Create Leaders, Not Just Managers

Operating a school requires management skills. There are student records, scheduling, district paper work, state paper work, bookkeeping and accounting, registrations, student safety, discipline, staffing and substitutes, maintenance, and many other demands made on school principals. Yet management is only part of what a school leader does and it's only a small part. A critical problem with our school system is that school superintendents and school boards want managers and what they need are school leaders. All school leaders have management skills, but many managers have no leadership skills. What we need to positively change the educational future of thousands of Native American students are strong and experienced leaders. Schools in Indian Country can not be the training grounds for inexperienced leaders on their way elsewhere. There is no place for rookie administrators in school systems where our children do not read, write, or do math anywhere near grade level.

The School Leader and Passion

A leader is a person of passion. A leader shows a passion for his staff and students, for his parents, community, and school board. A leader demonstrates passion in nurturing staff and students to succeed, encouraging them, demonstrating a variety of instructional strategies, using motivational techniques that keep all on task and focused on learning, filling them with a great enthusiasm for the mission and purpose of the school, filling them with pride in their culture and heritage, being visible, open, honest, and providing a calm and steady presence for all. A true leader uses the evaluation process to inspire, nurture, and strengthen staff members, not as a tool of repression and fear. A true leader has a solid educational foundation, an understanding of special education and Title I programs, and is a lifelong student.

Ingredients of a School Leader

The school leader must have a strong sense of mission and a solid understanding of the strength of Native American culture. The leader must persist in working with those who refuse to change their teaching style to meet student needs, becoming an irresistible force by using humor, enthusiasm, energy, careful nurturing, treating teachers fairly, offering support, and using his/her magnetic and charismatic personality to persuade and convince teachers of the worthiness and value of teaching the way that each child learns. The leader has a smile on his face, knows each child's name, has a passion for people and children, gives personal attention to students and staff, is well-organized and knows how to manage time wisely, recognizes no clock in the pursuit of equal educational opportunity for Native American students, is dynamic, enthusiastic, physically fit, with an enthusiasm which never stops.

The School Leader as the Instructional Leader

A school leader is an instructional leader. First assuring that teachers and students have the books, computers, course materials, and other supplies needed to teach and learn and carry out the curriculum. A school leader then provides daily inspiration to teachers and students, motivating teachers to inspire and teach each child, nurturing teachers so that each day they look forward to coming to school with the same dedication, the same enthusiasm, and the same idealism that brought them into the field in the first place.

Ingredients of an Effective School

The school leader creates an effective school. The teachers, students, parents, and community believe in the mission of the school, believe in their common purpose, and work collectively to fulfill that purpose. The teachers enjoy each other’s company and enjoy working together in an environment where they share in decision-making, are treated fairly and with respect, and where they are nurtured and supported in their teaching. Teachers and administrators show personal interest in their students. High expectations are established for all students. This is school where unconditional love for students in apparent in every classroom, office, and activity. This is a school where staff and students can voice their concerns, complaints, and criticisms openly without fear of retaliation. This is a school where students, parents, staff, teachers, and administrators all share in decision-making. This is a school where everyone is on the team and no one is left on the bench.

Building A Community of Learners

A major role of the school leader is to build a sense of community- to build a team.Here are some ways to build a community of learners. A principal of a school starts the school year off with a family picnic day. The school provides the food. The students provide the entertainment. People get to know one another in a relaxing atmosphere before the school year is really underway. Another technique is to host an overnight at the school gymnasium for parents and their children. Activities include movies and games in the gym, dancing, outdoor activities, outdoor sports, a cookout, relay races, and stories. People really bond well in the wee hours of the morning. Another technique is to show an important movie every Monday for the first few weeks of school. These movies would start with Dr. Martin Luther King: From Montgomery to Memphis, The Mission, Ghandi, One Voice, The Ghosts of Mississippi, Mississippi Burning, A Time To Kill, Geronimo, Dances With Wolves, Malcolm X, and Salt of the Earth. These movies bring people of good will together, create a sense of history and mission, show how adversity can be overcome, create a team atmosphere in the schools, and create a sense of destiny. Finally, the school leader should hold a daily or weekly rally with students. Like a sports rally, the purpose is to ignite student enthusiasm for learning. The leader can give an inspirational message or ask selected staff, students, parents, or community leaders to do so. The rally places its emphasis on student achievement and recognizes student performance. Students start the day or the week with a high level of motivation. Speakers need to be exciting and motivating for this to work.