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ISABEL MORALES

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

November 29 , 2010

EDUCATION 524 : LEADERSHIP

DR. CASTRUITA

The Reluctant

Leader

“Leadership” is a concept we often resist. It seems immodest, even self- aggrandizing, to think of ourselves as leaders. But if it is true that we are made for community, then leadership is everyone’s vocation…”(Palmer, 1992)

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Why am I here?

“Where did you come from and where are you going?

What makes life worth living and work worth doing?

If you have a faith or a personal philosophy that answers these questions, cherish it and nourish it.”(Bolman & Deal, 2002)

Where I come from3

Boyle Heights

52.4% of residents are foreign-born

5% of residents 25 and older have a four-year college degree

Median household income: $33,325

http://projects.latimes.com/mapping-la/neighborhoods/neighborhood/boyle-heights/

A Change is Needed

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“Leadership is needed when we discover the system is no longer right and must figure out how to change it.” (John Kotter, quoted in Bolman & Deal, 1994)

“We…are not victims of society, we are its co-creators.” (Palmer, 1992)

“Through the act of appearing fearless, inspire others.” (Stengel, 2008)

5Out of the night that covers me,Black as the Pit from pole to pole,I thank whatever gods may beFor my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced nor cried aloud.Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tearsLooms but the Horror of the shade,And yet the menace of the yearsFinds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,How charged with punishments the scroll.I am the master of my fate:I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus – William Ernest Henley

Emergent Leadership6

“Some people are leaders because of their formal position in an organization, whereas others are leaders because of the way other group members respond to them.” (Northouse, 2007)

• Loyal and honest• Avoid group-think and respectfully speak my mind, even if it is the lone dissenting voice.• Seek others’ opinions• I respect and value my colleagues• Morale-booster• Initiate new ideas

Servant Leadership7

“A servant leader is aware that he or she is an instrument for good, a person who has been given certain abilities or gifts that are meant to be used in helping others.” (Keith, 1995)

Leadership Development8

Everyone can become a leader

Belasco & Stayer’s flock of geese analogy (1993)

An organization should still be able to function in my absence.

Ex: Yearbook

Ethics9

“Don’t rationalize your inconsistencies” (MEChA days)

High Expectations & Consistency

Honor the leadership role you have been given; honor the students, & the community to which you belong.

No tolerance for under-delivering, abusing power, lying, stealing, or cheating

Internal Accountability & Agency10

Accountable leadershipstresses the importance of agency. is distributed leadership.(Elmore, 2005)

My Strengths as a Leader11

Leader-Manager ProfileCommunicating organization

directionDeveloping key relationshipsDeveloping the OrganizationLeadership over Management

Strengths: Cognitive Frames

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Symbolic Frame: culture, ritual, ceremony

Human Resources: family, relationships, human needs, skills

Structural Frame: roles, goals, policies, environment

(Bolman & Deal, 2008)

Self-Actualization Strengths13

Freshness of Appreciation (Capacity for wonder and awe, lack of boredom, positive outlook)

Efficient Reality Perception (Appreciation of unknown as source for new learning, perceiving real world accurately, dealing with facts rather than opinions.)

(Bennis & Goldsmith, 1997)

Conflict Style14

My style is compromising and accommodating.I listen to others, can see a variety of perspectives.(Thomas-Killman Conflict Self-Assesment)

My Background: Working-class/Mexican immigrant

family15

“We…can offer something to you: our experience and the knowledge that has come from it.” (Vaclav Havel, quoted in Palmer, 1992)

Diversity & the need for professional mentorship

“Minorities often experienced difficulty finding suitable mentors.” (HBS, 1995)

Areas of Improvement16

Management (Direct operations and reinforcing performance.)

Autonomy and Independence of Culture and Environment (Being independent of others’ opinions, maintaining stability in the face of frustrations; maintaining inner serenity)

Areas of Improvement17

Political Frame: Improve at networking and coalition-building. Come out of my shell.

Conflict: I need to become more comfortable with conflict. I can be too accommodating and compromising when I do not know people well enough. I need to “stick to my guns” around casual acquaintances.

Implications: Surround myself with colleagues who are strong in the areas that I am not, so that together, we are stronger.

Where to next?18

I love teaching and am effective at it.

Teaching 12th grade civics/econ allows to incorporate civic engagement and empowerment without the pressures of standardized testing.

Is it how I can best serve my community?

Goals to fulfill…19

Complete Ed.D. National Board Certification Admin Credential

Isabel Morales

What I will be doing in 5-10 years:20

My heart belongs to youth and the teaching profession:• Develop as a teacher-leader. • Continue teaching high school while also teaching at the college level.• Develop a partnership between my college students and my high school students.• Mentoring of students AND professionals.• Advocacy work. (Teachers alone can’t solve social ills)

References21

Belasco, J., and Stayer, R. (1993). Flight of the Buffalo: Soaring to Excellence, Learning to Let Employees Lead. New York : Warner Books. pp 16-23.

Bennis, Warren and Goldsmith, Joan. (1997) Learning to Lead – Workbook on Becoming a Leader, pp30- 36, 167-169. (material found in Reader – Unit 1)

Bolman, L. & Deal, T. (2008). Fourth Edition. Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice and Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Bolman, L., and Deal, T.. (2002). Leading With Soul and Spirit. The School Administrator (AASA) web edition, pp. 1-10Eicher, J. (2005) Second Edition. Leader-Manager Profile: Self Assessment. Pennsylvania, HRDQ.

Elmore, Richard. (2005) Accountable Leadership Henley, W.E. Invictus Keith, K.M. (1995). Call to Servant Leadership. Facilities Manager Monitor Company – Personal Leadership and Diversity, (1995) Harvard Business School Murphy, J. (1988). The Unheroic Side of Leadership: Notes from the Swamp. Phi Delta

KAPPAN, 69(9), 654-659. Northouse, Peter G. (2003) Fourth Edition. Leadership – Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks:

Sage PublicatiLeading from Within: Let your life speakons. Palmer, P. (1992).. San Francisco: Jossey Bass. pp 73-94. Senge, P. (1990). The Leader’s New Work: Building Learning Organizations. Sloan

Management Review, Fall 1990, Pp. 7-23. Stengel, Richard. Mandela: His 8 Lessons of Leadership Thomas-Killman Conflict Mode Instrument http://projects.latimes.com/mapping-la/neighborhoods/neighborhood/boyle-heights/