Dear Mr. Consul and Catholic Student Leadership,
It is with deep sadness and regret that we, the Johnson Core Team, must write this letter regarding the actions during the past leadership weekend. Without a doubt, our team was greatly affected by it, and we still feel its effects now, even as we have returned home from camp. We realize that poor decisions were made by us as a Core Team – who posed as leaders of leaders – and the negative implications that it has made for us, our teachers, and our administration. It is a decision that we admit to being a risk to not only the face of Monsignor Percy Johnson’s leadership, but the face of Catholic Student Leadership within the TCDSB. We acknowledge that our decision and actions do not reflect
The real person who has made an impact on not only myself, but a great deal of people in the community over quite a few years is Ms. Barbara Neiman of Brockton Avenue Elementary School. Working in different fields over the course of her life, Ms. Neiman has had to convert to various styles of leadership. Since she has had to alter the ways in which she leads, I selected pieces from three different practices that I believe best fit her: The Path-Goal Theory, Servant Leadership, and a little bit from the Behavioral Approach.
Ms. Hall has had many years of public education experience and higher education training in which to hone her leadership style and framework. She started her career as a teacher in the Kirkwood School District. She then served as an assistant elementary principal at both Ritenour and Pattonville School Districts before being selected to serve as the assistant superintendent of the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District in 2008. Throughout her career she continued to pursue her education as a means o...
Overall, I was grateful for this experience. I was able to find out more about the behind the scenes responsibilities of our schools’ leadership.
In deed on June 6, 1944, the little town of Bedford, VA, suffered a tragedy that would never be forgotten. But through the pain and hardship some of officers who leaded the Bedford boys displayed remarkable leadership’s principles. One of the basic functions of leadership is to unite people: bring people together to achieve common objectives. There is truth in the statement, where there is unity there is strength. This essay will offer a working definition of effective leadership principles and discuss the function of leadership as it relates to followers, motivation and power.
While reflecting on all of the lessons learned during the first semester of seminary, I have come to the conclusion that the whole time has been an exercise in lectio divina. Never before have I read as many scholarly texts, spent so many hours meditating, praying, and pondering the words placed before me than in the past 3 months. Alas, II Kings 2 is the most challenging text with which I have had to grapple thus far. The idea of a prophet cursing children in the name of the Lord and then those same children, forty-two of them, being mauled by a she-bear required deep and intense prayer. Furthermore, after spending a considerable amount of time praying through II Kings, the text consumed my thoughts as I attempted to find God in the massacre of these precious, albeit mischievous, little ones. So the most beneficial aspect of lectio divina concerning 2 Kings is the reading component.
Furthermore, I have not used the opportunity to work closely with Nick Ocegueda and Manny Chavez as an opportunity for personal growth, or to make even the most incremental positive impact on either of them. I need to make the most of my limited weeks at the Academy so that I am better able to adapt my strengths to the environment while acknowledging my weaknesses so that I am not undermined by them. During our discussion in class today, I tried to defend the merits of the “turn it on, turn it off” approach to leadership as it applied to academics. I used the example of standing in front of a group of soldiers as the motivation to keep my “leadership switch” in the “on” position. It never occurred to me to consider the great possibility that my future work environment may not actually be a demanding one.
Finally, as a member of the Student Leadership Council, I have developed meaningful relationships with peers, advisors and community leaders, some who share my views and others whose views are utterly different from mine. I have been able to grow tremendously from my association with Students Against Destructive Decisions. Thus, it is my desire to continue volunteering for the Students Against Destructive Decisions Student Leadership Council, even after I graduate from high school, because it has been such a meaningful and rewarding experience. It is my hopes that I will be able to some day facilitate a Students Against Destructive Decisions Program in my community, as there is an urgent need for positive adult mentors.
Transformational leadership also integrates well with a biblical worldview because both advocate valuing followers as well as leaders, the importance of ethical behavior, the need to forgive and learn from mistakes, and the value of a high moral example. Kouzes and Posner advocate leaders having a “moral authority to lead” (2007, p. 41), practicing personal accountability and working to improve all aspects of their follower’s lives. This others-centered leadership approach fits well in the Christ centered atmosphere of a Christian school.
As a leader candidate, I can understand the challenges and multiplicity of complications that administrators must face each day. However, I will not accept any remote possibility that the students must be affected by some flaws of the school organization. We all as leaders, must be strategic with people, time, and money to guide our students towards an academic success.
Despite not being a part of over 20 different organizations, as some claim to be, being a part of a smaller number of groups has allowed me to focus on developing my leadership skills more thoroughly than I could otherwise. Not spreading myself too thin has made me much more committed and involved in the organizations that I am a part of, making my influences so much stronger. I firmly believe that I am trying my absolute best not only in school, but in leaving my comfort zone and being an active member in our community. I am honored that I have been considered for such a prestigious invitation as
As a young principal, I wish someone had sat me down, unscrewed the top of my hard head, and poured some common sense into my empty skull. I would have been a better leader if they had. However, I had to learn about leading through trial and error with, unfortunately, more error than I would like to admit. I now realize what many of my colleagues and staff could have told me years ago if I had been inclined to listen – I blew it as often as I got it right. Looking back at those early years, I am thankful to those who mentored me and supported me even when I could have done it better. They helped me realize that leadership is not something you just do; leadership is a journey, and learning from your mistakes is as much a part of leadership as getting it right – maybe even more so.
Kouzes, James M., and Barry Z. Posner. The Student Leadership Challenge: Five Practices for Exemplary Leaders. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008. Print.
Wilkes, C. G. Jesus on Leadership: Timeless Wisdom on Servant Leadership. Carol Stream, Illnois: Tyndale House, 1998.
Thomas Sergiovanni (2015) describes three essential dimensions of leadership as “the heart, head, and hand of leadership.” The heart describes those characteristics within the school leader that reflect personal “beliefs, values, and dreams.” The head of leadership refers to the practice of teaching and educating. The hand of leadership reflects actions taken by school leaders with respect to management behaviors. (p. 5) Within these elements, there is room for personal choice in how leadership is practiced and it is incumbent on new principals to find an individual leadership style that responds to the uniqueness of each school.
In today’s society, the definition of leadership is ever-changing and is always being improved. As a leader, my mission is to treat everyone equally and give them the respect they deserve. This semester was very challenging, but my leadership skills have improved. As a leader, my roles play a significant part in the lives of my constituents. I am eager to say, but I enjoyed every moment of my volunteer experience as a prospective Certified Student Leader (C.S.L). Taking the course, introduction to leadership was not a mistake, but a way for me to grow and mature as a leader. I must admit that I am staring to see the world differently, rather than to my own benefit. Considering this, I was able to grow with the help of my followers, mentors,