Recently, Tom Vander Ark from Getting Smart published an insightful to-do list for education leaders. Vander Ark states, “Being an education leader is complicated and challenging. The politics are personal and multilayered. It can be the best and worst job in the world at the same time. But there is no role where an individual can have more influence over the future of a community, how it thinks about itself and its future.”
Vander Ark begins with 7 things to do within the first 90 days of taking on a leadership position. These focus on establishing a growth mindset and include things like assessing your leadership team and creating transparency.
His next list includes 7 more to-dos for the second 90 days. This list is focused on establishing an agenda. It includes items like clarifying roles and goals and leveraging teacher leaders.
Finally, he includes 7 steps to transforming a school or district over the long haul. These include:
- Conduct a mindset check.
- Share your next generation vision.
- Develop talent.
- Plan for access.
- Support new school models.
- Develop partnerships for progress.
- Stick around!
To see these tips, see 7 Tips for Education Leaders
