If we
do not speak up, who will?
Superintendent's Panel

I attended the District II Area Board
Meeting at Collins Hill HS on April
10 th .
Mr. Wilbanks gave an impassioned
speech about the budget situation,
and the intents of our elected
leaders in Atlanta. His level of
intensity was high as he tried to
“rally the troops” to educate the
voters regarding the Charter School
Amendment that will be on
November ballots. He questions
whether public schools are truly
supported by our politicians, as
evidenced by both the 11 straight
years of “temporary cuts” and the
dismantling of local control over
Charter Schools.

TAL Service Project-
Book Drive for Children’s Clinic
Our group collected over 1,100 books for underprivileged kids!

Leadership Essay- Teachers as Leaders, Class of 2012
Public funding for Education has plummeted in the last 11 years in the State of
Georgia. Systems and schools are expected to increase student achievement each
year with fewer staff members and a reduced ability to purchase needed materials.
There is a valid concern amongst many that student achievement will no longer
improve without a renewed effort by lawmakers to fully fund the education budget at
the State level. Recognition by the public of this issue will alert legislators of the
impact these cuts have had on local systems. The education of the next generation of
Georgians must be renewed as our State’s top priority.
Teacher leadership is an extremely important part of any school’s administrative level
decisions. Teachers need to be able to present ideas and proposals to their
administrative teams that they think will benefit the students they work with each
day. Not only is teacher leadership important at the local school level, but teachers
need to provide leadership at the County level, and State level as well, as decisions
made at these levels affect both teacher and student effectiveness. I have been
fortunate to serve as a teacher representative at many levels of the education system
so that both teacher and student perspectives are voiced in regards to issues that
affect all of us in public education.