Initial+Leadership+Statement

=My Leadership Philosophy: = 

 As a young, new teacher, I feel like I am feeling out my leadership role in my school. Within an environment of a mix of veteran and newer teachers, I have tried to get an idea of who leads what, the different perspectives around the school, and where I fit into that. I have found it very interesting and reflective to really think about and decide when I need to speak my mind and when I need to stay quiet and listen as a new teacher, especially with all the new changes happening at our school with the creation of a charter school and now all the changes with the government and our jobs in Madison.

 In reflecting on my involvement and leadership this school year, I think I have been more of an intrinsic, task-oriented leader. I am a very organized person and I run my classroom in the same way. With this characteristic, I have been able to bring this element to the table to different situations and committees I have been apart of. By being very organized, it has also made me very focused. I am not afraid to put in the extra time or effort to a project, discussion, or committee. I always work hard to make sure I do my share of the work, do it well, and help others too. I think my principal and coworkers have seen this in my involvement with developing the charter school, helping with our after school program, being apart of our VIP (Valuing Individual Peeps) committee, and by coaching track. I think people have really started to see me as someone who is involved, willing to do the extra work, and someone they can rely on. Right now I feel like I am a leader by doing, but not necessarily always making my thoughts heard to everyone around me (which is one of my individual goals).

 Through reflection and looking at the “True Leader Quiz”, I believe I am an accepting, empathetic and supportive leader. I value individual relationships a lot and as a new teacher, I made it a point to really get to know my coworkers, let them get to know me and build relationships together so we can work well together and help each other. I always try to have a smile on my face and find the positive side of situations. Since I am a young teacher, I have not experienced everything some of my coworkers have, but I can offer a new, fresh perspective on things, am always willing to try new ideas, and I am not afraid to fail. I truly think that any idea is worth a shot and we might as well try it or we will never know how it will work out. My leadership philosophy encompasses the idea that a leader is someone that works well with others, is reflective, advocates for themselves and others and goes above and beyond. I believe a strong leader is someone that leads by example and productivity rather than only by voice. A good leader must work well with others in order to share ideas, create an open sense of communication, and to build strong working relationships. A leader does not always have to come up with every idea, but rather can contribute thoughts or perspectives towards a topic and to help produce the final product. I believe a leader is not always someone that talks the most or makes their thoughts heard in every conversation, but someone that knows the time and place to speak and listen, since both are equally important. A leader is also someone that is willing to put forth the extra effort to grow as an individual and for the better of the school, group, and other people. This type of person is willing to continuously learn while standing up and being an advocate for others and themselves.

 My goal is to embrace and learn how to apply every part of my leadership philosophy to my own life by the end of this program. I know that I already have achieved elements of it, but I really want to work on speaking up for myself, my thoughts, and other people. My leadership philosophy is a vision of which I see myself being as a leader as I grow and learn more about how to strengthen these areas of my individual leadership.

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