On different occasions, I’ve jokingly said, “I just want to be a regular English teacher who teaches my content well, gets my scholars where they need to be, and quietly works in a corner without being bothered by anyone or anything.” For a moment, I thought I had things set up well to move as a regular and unbothered teacher… until I was approached by one of my administrators about taking on the role of our 8th grade English department’s PLC (professional learning community) Lead.
When I was asked to take on the role, initially I wanted to pass. I had no interest in leadership and knew that if I accepted, I’d no longer be able to work quietly in a corner without being bothered and having new requests and demands placed on me and my time. Because any and everyone who’s ever been in a leadership role can tell you that when you’re leading anything, people will almost always come to you (first) with requests, questions, and problems they’re seeking to have resolved, while sometimes failing to recognize that you are human just like they are and sometimes need time alone or away from your work to pause, reflect, and reset.
I’ve been learning a lot while leading and have been stretched in ways that have inspired me to grow, pray regularly, and move with wisdom as much as possible. This new role has come with pressure and manageable stress that’s also taught me a lot about myself and about others while navigating the world of teaching.
This past school year, I was tired.
My weariness wasn’t just physical, but at times, was mentally and spiritually tiring too. Which led me to be even more intentional than ever about setting and establishing boundaries, minding my mental health, and prioritizing my self-care with intention. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy what I do for a living, and one of the best feelings in the world as an educator is investing in the lives of young people and seeing them grow and get where they need to be academically. However, this field doesn’t come without weights that go beyond planning lessons, grading papers, parent-teacher conferences, and discipline challenges – especially in a leadership position.
I work in a Title-1 school, so most of the students I teach and work with are minorities and come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. I’m in an especially unique position as the only Black educator working in my content area (English) while serving as the PLC Lead for my grade level. It’s a position that’s a privilege to hold but one that hasn’t (and doesn’t) come without challenges.
Often, leaders are tasked with putting out fires that just come with the territory of where you might be and are expected to maintain order in situations that can come up unexpectedly. I’m constantly learning that effective leadership requires humility, flexibility, patience, and navigating how to delegate while consistently “getting on the balcony” (a strategy shared in Leadership on the Line by Marty Linsky and Ronald Heifetz) to assess how things are going and what can and does need to be done to improve and produce successful results.
I’ve been responsible for the safety and protection of each student that comes in and out of my classroom, as well as tasked with unit mapping and lesson planning, planning the weekly agenda for and with my department, and ensuring everyone on my team is in the loop with important updates and understands what needs to be done for each of us to be successful in our roles.
As a leader, I also understand that there’s no room (or time) for inflated egos, disorganization, pettiness, gossip, or unprofessionalism. With teaching, there’s far too much work to be done to be distracted with things that disrupt the work environment. I respect my colleagues and want all of us to reach our highest potentials, however, everyone’s not always on the same page or may be willing to do the work to get there. One of the toughest lessons I’ve learned while leading is that sometimes you must step back, let go, and allow people to figure things out on their own if they choose not to listen or do the work that’s required to be successful.
Having an open mind and listening are essential too. Effective leadership also means recognizing that you’re always going to be working with diverse groups of people, with different views and opinions, who have a different approach (and sometimes an even better way) of navigating different situations than you do. Leadership isn’t a solo task – it’s a team effort.
The scholars we teach, who will be our future CEOs, designers, accountants, business owners, professional athletes, and more, need us. They need us now more than ever. For us to help them get where they’re trying to go, we have a responsibility to keep learning and leading effectively as we move forward too. Leadership books, courses, and professional developments are nice, but remaining lifetime learners who consistently take the time to get on the balcony and adjust accordingly will help us stay prepared through the inevitable shifts and changes that can and will come.