The word "vision" was prevalent throughout my educational leadership coursework. I actually got quite sick of hearing it and could not understand why it seemed to be something every professor wanted to talk about.
At the time I was finding lots of success in the classroom of a school that lacked a vision. I couldn't quite grasp why it was so important that a vision be present, much less "shared."
Fast forward four years and it is all I can think about.
Vision, vision, vision, vision.
Such a small word that means so much for schools, businesses, organizations, even families. Where are you headed? What direction should you take? What do you stand for? How will you grow and get better? What unites us? How do we move forward together? What's our target?
I frequently wake up in the middle of the night wondering if I am taking our school in the right direction. Have I made sure everyone knows? Did I communicate the expectation clearly? And the biggest one...
What if it isn't the right way?
I'm certain most educational leaders struggle with this same thought process and thankful for those that have shared similar ideas on their blogs - makes me feel normal.
What I didn't realize until recently is that our vision is so much more than an idea, dream, or tagline on a meeting agenda. It is the way we live.
Walking the walk.
Anyone can talk the talk. Educators are good at using buzz words and throwing out all of the "right" answers. But how often do we practice what we preach? Are we walking in a way that matches all of that talking we are so good at?
This was a gift from my teachers. At first glance it looks like a nice, colorful word art hanging on my office wall. But it is so much more than that. Each teacher gave one word to describe me. One word from those that I work with every day neatly arranged in alternating colors and framed for my viewing pleasure.
I can't decide which word is my favorite. I love them all. But not in some narcissistic egotistical way. I love it because each word confirms that my "walk" has done the talking.
These are only words, just like the organized vision on the website of any school or business in the 21st century.
The difference in these words is they are the living example of what I envision our school to be. I never wrote it on paper or collaboratively developed them with my faculty. I just lived the vision I have for our school.
How do you walk the walk?
At the time I was finding lots of success in the classroom of a school that lacked a vision. I couldn't quite grasp why it was so important that a vision be present, much less "shared."
Fast forward four years and it is all I can think about.
Vision, vision, vision, vision.
Such a small word that means so much for schools, businesses, organizations, even families. Where are you headed? What direction should you take? What do you stand for? How will you grow and get better? What unites us? How do we move forward together? What's our target?
I frequently wake up in the middle of the night wondering if I am taking our school in the right direction. Have I made sure everyone knows? Did I communicate the expectation clearly? And the biggest one...
What if it isn't the right way?
I'm certain most educational leaders struggle with this same thought process and thankful for those that have shared similar ideas on their blogs - makes me feel normal.
What I didn't realize until recently is that our vision is so much more than an idea, dream, or tagline on a meeting agenda. It is the way we live.
Walking the walk.
Anyone can talk the talk. Educators are good at using buzz words and throwing out all of the "right" answers. But how often do we practice what we preach? Are we walking in a way that matches all of that talking we are so good at?
This was a gift from my teachers. At first glance it looks like a nice, colorful word art hanging on my office wall. But it is so much more than that. Each teacher gave one word to describe me. One word from those that I work with every day neatly arranged in alternating colors and framed for my viewing pleasure.
I can't decide which word is my favorite. I love them all. But not in some narcissistic egotistical way. I love it because each word confirms that my "walk" has done the talking.
These are only words, just like the organized vision on the website of any school or business in the 21st century.
The difference in these words is they are the living example of what I envision our school to be. I never wrote it on paper or collaboratively developed them with my faculty. I just lived the vision I have for our school.
How do you walk the walk?
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