Over the summer, I logged several thousand miles and endured numerous interviews as I searched for that first "official" school leadership position. During this process and amid the quiet hours of driving, I was almost forced to answer the question, "Why do I want to be a school leader?" I know that the role brings long hours, difficult situations, and often the fruits of our labors are not seen immediately. So, why do I choose to be a school leader?
The two main reasons I kept coming back to are the ability to serve in a greater capacity as well as positively influence the lives of many more than was ever possible in the classroom. As a classroom teacher, I was able to serve and support a small group of people, usually one hundred or so students a year along with select parents and a few other teachers. As a school leader, those numbers will increase. The direct affect on students will likely decrease, however the indirect influence will grow as I serve teachers as an instructional leader. By providing the structure, support, and assistance that they need, my overall influence will increase. Plus, I will be able to work closer with some of the students who need extra support, especially those who are struggling with behavioral issues, and spend the extra time needed to help them be successful.
As I reflect on my previous school leadership roles (department chair, committee head, academic coach, lead teacher), I realize that what brought me the most enjoyment was serving others and helping them be successful. That makes sense as I realize that the leaders who I most admired and readily followed were those who made it their job to ensure that others achieved success. They didn't always provide answers, but instead helped people to find out their own solutions. They also provided opportunities for people to face challenging situations and then served as a guide to get them through the challenges and grow in the process. As I enter into my first taste of school administration, I want to be the leader who does the same as I reach people where they are and bring to where they can be.
Tomorrow, I will officially walk into my new position. I'm sure that as the days proceed, I will add many more reasons I lead (I already have, but don't have room to flesh them out) as well as some days questioning why I chose this career path. Overall, however, I expect to continue as an educational leader for years to come and expect that my service and influence will only increase over time.
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