Leadership in American schools is becoming an increasingly difficult concept to define. Many educational scholars and policy makers agree that the current role of a school leader, both in the building and district or school wide, insufficiently meets the needs of American education for the 21st century. In an article by Lynn Olson, New Thinking on What Makes a Leader, she clearly argues that schools across the nation are facing a shortage of qualified and talented administrators. The article also points out that it could quite possibly be the current structure of our schools that may be contributing to the problem as well. There is consensus among educators, governmental and philanthropic groups that not addressing this problem will not only not make problem go away, but instead lead to an even smaller, insufficiently trained applicant pool to choose from.

Olson states, there are very different schools of thought when addressing this issue. It raises some interesting questions regarding the definition of educational administration, the inability for many to perform the demanding tasks needed to fulfill the requirements of the job and seeks to find a dialogue which might lead to possible solutions. This argument provides educators an opportunity to critically analyze school administration and leadership from a variety of perspectives. One argument is that key administrators are coming under increasing fire to provide adequate results in student performance and achievement. This pressure is driven in large part, as it is in the state of Massachusetts and across many states nationwide, by academic standards and accountability. Many would argue that this form of top-down reform would require administrators and school leaders to become “instructional leaders” rather than simply building managers. Building management must therefore take a back seat, if schools are to become successful in training and educating today’s modern student.  However, it is unclear how to precisely define the term “instructional leader”. There are those currently involved in education reform who believe that many of the problems faced by American schools will require solutions by the next generation of administrators.

Does the future of American education require that these leaders be educators in order to successfully do the job? Are we placing unreasonable expectations of administrators? Does the solution require that schools place a larger emphasis on business management? One thing is certain, public and private schools across the United States are seeking and actively recruiting candidates which can fulfill all these responsibilities. The modern day administrator needs to have the business and management knowledge of a corporate CEO, the savvy of a seasoned fund raiser and the experience of being a veteran educator. It is difficult to imagine effective leadership in our schools coming from someone who has never stepped foot in a classroom. Olson also places part of the blame on the preparation and leadership - training programs currently training administrators for the job. There are a portion of leading educators and policy makers that believe senior level administrators being “pumped out” of these training programs are lacking on-the-job experience as well as a deep knowledge and understanding of instruction. These leaders are not only going to be expected to do the job of “instructional leader”, but are going to face the reality of management. In my humble opinion, one this is for certain, the future success of American education will demand effective, innovative and visionary leadership in order to fully embrace and address the challenges of education in the 21st century.

The concept is actually quite simple. Exercise your role as a global citizen by engaging in a collective conversation with some of the biggest thinkers in the world. Big Think is an online community designed to extend the conversation about important topics, global issues and creative ideas by connecting people who want to share their thoughts or ideas with one another. As the website introduction video states, “your idea lives and is shared with a global meeting of the minds.”

As educators, the ability to engage in an extended conversation on topics ranging from the arts, technology, politics, science, medicine, history and current events takes those lunch table conversations to a whole new level.

From Zen Lessons - The Art of Leadership:

Lingyuan’s study of the Way and application of its principles was pure and sincere, rich in virtue. He had the air of the ancients. He was peaceful and serious, and spoke little. He was very much honored and respected by scholars and grandees. He once said,

“What people talk lightly and are careless of, the sage is careful with. In particular, to be the leader of a community and assist the process of enlightenment is impossible unless one’s action and understanding are in mutual harmony.”

“The essential thing is repeated self-examination and self-criticism, not letting thoughts of fame and profit sprout in the mind.”

“If there is anything not believed in among the directives of the teachings, anything the students do not obey, then one should withdraw to consider and cultivate virtue, waiting until a way comes.”

“I have never seen anyone who was personally upright whose community was not orderly. Truly in this lies the meaning of the saying ‘Looking upon the countenance of a virtuous person clears the people’s minds.’ “

In reading this passage this morning, I am struck by the simplicity of the message. As leaders, our actions and words must, to the best of our ability, be one. The difficulty in leading in such a manner requires that we take ample time to be self-reflective and if necessary critical when either our actions or words are not in harmony with one another.

As a former theater director and self proclaimed film buff the concept behind Pangea Day is both simple and breathtaking. From the website overview

The Pangea Day Mission & Purpose

Pangea Day is a global event bringing the world together through film.

Why? In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it’s easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that – to help people see themselves in others – through the power of film.

The Pangea Day Event

Starting at 18:00 GMT on May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers. The entire program will be broadcast – in seven languages – to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.

The 24 short films to be featured have been selected from an international competition that generated more than 2,500 submissions from over one hundred countries. The films were chosen based on their ability to inspire, transform, and allow us see the world through another person’s eyes. Details on the Pangea Day films can be viewed here.

The program will also include a number of exceptional speakers and musical performers. Queen Noor of Jordan, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, musician/activist Bob Geldof, and Iranian rock phenom Hypernova are among those taking part.

What Will Happen After Pangea Day

People inspired by Pangea Day will have the opportunity to participate in community-building activities around the world. Through the live program, the Pangea Day web site, and self-organized local events, everyday people will be connected with extraordinary activists and organizations.

Many of the films and performances seen on Pangea Day will be made available on the Web and via mobile phone, alongside open forums for discussion and ideas for how to take social action.

A Pangea Day documentary will be created to catalyze future activities, and dozens of talented filmmakers will make strides in their careers.

History

In 2006, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the TED Prize, an annual award granted at the TED Conference. She was granted $100,000, and more important, a wish to change the world. Her wish was to create a day in which the world came together through film. Pangea Day grew out of that wish. Watch Jehane Noujaim’s 2006 acceptance speech now.

What I find refreshing about this event is that it asks us to find a universal commonality through film, music and art. Organizers have created a variety of vehicles for people around the world to participate. Hosting or attending a local event, spreading the word through the blogosphere to simply watching. Consider participating in some way, even if it is just to curl up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a cup of chai and watching for yourself.

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits has created a wonderful list called The Zen of Tech: 12 Powerful Ways to Keep Your Online Life Simple and Peaceful. What I truly admire about this post is how he has done a wonderful job connecting simple and wonderful tools that when put to use properly can provide a fantastic way of making life in the virtual world feel a little less chaotic. However, aside from the technology, the suggestions are more about learning how to effectively “disconnect” and “unplug” when needed. He provides a fresh perspective on how not to allow technology consume your life. Worth a read!

Today I received in the mail, my copy of the Harvard Education Letter, published by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The cover article focuses on how “despite the challenges” more schools are adopting one-to-one laptop programs. The article goes on to say that over the last several years, many schools across the United States have initiated laptop programs and according to a recent survey more that 25% of the 2,500 largest school districts have at least one full grade of students working with laptops. What I found refreshing was that the article states that many educators believe that in time, these powerful tools, capable of allowing students to create, design, invent and publish will be “as ubiquitous as lunchboxes in students’ backpacks.”

While the research is still out and many studies have confirmed mixed results with regards to gains in student achievement, as a teacher of writing, there is a clear indication that student performance in writing increases and improves when working in a one-to-one laptop program. An example of this could be taken from my Creative Writing class today. Students and I are exploring poetry as a multidimensional form of expression. Today, my budding, young writers were asked to bring in a set of poems that they would share with one another in small groups. The purpose was to reach each other’s poetry and then engage in a conversation on providing one another feedback. I provided the groups with a rubric/outline for the discussion points and feedback areas they could focus on. This happened with paper copies of drafts, circling the tables and students writing in paper notebooks.

Now imagine for a moment, 18 students take out laptops, upload their poems to a blog or wiki. They read through and provide comments, mashup, link, respond using  technology like VoiceThread.

The potential is endless, the opportunities countless. We are hoping to take the plunge and move to a one-to-one next year in our Middle School. I will be sure to keep you posted.

Connect with your senses I asked them. They struggled. It could be more about spring trimester and the weather, and sun, and impending potential of summer break, but for some reason, it felt like it was me. Three exercises, each designed to connect with their senses, emotional memories, purpose, feelings. Shelley wrote that “Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world” and I wonder if this holds true in an age of Facebook, YouTube and XBox 360 Live. Is the seduction of the screen becoming a tonic that allows us to disconnect from the world around us? Today, it appeared so. The baffled faces, the confused expressions and the frustration with being asked to explore loss, comfort and place. It shouldn’t be so hard.

Yuanwu said:

My late teacher said that among those who serve as chief elders there are those who move people by enlightened virtue and those who make people obeidient by the power of authority. It is like the phoenix in flight, which all the animals like, or tigers and wolves stalking, which all the animals fear. As far as being moved and being obedient are concerned they are one, but the types are are as different from each other as the sky is from the earth.

I am inspired by and strive to learn from the phoenix.

Xeutang said to Master Qiean:

In managing affairs one must weigh the heavy and the light; when speaking out one must first think and reflect. Strive to accord with the middle way, do now allow bias. Hasty and careless actions seldom bring success. Even if you can get done in this way, after all you cannot complete anything totally.

When I was in the community of students, I fully witnessed benefit and harm. Only those of virtue moved people by the magnanimity. I hope those in the future who have willpower will practice this carefully. Only this will be of sublime benefit.

Lingyuan used to say, “Usually when people always dwell in inner reflection, they are able to clearly understand much, but when they get involved in things, running outside, then they oppose integration and lose the body of reality.”

If you really want to think of inheriting the responsibility of enlightened teachers, I direct you to future descendants to always examine and criticize yourselves.

How often do we take the time to do this? Reflect, examine and criticize ourselves? It seems that for many of us in leadership roles, the opposite holds true. Performance evaluations, grading student work, teacher evaluations. The opportunity to truly grow as a leader requires of us a commitment to spend time reflecting on our practice. Parker Palmer speaks of this extensively in his book, “The Courage to Teach” and yet how easy does it come to us? Understanding that our roles as leaders require the active responsibility of self reflection will only make us better in the art of leading. This year, as part of my teaching, I was required to go through a modified faculty evaluation process. The process asked me to spend time reflecting on my craft as a teacher, which, by default required that I reflect on my role as a leader as well. The process was refreshing and valuable to me. As are these Monday Morning Meditation posts. Enjoy your week!