Today's guest post is brought to you by an educator whose passion is to empower teachers to lead and develop lifelong-literacy practices in all learners--Lauren Kaufman! Lauren is currently serving as a district leader in Long Island, NY, has served as an assistant principal, classroom teacher, elementary and middle school literacy specialist, instructional coach, and mentor coordinator.
Lauren has led teams developing a comprehensive approach to literacy, provided job-embedded professional learning, and leads with a coaching mindset. Lauren is the author of our newest book from the IMpress line, The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire the Leader Within. She wholeheartedly believes in the importance of developing powerful professional learning communities and networks that foster meaningful, relevant learning and growth.
Wow! What a powerful and influential woman in education!
Take it away, my friend!
Guest Post
The heartbeat of education lives inside the walls of schools. Within those walls you can find stories of kids and teachers in the mess of learning. You will watch students, teachers, administrators, and staff buzzing about the halls and classrooms igniting discussion, cultivating curiosity, instilling joy, leading with empathetic hearts, and smiling through it all. The epicenter of those learning spaces will captivate and inspire you to listen more intently. You will see new things and look through lenses you may have not considered before. You don’t have to search for the big things to see good things happen. The small things matter, too.
Time spent immersed in classrooms, and the relationships you develop in school, are the most valuable growth experiences you can have as an educational leader.
I often reminisce about my days in the classroom. When I became an educator, I wanted to show my students what they were capable of accomplishing. I wanted to help them find their voices and discover their inner leaders; I wanted to provide a sense of hope that would continuously stir within. Inside my classroom walls, we found stories and moments of impact that shaped the educator and leader I am becoming today. Although my path to leadership began when I was a young girl, my bigger leadership lessons happened in the classroom. Those ideas and stories reflect the experiences I’d later learn from and take with me as I embarked on new paths. They were opportunities to personalize learning experiences, and the bridge that connected me to people. Within those walls, I learned from myself and others to embrace my own gifts so I could help my students and colleagues find theirs.
Within every role you serve are opportunities that invite you to think about the educator you were and who you want to be. Over time, you establish and develop relationships, garner a multitude of teaching and learning practices, take part in numerous conversations, and make an impact on countless families, colleagues, and students who were destined to know you. It can be exciting to think about a team of people you have not yet met, who will eventually become a constant in your life. Or perhaps some people will enter your life for a short time and create pathways to opportunities you don’t yet know exist. Every experience you will ever have leads to the type of educator you wish to become.
I have always looked to teacher leaders and administrators to model high-leverage practices I can bring back to my students and colleagues. Have you ever observed the leaders who authentically appreciate, trust, and value the people they serve? Those leaders have an innate gift for developing and unleashing the greatness within every person they encounter. They inspire others to humbly give their hearts and minds to others and make contributions to something that matters. I often think about the leaders who breathed life into my ideas, trusted me to bring those ideas to fruition, and unlocked the potential I didn’t know I had. For that, I’m eternally grateful.
In Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead podcast, Adam Grant shared, “The most meaningful way to succeed is to help other people succeed.” Grant went on to explain that you cannot be considered a high performer in an organization if you don’t make other people better. Could shining the light on others, honoring who they really are, challenging them to do the hard things, and instilling a courageous spirit pave a path that shows others the leaders they are meant to be? Focusing on what it means for people to enhance one another’s successes while elevating each other’s strong attributes can lead to collective success. In turn, this builds a stronger culture and impacts who is at the heart of all our efforts—kids! There is a certain kind of excitement in inspiring others. As Stephen Covey shares in his book Trust and Inspire, “When people feel that their work matters, they feel that they matter.”- Lauren
Thank You, Lauren!
Thank you, Lauren! What an outstanding post!
Be sure to follow Lauren on Twitter & Instagram--simply click the links. You are sure to be inspired by her outstanding content!
Also, if you haven't read The Leader Inside you are really missing out! Grab your copy HERE! And be sure to visit her website for even more AWESOMENESS laurenmkaufman.com .
