Copyright, 1999- 2006 © Sr. Remigia Kushner, Manhattan College

The Mission of the The Mission of the SchoolSchool

For ALearningLeader

TheThe Learning Leader Learning Leader

• leads leads LearningLearning

• in the classroom,in the classroom,the department,the department,the school,the school,the homethe homeand is constantly and is constantly

• Learning Learning to be a better to be a better LeaderLeader

• PurposePurpose

• PowerPower

• PromisePromise

The Learning LeaderThe Learning Leader sets the tone of the school,

the climate for learning, the level of professionalism and the morale of

teachers; the degree of concern for what students

may or may not become. Then the school will be vibrant, innovative, student centered,

and has a reputation for excellence in teaching; a place where

students and teachers perform to the best

of their ability!

PurposePurpose

• Provide a quality Provide a quality education education

• Delivered in a supportiveDelivered in a supportive environment environment

• Based on and grounded Based on and grounded in lasting principles in lasting principles

Means providing young people with useful skills so

they can make their way in the world and helping

them develop dispositions of mind and heart to make a return on the investment that’s

been made in them.

Based on and grounded

in lasting principles

connectedness

ori

ente

d t

ow

ard

exc

ellence

enhance

dig

nity

Delivered in a supportive environmentDelivered in a supportive environment

L L Live

ove

earneave a legacy

L

Live, Love, Learn, Leave a legacy

Live: the organization must be able to remain in existence to continue its good work; its members must be able to make a living with work that has meaning.

Love: relationships permit individuals realize they belong to something larger than themselves; they choose to contribute presence, perceptions, learning; something "other" comes into being

Learn: human beings desire growth and challenge; they are learners within a learning organization

Leave a legacy: the organization contributes to the development of women and men who are oriented toard excellence, enhance dignity and draw people together rather than separate them. This gift to the future is the legacy of the school

adapted from S. Covey, First Things First

Vision, mission, and taskVision, mission, and task• A vision without a A vision without a

task is but a task is but a daydreamdaydream

• A task without a A task without a vision is a drudgeryvision is a drudgery

• A vision with a task is A vision with a task is the mission to build the mission to build the City of God!the City of God!

PowerPower

• A proactive frame of mindA proactive frame of mind

• Communicate leadershipCommunicate leadership

• Enlarge response-abilityEnlarge response-ability

• Choose perceptionsChoose perceptions

• Release the fire withinRelease the fire within

Power is not a four letter word. Remember --

“it is sufficient for the triumph of evil that the good do

nothing.”

A Proactive Frame of MindA Proactive Frame of MindDon't say no. I f it can be done, do it.I f it can't be done, try it. We are rarelyasked to do the impossible.

Don't say can't. See above. I f you try it,you' ll learn something you can use now andteach someone else later-when you askthem to do the impossible.

There are no problems.There are only solutions

Act strongly. Energy begets action. Actionbegets cooperation. Co-operation begetsaccomplishment.Accomplishment is leadership.

Act calmly. Remember: serenity begetsconfi dence. Confidence begetscooperation. Cooperation begetsaccomplishment. Accomplishment isleadership.

Don't let the urgent drive out the important.

Act! Don’t react

Look f or causes, solutions, strategies,not f or someone to blame

Anger is useless

Humor moves mountains.

Listening is giving.

Speaking is learning.

Fear not-there are only two responsesto any question, any problem,any situation: yes and no.

No, you can f orget about.Yes you can use.

Spiritual

Physical

Mental

Social Emotional

PromisePromise• From Dependence From Dependence

to Independence to Independence to Interdependenceto Interdependence

• Enlarge capabilityEnlarge capability

• SynergizeSynergize

• Stepping stones Stepping stones not stumbling blocksnot stumbling blocks

To each is given a bag of tools,

a shapeless mass, a book of rules, and each must build, ‘ere life has

flown, a stumbling block or a stepping stone

R. Sharp

From dependence to From dependence to interdependenceinterdependence

dependence

interdependence

Indepe ndence

Enlarge capabilityEnlarge capability

• The “grad at grad”The “grad at grad”

• F L O WF L O W

• Delegate by design (not by dumping!Delegate by design (not by dumping!

• Uncover and discover talent for Uncover and discover talent for leadershipleadership

As teachers requested it

As principalsordered it

As central office designed it

As the board approved it

As maintenance installed it

What the students wanted

From the mission to the From the mission to the momentmoment

• The teaching role of leadership for The teaching role of leadership for curriculum developmentcurriculum development

• Moving from conformity to Moving from conformity to commitmentcommitment

• Assessment: how would I know “it” Assessment: how would I know “it” if I saw “it”if I saw “it”