Here’s a question for you: Why did you become a Division Head? You probably have a mix of reasons—maybe you just enjoy leadership activities, or you wanted a new challenge, or you wanted the chance to impact a larger number of students, or you wanted a better salary, and so on and so on.
But here’s a different question: How were you prepared for your role? We imagine that all of you were teachers prior to becoming a Division Head, or you had some other leadership role such as Department Chair or Team Leader. But what were the formal steps that provided you with what you needed to be successful? If you are like the vast majority of Division Heads, you had no formal training at all. You weren’t trained in scheduling, in conflict management, in how to teach adults, or in the fundamentals of clinical supervision, or strategic planning.
So you took on a position with whatever experience you brought to it, and you learned on the job with the help of colleagues, maybe a mentor, your Executive Assistant, and by the way students, faculty, and parents reacted to what you did. What would it look like if you pretended, just for a moment, that you were at the beginning of your journey all over again? Make a list of the skills that you think you need training in. Now assess how good you are in those areas right now say on a scale of 1–10.
Now make a five-year professional development plan as to how you will increase these important skills—who might be a good mentor, which organizations might provide training (such as ISM), what books should be on your reading list, and education networks that would forward your progress. Then go to your School Head and ask her or him to support your plan. Wherever you began, and wherever you are, ensure that you continue to grow as a leader so you can model both growth and expertise in your school.
Additional ISM resources of interest
ISM Monthly Update for Human Resources Vol. 10 No. 6 What Jeremy Lin Can Teach Us About Leadership
ISM Monthly Update for Business Officers Vol. 7 No. 8 Tough Times Call for a Tough Leader
ISM Recorded Webinar Cultivating and Empowering a 21st Century Faculty
Additional ISM resources for Consortium Gold members
Ideas & Perspectives Vol. 28, No. 12 Generational Differences and Leadership in Your School
Ideas & Perspectives Vol. 33 No. 4 ISM’s Standards for Professional Growth and Renewal
To The Point Vol. 10 No. 5 Your Role as Faculty Leader: What Teachers Need From You
