tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post8807537587240102180..comments2024-03-13T06:04:34.407-04:00Comments on The 21st Century Principal: Empower: Should We Use That Word as School Leaders?John Robinson Ed.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-53729159685875137552013-09-23T11:03:19.050-04:002013-09-23T11:03:19.050-04:00I wish you would not be so quick to cast this term...I wish you would not be so quick to cast this term aside. In the same way that Adams cautions against the flippant use of "empower," one could also argue against the word "leader." It, too, carries negative connotations - relegating some to a subordinate, "follower" status. <br /><br />Empowerment has a some very positive connotations as well. By giving someone permission to act, you are demonstrating trust in their abilities. To me, empower implies faith, confidence, high expectations, and support. In this way, empowerment is important in developing teacher leadership within schools. <br /><br />As leaders, it is our prerogative to give, share, keep, or distribute power as we see fit... even if it is only temporary.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425834646906263393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-61895036627713144452013-09-23T08:06:14.688-04:002013-09-23T08:06:14.688-04:00Pretending that you are something that you're ...Pretending that you are something that you're really not is never a good leadership practice. We are who we are. That does not give us permission to remain stagnant and not grow, but those we lead can quickly see when we are just using buzz words to make things seem one way when they're really not. I can imagine that the above principal would have been much better off admitting his shortcomings and that he is working on them.John Robinson Ed.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-39297045873985399692013-09-23T07:43:49.000-04:002013-09-23T07:43:49.000-04:00Great piece. Had a principal once who constantly r...Great piece. Had a principal once who constantly referred to himself as the "lead learner" in the building. The behind-his-back joke was that after every staff meeting or parent conference or teacher evaluation, he ran back to his office and opened his copy of "How to Be a Principal." Nancy Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00047575960944913289noreply@blogger.com