Position is Power for a Teacher Vision

Happy spring everyone! Time is flying by this school year, that's for sure! I hope everyone who had Spring Break had a chance to catch their breath, regroup, and enjoy it! Taking this time to regroup is not only well deserved but much needed. 

As we enter deeper into spring and the latter half of the year,  let's continue our journey of being teacher leaders and think how we can grow as leaders. Those who know me well know that I am a fan of John Maxwell. He is an expert on leadership and I highly suggest if you don't know him to "go down the rabbit hole" with me and feel inspired. You can visit his website here: Maxwell Leadership I want to reflect on a quote I recently read by him “A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”  Many people (not just teachers,) believe they have to have a title or special position to lead and make a difference. For the longest time I too equated leadership with titles and positions, especially in education: administrators, supervisors, deans... but I've learned through both time, great mentors, and my own learning through John Maxwell, that although everyone might not be a great leader, a great leader can come from anywhere.  So now I say this; being a teacher is the best position to be in to fulfill a vision and influence others! 

Teachers have the ability to be creative, work together, and see their passions through. Passion fuels a vision, and without it, the vision will stay stagnant. I feel above everything else, teachers have passion for what they do everyday. It's what sets them apart from all other professions. Let’s think about what our “teacher visions” are, and what we can do to make them a reality. We don’t have to take huge steps right away to start moving in the right direction, we just need to take one small step that will make a difference, and progress our ideas forward. Perhaps it is sending an email to someone we are afraid will say "no" to us, or setting time aside to work with others on a project. Taking that first step is breaking through and showing the courage of a leader and gives others the courage they need to use their passion to fuel their vision. 

Being a leader doesn’t mean to you don’t have fears or hesitations, but it does mean that what you value is so important to you that it’s worth the risks. One key to success is bringing others along with you who share the same passion and values as you. By recognizing them and harnessing their talents, you will continue to edge closer to your goals while uplifting others and securing relationships along the way. Who are the people you need and want on your team? Now is the time to find those who align with their vision, and have the passion to get behind your idea/project to give it their all. 

Like it or not teacher friends, we are all teacher-leaders in some aspect; whether its in our classrooms alone or within our local and/or national networks. While we don’t have to have a “high powered” position to generate change, we do need to use the position(s) we do have to start the ripple effect of what we want to see changed. 

Take a few moments this week to think about what your passion is, and how you can use your current position to leverage it. Who can you call in for support? What is the one small step that will lead to many more (and possibly larger) steps that can influence others? Educators need to rely on one another for help and support. I encourage you to listen to your heart, surround yourself with others who will uplift you and continue to develop personally and professionally this spring and always. Hold steadfast to your vision but be open to possibilities. When you keep finding what ignites your passion, you will make the difference you set out to. It takes time teacher friends, and although we don't always like to wait, those moments we see when progress is made are going to be well worth it. Our passion will push our vision forward! 

Final Thoughts: Keep making your teacher vision a priority. Keep showing the passion you have to move your teacher vision forward. Keep an open mind to where your vision is, where it's going, and where it can take you. Finally, keep in mind that you don't have to have a position to make a difference, you need passion, and as long as you have passion, you'll have the courage to see your vision through!