The Teacher, the Leader
By Dr. Marcia Davis-Dawkins
Teachers’ Appreciation Week is celebrated in many parts of the world. In the United States, National Teacher Appreciation Month takes place for the entire month of May each year, but the majority of the festivities center around the first week of May, which has officially been dubbed “Teacher Appreciation Week.”
As a teacher, there are many hats that are worn, one of which is a leader. The leader in the classroom motivates students. Bo Bennet once said, “Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.” This quote exemplifies what teachers do daily.
The teacher establishes a learning environment
The teacher establishes a learning environment in which each student feels like a key person in a group and where the teacher-student interactions validate and support self-esteem. He/she takes care of routine details and has a clear set of logical standards and systematically follows it and wants others to also do so. As a teacher with rules and expectations, he/she will be more flexible and provide an environment so to be more effective in the classroom.
The teacher in the classroom has many interpersonal relationships with students so much so that the teacher can influence the students. For example, a teacher guides a student to want to do a particular subject or assignment based on that teacher’s passion about the subject area. The teacher is seen as a change agent for students because the leader/teacher helps to improve the students’ learning and behavior development. The teacher guides the students through the curriculum so that they learn what is required for a particular grade level. Because of this guidance from the teacher, the students are somehow transformed academically or at time behaviorally.
Interestingly enough, the teacher who is a leader in the classroom, could also help to develop the students to be leaders in the classroom and eventually in whatever they decide to undertake in their adult lives. There are many critics who might think that teachers are not leaders, but they do have much power, control and influence. If used effectively these assets can make a difference in the classroom, district and community.
Teachers have genuine care and concern for their students and are usually very passionate about their jobs, and these are strong elements of being a good leader.
As a teacher and leader…
As a teacher and leader one has to communicate effectively with all the stakeholders in the school system, the administrator, the parents, faculty members, and members of the community. The teacher also has to build and maintain trust, and manage conflict in the classroom. The teacher as a leader has to ensure that there is cohesiveness in the classroom.
There are teachers who, without a doubt, use their leadership positions negatively and they don’t realize that this position requires responsibility and demands flexibility to deal with students with various behavior challenges. It takes a special person to be a teacher who is a leader, who is faithful, available and also teachable!!!