Middle School Leadership and Vision EMD 335 | Newberry College

Middle School Leadership and Vision Principal leadership at the middle level Teacher leadership at the middle level Vision and mission statements

NMSA Characteristics Courageous, collaborative leadership (TWBA, pp ) A shared vision that guides decisions (TWBA, pp )

Leadership is vital to create a successful middle school. A middle level principal leader… Gives direction to the school program. Shares and spreads leadership. Advocates for students. Acts as a role model. Accepts responsibility for academic success or failure.

Unfortunately, this is often what’s happening to school principals. In addition, few middle school principals have training in middle level education.

A teacher is a leader when he/she steps outside the classroom door.

Leadership doesn’t have to be a role. It can be a mindset or a disposition. You are already a leader inside your classroom. But you also need to be a leader outside your classroom.

Leadership is vital to create a successful middle school. A middle level teacher leader… Gives direction to the school program. Shares and spreads leadership. Advocates for students. Acts as a role model. Accepts responsibility for academic success or failure.

Yesterday and Today: What’s the big difference?

In your classroom what kind of leader are you?

“High-performing middle schools have high- performing, learning-centered leaders – principals and teachers – working collaboratively to enhance student learning.” - Research and Resources in Support of This We Believe (2003, p. 61)

What can you do to be a teacher leader?

What do teachers do that is leadership? Write an op-ed for your local newspaper. Write a letter to your local representative. Write an instructional article for a professional journal. Join a professional organization and read their journal regularly. Join a committee and make it work well. Conduct some research in your classroom and share it. Start a needed program. Go to a conference and share what you learned. Give advice and/or feedback to your principal. Be a model. Don’t participate in gossip or complaining. Inspire your colleagues to focus on students. Network with other educators. Share your instructional materials. Work with colleagues to develop curriculum guides and assessments. Act as a mentor. Advocate for students and their families. Bring an opportunity to your school. Involve colleagues in professional dialogue.

TWBA Video Clips Leadership  “Peer Observations”

Check out… July 2010 Educational Update Think about School reform Middle grades advocacy Teacher leadership

A vision statement describes the ideal: who we are and where we’re going. The mission statement operationalizes the vision. It states how we’ll get there.

All vision or mission statements should… Be created with involvement of all stakeholders. Be communicated widely. Guide important decisions. A middle level vision or mission statement should… Focus on the nature and needs of young adolescents.

TWBA Video Clips A shared vision  “Vision”

If you were to write a vision and/or mission for your middle level classroom, what would they say?

Class Wiki