Tech Leadership

                                     Tech Leadership Vision Statement

I will be a knowledgeable, confident, reliable, well-organized, and competent leader who is able to make an impact on those I work with.  In order to achieve my vision I plan to do the following:

• complete the Masters in Educational Technology program
• Begin working with our district's Director of Technology
• Help with writing the revised Technology Plan
• attend CUE conference with the Technology Team
• Use technology regularly and effectively
• Become more involved in the planning of technology integration at my school

I believe that by taking these steps I will attain the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful leader. By putting myself out there and getting more involved in the planning and integration of technology in our district, I will not only become more knowledgeable, but will begin building a reputation as someone who is capable and deserving of a leadership role.  Through the process of learning about and using technology I will gain the competence and confidence to address any issue that I may face.

Technology Leadership Philosophy Statement

My leadership philosophy has been shaped by not only what I’ve learned about effective leadership, but by what I’ve observed in others.  For me, the ability to lead effectively begins with establishing a clear vision that focuses on student achievement and reflects the values of the school/district as well as the leader’s own core values.  As a leader in educational technology, I will remain true to my personal values and will always act with integrity, authenticity, respect, and commitment.

Effective leadership begins with establishing a clear vision.   As a technology leader, I will work with teachers, administration, and the technology team to establish a shared vision for technology use in our district.  I will be consistent in modeling and communicating that vision.  I will also focus on setting personal goals and will seek out learning opportunities for both myself and those I lead.

As a technology leader in education, it will be my responsibility to plan, develop, create, and manage a technology plan that will guide the integration and evaluation of effective technology tools and resources used within the district.  I will enlist others to be technology leaders and together we will work collaboratively to create a plan that is consistent with our shared vision and goals for our district.  I will also reach out to teachers, students, and other stakeholders to gather their ideas and assess their needs.  As a leader, I will serve as a model to those I lead and will help to create an environment of trust and respect where every voice will be heard and valued.  I will be dedicated to the research, creation, negotiation, and revision processes that are necessary to ensure that the end product is a workable plan that will guide us in utilizing technology in meaningful ways.

            It will also my responsibility to provide ongoing support for staff and teachers to ensure that everyone is adequately prepared to effectively utilize technology in a way that supports our vision and plan for student success.  I will conduct regular needs assessments and provide professional development opportunities for all staff. I believe that it is my duty to build an environment of collaboration and trust among staff and teachers. During collaborative activities I will listen to and be respectful of the ideas, opinions, and feedback offered by others. I will acknowledge the skills and expertise of those I lead and will call upon them for advice. I will serve to motivate, support, and recognize the achievements of others. I will encourage staff and teachers to be courageous and take risks as they learn to use technology and integrate it into their curriculum.

               A Look at Simon Sinek's video: How Great Leaders                                       Inspire Action

Quotation: "There are leaders and there are those who lead. Leaders hold a position of power or authority, but those who lead inspire us."

I find this statement to be very true, and unfortunately, I've known many leaders, but very few who lead.  Take my school district for example. I've worked in this district for thirteen years, and in that time we have had three different Principals, three different Vice Principals, and three different Superintendents.  Most of them would be considered leaders according to Sinek's definition.  They rarely visited classrooms or talked to teachers.  Meetings would consist of them talking while we passively listened.  There seemed to be no energy or excitement about what they were doing. However, the leaders that we currently have are different.  They are leaders who lead by inspiring others.  They are excited, optimistic, and driven.  They are also involved in and aware of what is going on at their schools because they take the time to visit classrooms and talk to teachers as well as students.  They believe in the mission and vision of our district, but they also believe in their staff and students.  

Question: I get the "why", "how", and "what", but what about the "who"?  I think that whether you are trying to sell something or pitch an idea, it should probably begin with thinking about the "who" before moving to the "why". Understanding the "who" may make it easier to identify the "why" since not everyone feels the same way or is motivated by the same feelings.

Talking Points:

• The Golden Circle: The Golden Circle is a way of describing a leadership approach that begins with addressing "why" then "how" and finally "what". According to Sinek, inspired leaders think and communicate with an "inside-out" type of thinking. I thought this was a great way to not only think about leadership, but my teaching as well.  I sometimes get so caught up in what I want my students to learn that I don't stop to consider why I want them to learn it.  I often get students who ask "Why do I need to know this?" I think a much more inspiring and effective approach would be to begin each lesson by communicating the "why" before moving to the "how" and "what".
• "We follow those who lead, not for them, but for ourselves.": I think this is a really great point. Sinek illustrates this message by pointing out that those who came from near and far to listen to MLK's speech were not there for MLK; they were there because they believed in the cause.  They found value in the fight because it in some way impacted them personally.  People aren't just going to follow someone because of who they are or because they have a leadership title.  They follow those who lead because they are in some way offering something that is valuable, whether it is a vision, an idea, or even a way of life.  
• People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it.: As I was first listening to the video and taking notes, I thought "What a great notion!" But as I continued listening to the video and had time to reflect on it, I found that I wasn't completely buying everything Sinek had to say.  For example, the idea that people don't buy what you do, but rather why you do it assumes that people are all motivated by the same things.  Take Sinek's example of the Wright brothers and Samual Langely for instance.  He states that the Wright brothers were successful because they were driven "by a cause, by a purpose, by a belief." Langely, on the other hand, did not succeed because he was driven by the desire to be rich and famous.  But for Langely, the desire to be rich and famous was his "why". Although it may not have been as noble as the Wright brother's desire to change the course of the world, it was still his driving force.
• People who believe in what they are doing are more successful:  I think that in a lot of ways this is true for the simple fact that when you truly believe in what you are doing and find value in it, then you become more excited and motivated to do the work.  You push yourself harder, go beyond was is asked of you, and never give up all in an effort to achieve the goal.
• The goal is not to sell to people who need what you have, but to sell to people who believe what you believe: As a marketing strategy, this really annoys me.  This is why you get people throwing hundreds even thousands of dollars away on things they don't need. Companies know that if they just tell people what they are selling they may get the response "I don't need that." But if they make people believe that by buying the product their lives will somehow be better, then they will compulsively buy. This sounds more like a technique for manipulation than for inspiration.