Alliance for Catholic Education
During a recent Christmas visit with my family, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit with my nephew, his wife and two-year old Hadley. At one point Hadley, said, “Come on guys.” Mike, her father, said that he didn’t know where she got that phrase. I mentioned that it was probably at her pre-school. I hesitated to share with her that we are not all guys and suggest a more inclusive term! What I did realize was that behaviors like this are formed at an early age as youngsters attend early education programs. While this is a mundane example, it recalled that all we do with young scholars needs to model professionalism. To do so, the leader is called to treat all members of the school community – students, faculty, staff and families – with equal respect and dignity.
One aspect of modeling professionalism is the method, tone, and type of communication. When I was Superintendent of Schools in the Diocese of Albany, I discerned when communicating with an individual if an email or a written communication would be most appropriate. A short note on the mail shelf of a teacher complementing the individual on the lesson you just observed, goes a long way. My basic philosophy is that you cannot overcommunicate! Keeping the family apprised of upcoming events is critical and it invites them into the education of their children. Letting faculty know of schedule changes well in advance will help them in their planning.
Transparency is important when dealing with the members of the school community. Open and honest communication is important, particularly when dealing with a conflictive situation. Taking time to “cool down” when situation arises, which creates some distance between the incident, can prepare you to respond in an appropriate manner. Key factors to always keep in mind are the Mission and Belief Statements of the school. A new school administrator, when I was Superintendent, needed to reduce the teaching staff due to low enrollment. In a conversation with him, he said, “Sister, I want the individual to not only remember the decision but also the manner it was communicated.” As an administrator, ask for and be open to feedback. How are the faculty meetings going? What about the format for conferences? What can I do to improve as an administrator?
The email from Dr. Baxter inviting Remick leaders to reflect on your progress this semester reminded me that at the heart of a leader is to be a reflective leader. One of the practices I committed to as a leader was to keep a journal. Taking time to reflect on the day or the week was a good reminder for me to find moments to celebrate and to pray for guidance in the areas that I could improve upon. As a new leader, seeking out a mentor who can be a resource to you as well as a critical friend can help you grow in this new role. Experienced leaders may find gathering with other leaders helpful to challenge and support one another. This ties into another value of a Remick leader – Engineers Improvement.
Lead by example is a key element for a successful Catholic school leader. In doing so you encourage the faculty and staff to also Model Professionalism.
Sr. Jane Herb, IHM, PhD
Former Superintendent, Diocese of Albany
Executive Coach, Remick Leadership Program