Module Six
Leadership
What makes a good leader?
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Leaders are reflective.
Leaders are innovative.
Leaders make complex decisions.
Leaders are ethical.
Leaders advocate.
In which of these areas do you need to grow as
a leader?
Slide 2
Invitations to Explore
1. As a whole group, identify two characteristics from
the menu to explore. Do the activities associated
with those characteristics and come back together
as a whole group to discuss. --OR-2. In small groups, choose two or more
characteristics. Complete the activities associated
with each and discuss implications for teacher
leadership (What did you learn?). Small groups
then report to the whole group.
Slide 3
Activity 1 – Leaders are Reflective
• Study the notion of competence.
Conscious incompetence
Conscious competence
Unconscious incompetence
Unconscious competence
• Consider driving a car. How does a driver
move through these four stages when learning
to drive?
Slide 4
Activity 1 – Leaders are Reflective
• Consider competence in teaching.
Conscious incompetence
Conscious competence
Unconscious incompetence
Unconscious competence
• Think of a teaching scenario. Role play how a teacher
in each stage might act. Also include ‘voice overs’ of
the teacher’s inner monologue.
Slide 5
Activity 2 – Leaders are Innovative
• The Marshmallow Challenge:
• 20 sticks of spaghetti
• 1 yard of tape
• 1 yard of string
• 1 marshmallow (must be on top)
• Build the tallest free-standing structure in
10 minutes.
Slide 6
Activity 2 – Leaders are Innovative
• Questions to Consider:
– Which team did the worst? Why?
– Which team did the best? Why?
– What improves performance?
– How were new ideas generated?
http://marshmallowchallenge.com/Welcome.html
Slide 7
Activity 3 – Leaders Make Complex Decisions
• Each small group should designate one person
as the “reader.” Only the reader will receive
the handout- “Leaders Make Complex
Decisions.” The reader will share the scenario
and directions at the top of the page. Then, as
directed, share one event at a time, allowing
the group members to discuss next steps
between the reveal of each event.
Slide 8
Activity 4 – Leaders Act Ethically
• As priorities and resources change, leaders
must make decisions about what is best – best
for teaching, best for learning, best for
children. However, there is often no clear
answer.
• What questions do ethical leaders consider
when deciding what is ‘best’ ? Brainstorm 2-3
questions and compare with your colleagues’
answers.
Slide 9
Activity 4 – Leaders Act Ethically
• Values Clarification Activity – Read the list of ‘must
have’ items teachers often have in classrooms.
• Decide which one item you would be willing to
teach without. Mark it out and place a ‘1’ next to
it.
• Now, imagine that because of unexpected budget
cuts, you must cut 2 more items from the list.
Mark those out and place a ‘2’ and ‘3’ next to
them.
Slide 10
Activity 4 – Leaders Act Ethically
• Continue making decisions about which items
you would give up and number them in the
order in which you would let them go.
• At the end, you will have only one item left on
your prioritized list.
• Now go back and evaluate your decisions
based on the ethical questions you
brainstormed at the beginning of the exercise.
Slide 11
Activity 5 – Leaders Advocate
• Do you know who makes educational
decisions that affect you and your students?
• Research the names and addresses of those
who make decisions that affect you and your
students. (see ‘My Education Delegation’)
• Choose one of those individuals and write a
letter expressing your thoughts and
perspectives about an educational topic that is
important to you.
Slide 12
• All images copyright “Microsoft Clip Art
Gallery”. All rights reserved.
BT Matters is a grant program made possible by:
• The Institute for Emerging Issues
http://iei.ncus.edu
• NC State Employees Credit Union
http://www.ncsecu.org
Slide 13