Identifying and Empowering Instructional Leaders

You are a first year principal meeting with your leadership team for the first time. The team consists of an equal representation from each grade-level, special areas, content areas, and special education. Historically, these leadership team positions have been hard to fill. There are long-serving teachers that are guarded and resistant to change, and less experienced enthusiastic teachers that have served one year on the team. There is a nominal stipend tied to these leadership positions. It has been shared with you that the stipend does not serve as a motivator to apply for the job. There are no specific protocols, criterion, or expectations tied to these positions. Additionally, the assistant principal has shared with you that the majority of the leadership team members currently in place would prefer not to serve on the team.

In 750-1,000-words, analyze the case using the three-part guiding questions below. Conclude with the action steps you will take to resolve this problem. Be sure to demonstrate how the action steps support the school’s vision.

Part 1: Analyze the Case

1. Who are the stakeholders that should be included in the conversation relative to next steps? Are these individual conversations or a group discussion or both? What questions should be asked?
2. What should you consider when making a determination about next steps?
3. Is there a timeline that should be considered? What does that timeline look like?

Part 2: Identify the Larger Issues

1. Should you be sensitive to the previous regime’s approach to selecting the leadership team?
2. Should you honor the work done by the previous year’s leadership team? If so, what does that look like?
3. What are the potential positive and negative outcomes of doing nothing?
4. What are the positive and negative outcomes of taking action?

Part 3: Solve the Problem

1. What information surfaced during your analysis that should be considered as part of the decision making process?
2. Create and describe your plan moving forward relative to the selection process?
3. How did you include the critical stakeholders in the decision making process?
4. What are the strengths and weaknesses to your plan?