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= = = What makes an effective leader? = 

1. Facilitating Meetings "Faculty meetings can be a major source of energy for the school when the following criteria are met: Community norms are clearly established. The meeting is managed by a skilled facilitator and a process observer. The agenda is focused on issues that genuinely affect teaching and learning practices. Strategies are in place for distributing the work of the school among participants. The agenda is developed by a leadership team; includes outcomes, processes, and responsibilities; allows for reflection, dialogue, inquiry, and action; and is distributed ahead of time. Meetings are designed so that important issues and appropriate evidence can be thoughtfully examined." (Lambert 13) Need to listen, make decisions, present information, and manage conflicts to facilitate meetings.

Being able to facilitate meetings, in educational setting, dental setting, or any setting is a major leadership skill. It give and individual or individuals the opportunity to speak to more than one person at a time to make sure every one is recieving the same information and if there are any questions they can be taken care of promptly. It is very important to make sure every team member is on the same page.

2. Problem-solving "... that parents, teachers, staff, and administrators share the purpose of educating students to their fullest potential, engaging their hearts and minds in learning, and that effective communication is an integral part of fulfilling that purpose. We further recognize that problems that are not resolved have a harmful effect on the learning community." (Lambert 114) Problem-solving and managing conflicts are similar processes.

3. Decision-making In a school with effective leadership, "we use a learning cycle that involves reflection, dialogue, inquiry, and action. We make time available for this learning to occur. We focus on student learning. We use data/evidence to inform our decisions and teaching practices. We have developed a plan for sharing responsibilities in the implementation of our decisions and agreements." (Lambert 111) Principal X loves to sit all involved parties around the table to brainstorm. Many ideas are thrown out and ripped apart. Everyone leaves the meeting heated and offended but no decisions were made. Involved parties address principal X in private to plead their cases. Decisions are made based on who barks the loudest. The team feels divided and not valued as an active member of the community since their brainstorming has no correlation to the decisions made.

Principal Z is overseeing a Mulch Madness fundraiser in which all proceeds come directly back into the elementary school general fund. Principal Z must take all requests and ideas to use the money raised and make a decision as to the ways to best utilize the profits and impact the most students. Decision-making can be tough in any field but I know how hard it can be in education. Sometimes you never know if you are making the right decision, but sometimes a decision just has to be made. Again, trial and error occurs here as well. Some decisions can make a huge difference positively! Others can make negative differences. Either way, decision-making is tough but needs to be handled carefully!

4. Coaching "Help others to be successful in leadership roles." (Lambert 118) "Although instructional coaching has been with us for many decades, very little attention has been given to leadership coaching, in which questions are meant to expand the respondent's focus from being a reflective practitioner to being a leader." (Lambert 34) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Evaluations and constructive coaching give new community members the needed feedback to improve their performance.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">As an educator coaching is necessary. We need to constantly provide feedback to our students to let them know what they are doing well and to continue or let them know where they need to improve and share ideas with them on how to improve in those areas.

<span style="color: #3ca5ec; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">5. Managing Conflict <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"... that parents, teachers, staff, and administrators share the purpose of educating students to their fullest potential, engaging their hearts and minds in learning, and that effective communication is an integral part of fulfilling that purpose. We further recognize that problems that are not resolved have a harmful effect on the learning community." (Lambert 114)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"... implemented a conflict management program that resulted in reduced behavioral referrals and suspension- a 43 percent reduction in referrals the first year alone..." (Lambert 57)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Need to listen and empower others to manage conflict. Problem-solving and managing conflicts are similar processes. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Conflicts occur on a daily basis in a classroom. There are many ways to manage conflict. It is important to use the right tool for each type of conflict to diffuse the situation.

<span style="color: #3ca5ec; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">6. Listening <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"The principal must be nonjudgmental and use strategies such as reflective listening, pausing, and critical questioning to help others become self-directed leaders." (Lambert 119)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">All effective communication is rooted in listening first; that's why we were given 2 ears and only 1 mouth.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In the dental field, listening is very important. We listen to the patient to figure out what area of their mouth they have concerns with and what symptoms they are having. This can help the dentist pinpoint the problem the patient may be having. Also, when a patient fills out their medical history form they often miss somethings; if the dental staff asks questions and really listens to the patient, dental staff may find out something about their medical history the patient for got to mark. For example, patient marks "yes" for the queston of major hospitalization, but marks nothing else on the form. Dental staff asks, "what was the hopitialization for?" the patient replies that she "has bad knees"...This leads to the dental staff finding out she had a knee replacement, which requires a pre-medication before dental treatment for at least four years or until the operating doctor gives the patient clearance. Unfortunately, the patient did not recognize the severity of leaving information off of a medical history form. Listening is key. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Listening is a huge part of being an educator. First, we need to listen to our students to ensure they are getting all of their needs met. Second, we need to listen to other faculty and staff to build an effective team in the school. Third, we need to listen to parents and members of the community to create a solid foundation and support for all of the students.

<span style="color: #3ca5ec; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">7. Empowering Others <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"A principal builds relationships and develops trust and rapport by treating others with respect. He admits mistakes, shares honestly, shows humility, listens and treats others professionally, thanks others for their leadership, and promotes leadership opportunities for the school membership fairly. Developing trust among teachers, parents, and students by maximizing personal interaction with them will decrease fear and anxiety in the organization and increase the opportunities for others to be leaders within the organization." (Lambert 119)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In the dental field it is important to empower every patient and make sure they are aware it is up to them to keep on good oral health home care, since the dental hygienists can only clean their teeth once or twice a year. The most the dental staff can do is clean their teeth and teach the patient different techniques to effectively remove plaque and bacteria daily...it is up to them to do the rest.

<span style="color: #3ca5ec; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">8. Mentoring <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Mentors often see greater possibility in their mentees than do the mentees themselves, who tend to live up to their mentors' expectations when a deep belief in their capacities is expressed. The mentoring process can help educators to become better at problem solving and decision making, offers both support and challenge, and facilitates a professional vision." (Lambert 36)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mentors can become the key element in preventing teacher burnout. Mentors can become the key element in preventing teacher burnout!!!!

<span style="color: #3ca5ec; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">9. Being a Visionary <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Shared vision results in program coherence." (Lambert 113) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"A shared vision is the touchstone from which other district actions flow; for the vision to be meaningful, it should be created by representatives from all school community groups." (Lambert 86) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A visionary is a person of action. Good things don't just happen. They are brought to pass through carefully planned, organized and executed activities. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Putting our vision into action in education can make a world of a difference. If we just visualize our plans and never follow through, we will not end up with very successful results. If we have a vision then we must plan, organize and execute! Sometimes it's all about trial and error.

<span style="color: #3ca5ec; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">10. Positive Reinforcement <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"How a principal conveys support and encouragement is as important as what the principal communicates. Support and encouragement can make (rather than break) the development of leaders within a school." (Lambert 119) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Principal A presents depressing data on the possible budget cuts for the upcoming year. He delivers a pep talk about the greatness of teachers and thanks everyone for the work they do daily. Principal A is speaking to a divided and wounded staff. Staff members leave with comments of how fake the community is.

<span style="color: #3ca5ec; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">11. Presenting Information <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In a school with effective leadership, "we have designed a comprehensive information system that keeps everyone informed and involved." (Lambert 111)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In the dental field, presenting the information so the patient understands it, is essential. Usually the doctor does the exam and diagnoses any problems they patient is having and goes on to the next patient. The patient expects the dental hygienist or dental assistant to explain to them in greater detail what the diagnoses is and what will be done to fix the problem (if there is one). For example, the dental staff saw a patient one year ago, the patient was diagnosed with six cavities. Since the cavities were not actually hurting the patient, the patient did not come back to have the fillings done. Now a year later those cavities are bigger and some of the teeth may not be able to be restored because the decay is too deep. I believe if the information was presented clearly and firmly at the initial visit, the patient would have understood the severity of the cavities and would have came back more promptly to have them filled.

<span style="color: #3ca5ec; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">12. Being Creative <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Budgets and resources continue to diminish in the school. The principal must be creative in allocating time, resources, and money to best meet the needs of students.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In the past, the dental office has had appointments booked out for seven weeks; currently someone could call to make an appointment and get in the same day. The dental office is not very busy at all. Since the majoirty of the patients are on Medical Assistance (only one exam, x-rays and cleaning is covered per year), the owner is forced to be creative and offer coupons or siscounted prices for those patients, so they will come back more frequently than once per year.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Creativity is necessary for a teacher. All teachers are creative in their own way and bring something different to the table. This can make education fun!