Supporting aspiring administrators in their leadership journey is something that drives my daily practice and guides my educational philosophy. As I complete the final entry in this 10 part series on “Aspiring Administrators”, I am hopeful that my readers were able to take bits and pieces from the posts to move forward in their leadership journey. If you were, send me a tweet @int_educator and let me know your biggest “take-away.”

This final post in the series will focus on the importance of administrators being visible within the school on a daily basis. It is only through walking around the school that administrators are able to truly understand and get a beat of the school culture and environment. Have a look at this list of 4 practical ways to be more visible in your school community!

1. Get out from behind the desk! Either as a teacher or administrator it is important to not be stuck behind your desk all day long. Meetings and paperwork can definitely get you bogged down and thus it is a conscious decision to get up and get moving. It might seem uncomfortable at first, but if you are consistent with getting around in your daily practice then students, teachers, and parents will soon come to expect it from you and you will see and feel the difference.
2. Get into classrooms and teach! It is important to not forget your days as a teacher and to get back into the classroom from time to time. And I’m not just talking about being in the classroom during a walk-through or for observations (although this is important too)! Something that I would like to do more of as an administrator is actually going in and teaching a lesson. Earlier in the school year I sent an email to the teachers telling them that I would love to go in and support their class in any way possible (teaching, conferring, etc.). A couple teachers took me up on the offer…I think it’s probably time for me to send out that email again. Maybe this time I’ll get a few more responses!
3. Get to know the staff! One of the best ways to be “in-tune” with the culture of the school is to get to know teachers, students, and parents on a personal level. It is important to have casual conversations with teachers to get to know them better and to break down some of the walls. After all, we are all here for the exact same reason: to do whatever we can to support all students! Start finding teachers in corridors or between classes and ask them how they are doing (not as an ask and go question, but stick around and listen to their response). After you have done this a few times, you might even start referring to their children by their first names and asking about their most recent vacation overseas.
4. Get to every activity and event! A variety of events are happening at different times throughout the school year: concerts, sporting events, festivals, art shows, dances, classroom celebrations,…the list goes on and on! Do everything possible to show up to as many events as you can. Your presence at the different activities will not only be appreciated by students, parents, and teachers, but you will also get to see some great work and performances from students: the heartbeat of the school.

As I conclude the final post in this 10 part series, remember these actionable steps as you move forward as a positive leader and contributor in your school community:

1. Express your interest in leadership with administration
2. Get involved and build your portfolio (start new initiatives)
3. Establish your core values and beliefs as an administrator