Teacher Leadership Pt.1: M3_FA 2-Vision

As per course,

" Watch:

Shared Vision
https://vimeo.com/225811986 

 

A common vision is something that the connected parties share as a common goal.  Common vision means working together to employ strategies that support the growth and development of the shared goal.  In regards to leadership, a common vision is something that is introduced by the based on the principles of research that have demonstrated real results. The leader's role is to provide a model (based on the research) as an example for teachers; however, paramount to this process is the understanding that this is just a model and does not have to be the way you (as the teacher) interpret it. In fact, it is more productive and beneficial if the teacher interprets it in a way that speaks to them.  The leader can then ask coaching questions and provide support as they work together to implement the shared vision. Furthermore, in order for a common vision to be nurtured and validated it needs to be a collaborative process whereby all parties are involved including administration, students, teachers, families, and communities. Within this structure of a common vision is the inherent understanding that failure is a means by which learning can be further developed. It is the leader's role to ensure that the environment is a safe place conducive to taking risks. Failure can then be used as a tool to show students that we're all co-learners who are in it together and this can be used as a pathway for continued reflection and motivation. 

 

When a common vision is instilled at the core it is something that the peoples involved can take away and apply it to different aspects of their experiences. Such as when students develop into leaders themselves and are able to make choices for what they believe in.

 

Post:

What is a common Vision? What does common vision mean? What does this mean in regards to leadership? What are some important aspects a leader must consider?

 

Review and comment on two other postings by your colleagues."

As per discussion, 

"A common vision can look like a lot of things, this context of an educational community would refer to the function and standard that the school strives to foster in its community members. Among some of the course content I have read and viewed in this module, a video that resonates though is that of focus area 1 "School Climate". The video "Establishing A School Climate" by "Professional Learning Support" discusses Kelly Rizzo's view on how her role as an administrator is not just "her role" and outlook on the team, but how she is a facilitator in a community and how teacher sharing of ideas/resources can further develop a community. From this it is clear that a vision is integral to something studied previously which was "School Culture". 

Vision can be used to describe an epiphany or a team goal. Often times a strong leader can intertwine the two. In cases where a team environment is still being developed a vision is not necessarily going to be a shared vision at first, I believe I mentioned earlier in another focus area that sometimes a leader will need to walk the team by the hand through a few successes first before being able to sit down as a team and confidently expect that a clear vision will arise amidst the tired teachers on faculty. Its not like this in many places or even some places (probably), but there is an important part about vision that needs to be said which reflects that a team may not always be able to at first devise a vision of its own. As a leader, trying to inspire other leaders in the community, I would like to see a team that can really, really be apart of the vision building goal because then there is ownership of that vision.

I believe in the past I mentioned homerooms and their failure in sustained silent reading at a former school of employment while overseas. This would have been one example in which "the vision" (as the leader actually put), was not shared and did not reflect the goals of the school culture on a whole, thus leading the school into a new year with a vision that would crash and burn in a month or so. After that vision, after its burned-that's the moment where a leader proves themselves the most,  but not the one that leaders want to be in. Leaders need to be able to rely on their team, and they can't if their team wants no part of their vision, without ownership by the team of the vision-a crucial ingredient is missing-voice/collaboration."