By Dr. Thomas A. Gorman
Schools in recent years have found themselves in uncertain and complex times, due to fiscal constraints, pressures to increase standardized test scores, inflation for services, and changes in political and public support. There have been more changes in the past 15 years to education with mandates, accountability measures, and technology enhancements than the previous 100. So, how do administrators lead through these tumultuous times?
Several years ago, I journeyed to West Point, NY, with colleagues, for a two-day summer retreat to learn the secrets of military leadership and apply them to school administration. Many of the challenges that confront both institutions are similar – financial, personnel, reorganization, and defining success. Thayer Leader Development Group (TLDG) inspired us with stories of military life and missions, educated us with strategies to work through challenges, and pushed us using team building activities that helped form bonds when we returned to the district. The former cadets and retired Army officers invigorated the administrators and gave us the tools to inspire our teachers.
The Army lives by the motto "Mission First, People Always." This directive provides those serving in the Army with the right balance to get the job done while also taking care of its soldiers. To be successful in education, the same motto can be employed. The mission – educating the whole child – must also come first, while simultaneously taking care of our own soldiers – educators.
Mission First
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We were taught at West Point that soldiers live by the code: duty, honor, and country. Similarly, educators have a strong sense of duty and honor while also having an allegiance to their schools.
It is the duty of educators to provide a quality education to their students regarding the four “A’s” that comprise a student’s educational experience: academics, athletics, arts, and activities. The key to a successful educational experience is to balance the four “A’s” with the values and goals of family and community. Together, an effective learning environment is developed to produce an educated young adult who will be a lifelong learner able to contribute positively to society.
To educate a child effectively requires a tremendous amount of collaboration and effort from the child, family, school, and community. These relationships are the honor educators bring to the profession. Honor, formed through relationships with students through an educator’s craft, helps students find their voice, confidence, and purpose – characteristics that will support them throughout their lives.
Schools are more than bricks and mortar. They are comprised of administrators, faculty, staff, paraprofessionals, aides, and maintenance and custodian teams. Educators must work cooperatively with the community to inspire and implement a shared vision of student success. Like each military unit, each school has a proud history of the teachers and students who previously walked the halls of the building.
Willing Alignment
According to TLDG, high performance Army teams acquire members who want to do their best. They have a willing alignment to the mission. These teams, or for our purpose, schools, have leaders who promote six key points that align the teachers.
Clarity of Purpose – Teachers work long hours and sacrifice much because they find meaningfulness in their calling. Their purpose, to educate and nurture children, aligns with their soul, or calling, and they feel fulfillment as an individual, as a member of a department, and as part of the school.
Lead From the Front – The leaders of today do not lead from the rear. They lead from the front. They are the tip of the spear and are willing to put themselves on the line to do what is best for teachers and children.
Mastery – Teachers want to become masters at their craft. Master teachers are able to get “in the flow” and teach beautifully constructed lessons. Offering relevant professional development and allowing them to meet with colleagues at conferences or in the building allows them opportunities to develop lessons that best serve their students. Leaders need to encourage and accommodate teachers by letting them experiment and fail without consequences. This will lead to mastery.
Family – Teachers feel that the people they work with are more than coworkers. They are family. The relationships formed at work go beyond the workday and into their personal lives. There is a sense of belonging.
Freedom of Action – Give teachers the freedom to pursue what they believe is best for their students. The faculty and staff were given instructions that empowered them to take action on a decision after answering the following four questions:
If the answer to all four questions is “yes” then they do not have to ask for permission - they already have it.
Fun – The most important component to a successful school is that the teachers enjoy coming to work. Allowing teachers ample opportunities to enjoy what they do also inspires students to engage with the curriculum and have fun through learning.
People Always
We are inspired through the relationships formed at work that help us get through tough times. We are honored to give to a community, educate the next generation, and be a part of the long line of educators that came before us. We enjoy success because of our teachers from the past, the teachers we currently work with, and those teachers who we look forward to meeting and working with in the future. Teachers and administrators have a common purpose of supporting children, building strong relationships with colleagues along the way, and enjoying their time in the schools educating the citizens of tomorrow.
With People Always, the Mission will be achieved regardless of uncertain, complex, and ambiguous affairs.
Dr. Thomas A. Gorman is the Superintendent of Montville Township Public Schools. Dr. Gorman stepped into the position July 1, 2022. Each month he will author a column.