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| Return On Investment (ROI) |
"Everyone is a Leader. So Then Why Doesn't Everyone Lead?" was a blog post by Jimmy Casas (@casas_jimmy) on March 11, 2018.
First, I echo Mr. Casas' sentiments completely. I firmly and strongly believe in the concept of Teacher Leadership and their ability to influence Administrators, their colleagues, and other respective Teacher Leaders (in addition to their students).
No doubt about it, Teacher Leaders are the linchpins that influence culture and contribute to the health and well-being of any school. "So why then doesn't everyone lead?"
What I have come to conclude is that it has everything to do with the relationship and investment the district is willing to put into training their teachers for this role.
The concept of a "return on investment" hit home for me when I realized just what the role of a Teacher Leader potentially 'returns.'
Teacher Leadership: It's a commitment. A mindset. An Art of Teaching, Coaching, and Leading. A dedication not only to Instructional Leadership but to Servant Leadership as well. The list goes on.
The above that I mention are just some of the "returns on the investment" a district would benefit, or gain by investing in its teachers.
If sustaining Teacher Leadership is indeed a mutual "invest and return" principle that I just mentioned, what is the district or school leader willing to invest in their teachers to become leaders?
What resources and time are they willing to commit to foster this relationship? What promotions are they willing to give their Teacher Leaders? How do they, collectively, foster them so this mindset generates a staying power to create more Teacher Leaders?
Yes, all teachers are leaders. Yes, everybody should be leading. However, the relationship and investment that I mentioned previously have to be there on both sides.
It's a marriage. Plain and simple. Both parties cannot commit 50/50. Instead, both need to invest in each other 100%. That's how a healthy relationship can persevere and sustain a strength-based approach to leading and learning that is symbiotic.
The commitment to be a leader is demanding. This role leaves any teacher open to criticism as doers and overachievers by their peers because they have no official administrative title.
Below is a quote that answers how to promote Teacher Leadership in any school.
If you are interested in reading further about Teacher Leadership: Is Your District Striving or Sustaining, read my previous post here.
