The Shared Leadership Initiative

Objective: To implement a new policy to fill identified leadership positions.

Implementing a policy for filling leadership positions is a complex endeavor. What complicates things is
the existence of multiple leadership styles and roles, each with its own set of dispositions needed by
candidates to do a successful job. This means any policy/protocol implemented must be generic enough
to be useful for different situations. The first thing the policy must include is a list of leadership
dispositions. According to Levin and Schrum, ”There is no one correct set of dispositions for…
leadership.” Therefore, while the list must include multiple dispositions, the “school leader should be
explicit about the dispositions they believe are important.” My list will include the following:
 Cultural proficiency
 Collaboration
 Trust
 Emotional intelligence
 Vision
 Empowerment
 Patience
 Problem solving
 Integrity
After making a list of dispositions, I will utilize Katzenmeyer and Moller’s (2009) model to scout potential
candidates. They suggest leadership is usually demonstrated “through teaching and learning, by
influencing school-wide policies and programs, or through communications and community relations.”
Once I have identified potential leaders, I will bring them to formally assess them. I will begin by asking
them the following question:
 In what ways are you leading or have led in the past? While assigned leadership roles are
important to discuss, I will also focus on informal leadership roles such as volunteer work,
helping others, and sharing best practices.
 Ask what they think it takes to be a teacher leader (knowledge, skills, and dispositions). Their
input will be used to determine what needs to be practiced and what needs to be learned.
 Ask about their vision and what they wish to accomplish. This will be used to help them self-
reflect about their current dispositions and to help them set a plan for development.
This policy/screening process will help me select the right leaders who will help me promote a positive
school culture including staff morale, shared leadership, collaboration, trust, and a student-centered
environment because it explicitly states the correct dispositions needed for success. However, because
these dispositions can be developed and nurtured, I must provide opportunities for leaders to develop
them.
The strategy I will utilize to promote effective team/group dynamics in the newly developed process is
Tuckman’s model in which the role of the leader changes from directive to facilitative. The five steps of
the model are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
Reference:
Levin, B., Schrum, L. (2017). Every teacher a leader: developing the needed dispositions, knowledge, and
skills for teacher leadership. Corwin. Thousand Oaks, CA.