Leading too Early: Should Early Educators Wait on Leadership?

 One of my favorite topics to talk about is leadership. I enjoy reading about it, learning from others, and developing my own leadership skills through practice. One question I often hear discussed is should early educators wait to begin exercising their teacher-leader roles and abilities? 

I certainly think that one could argue both sides of this case with great evidence. For example, early educators should wait because their first few years in the classroom can be overwhelming. Getting to know students, learning the culture of their school, partnering with families... the list is endless. The last thing on his/her mind would be taking on extra roles and tasks as a leader! 

Over the years I've noticed with my own friends and fellow officers on our leadership team with KDP that the first two years are always tough. Time management is vital, yet even the best have difficulty balancing leadership tasks with their new classroom demands. 

On the other hand, being a part of a leadership team early helps prepare new teachers for these issues and continue to grow as a leader, even as they get used to being in the classroom. Continuing to have a role in the field outside of the classroom can be very fulfilling, especially if there aren't many opportunities within the district to explore leadership. Many of these positions require a few years of experience before consideration. This is why I always recommend to pre-service teachers to not only belong to and actively participate in an educational organization, but to keep up with membership once they are teaching. As they feel comfortable, they can increase their participation and grow as a leader. 

Personal advice: As a teacher-leader, my advice would be to stay involved, but only as much as you can handle! I know that doesn't sound helpful at all, however it's the best advice I could give. If you feel it's too much for you to handle, then take time the first three years or so to work on self- care, time management, and personal exploration. Reading books about leadership is a great activity to engage if if you don't feel ready to be on a leadership team or have an active role within your school. One great book is The Power of Teacher Leaders: Edited by Dr. Nathan Bond. it's a Routledge/KDP published book and offers a wealth of advice for early educators in all areas of the field. I'm a big advocate for taking the time that's needed, but also stay involved to some degree. It's all part of the large balancing act anyway! 

Final thoughts: Keep exploring leadership at a pace that works well for you, Keep networking with others, Keep practicing your leadership skills, and above all, Keep believing in yourself as a leader!