Authenticity, reliability, character. All of these need to align. If actions speak louder than words then for leaders, actions shout louder than words. The way a leader interacts with everyone on a campus influences the climate of that facility. It sets the tone for how others will interact. When a leader is reliable and authentic he/she cultivates respect and through action that leads others to do the same.
Commitment:
When I think about how I can better put my plans into action I remind myself of my end vision. I imagined the list of goals and projects in my "Home Improvement" file. When my husband and I first bought our house we dreamt big. We listed our major projects and changes we wanted to make happen. We drew a picture of our vision for our front and backyard. I recently revisited this drawing and I was thrilled to see how much of our initial vision we have accomplished in five years. For me, writing down (or drawing out) my end goal helps me take purposeful steps to accomplish the goal. I'd like to apply this strategy of beginning with the end in mind to my professional life. I am used to backwards designing my lessons and it is a strategy I use every time I plan. I'd like to commit to communicating this vision better to my students. Though I have the end goal in mind, I feel that not all my students understand the big picture of some of their smaller assignments. I'd like them to be able to articulate the end goal.
Plan
My focus group for this project includes 5 students. Each week after we meet the students will use their iPad and the app Book Creator to show their understanding of each habit. The end goal is to have a product that they can share with their peers and family. It should show growth and a better understanding. For this week, I would like them to develop their own vision for the type of student they hope to be. Then we can begin to brainstorm actions they can take to accomplish this goal.