NewLeaders_Untapped

Better PracticeFOCUS ON BUILDING LEADERSHIP TEAMSNo one can be a truly transformative leader in isolation. Over 15 years training principalsand in our ELP training, we’ve seen first-hand the value of collaboration and strongschool cultures. Transforming schools requires multiple strong leaders working togethertoward a shared vision of student and school success.When we first implemented ELP, we saw missed opportunities for our participants toeffectively lead improvement at their schools. For example, principals would sometimesmake school-wide decisions without tapping teacher leaders’ classroom and contentexpertise. Not only would the principal miss out on an important perspective, but theteacher leader would miss the experience of being part of a strong leadership team inwhich key leadership practices are routinely modeled and practiced. At the same time,we saw examples of effective collaboration on ELP participants’ teacher teams, whocollectively achieved strong results, including gains in student achievement.We realized that it was not sufficient to develop teacher leaders alone, so we launched anew program to foster thriving school leadership teams. We work hand-in-hand with principalsto identify educators with clear potential to be effective leaders. Then, we help theteam collectively develop the skills and practices that exemplify a strong culture of sharedleadership. This allows principals to strengthen their instructional leadership impact bysharing responsibilities with colleagues who bring complementary strengths to the table.Such teams can help principals, assistant principals and teacher leaders right-size theirroles while creating a more vibrant learning environment for students. Effective teacherleaders can step up to assume substantive responsibilities that capitalize on their expertiseand keep them engaged and excited about their work. Principals can count on strongpartners to help shoulder an often overwhelming workload, allowing them to focus ontheir own core strengths and instructional leadership priorities. And educators across anentire school benefit from professional development that is not merely job-embeddedbut seamlessly integrated into daily teaching and learning.“We have common language, we all respecteach other’s ability to make decisions.”Principal, New York