Educational Leadership for Women

Dr. Rachael George & Majalise W. Tolan SHE LEADS The Women’s Guide to a

Career in EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

I am in my eleventh year as an elementary school principal. I absolutely love leading a school community. The position fulfills me, drives me, and inspires me to support others to find their passion in education. Although what I didn’t expect was how complex the journey as a school leader continues to be.

What genuinely delighted me when reading Dr. Rachael George and Majalise W. Tolan’s book She Leads, The Women’s Guide to a Career in Educational Leadership was the multiple vignettes of women in leadership. These collections of experiences told in each woman's unique style are the page-turning elements of She Leads. The book includes excerpts from women leaders sharing honestly, and with such grace, their experiences and reflections on what they have learned in their mosaic role as a woman in education who leads. 

As I read, I posted on Twitter the author's and contributors' own words that moved me to continue to lead as a confident woman in education by utilizing my strengths, fine-tuning developing skills, and considering alternative approaches. I am known for my excess highlighting, notes in the margin, and book tabs, and it was difficult not to continue to tweet each ah-ha moment for me. Here are a few of the very favorites that still make me smile and tear up a bit simultaneously. 

#TimeToLead

“Welcome to Educational Leadership. There is a seat at the table for you—go ahead and take it.”

Dr. A. K. Perera

#Embracing Emotions 

“At that moment, I was not being emotional. I was 

being an emotional leader.” 

Liz Garden

#LiftOtherWomen

“Once in a leadership role, it is imperative we work to support and lift up other women.”

Dr. Rachael George & Majalise W. Tolan

#RethinkPerfect

“Let’s make our greatest champion the one living 

inside us.” 

Allyson Apsey

#ApplyAnyway

“Just think: had I let my fears take over, I wouldn’t have applied 

or been given the opportunity to grow.”

Sandi Battles

#BeTrueToYourself

“To replicate or not to replicate, that is the question.”

Dr. Rachael George

#WomenLeaders

“The shared experiences and connections with others are a

driving force in improving ourselves and our schools.”

Dr. Rachael George & Majalise W. Tolan

I have a colleague who is starting her leadership journey. I’ve purchased this book for her, and I can’t wait for the after-school talk sessions, random texts, and phone calls I know I’ll receive as she reads and devours George and Tolan’s book, She Leads. We should not lead in isolation but shoulder to shoulder and with cheers of encouragement and applauds of congratulations. We, as women in leadership, are better together.

Leveraging Literacy

 Brad Gustafson THE 6 LITERACY LEVERS Creating a Community of Readers

When I look back at the end of my career as an educator, I want to say I did all I could to ensure each child becomes a reader. Admittedly, tears come to my eyes as I write this, and my heart pounds. I believe reading is a civil right and the center of equity. But being a reader is only the first part. I fervently hope children discover the joy of reading as stories unfold, a book sparks curiosity, and they find connections to possibilities.

I envision more students carrying a book with them, more students sharing the story they are reading, and even more trips back and forth to their classroom and school libraries. Brad Gustafson’s book, The 6 Literacy Levers, Creating a Community of Readers “provides educators with the tools and culture-building strategies needed to help all students fall in love with reading. And it will help you co-create a community of readers that challenges and inspires” (bc). 

“There isn’t a single reader in your school who doesn’t deserve to be seen, supported, and included” (p. 8). Gustafson’s book will propel you forward as a leader who prioritizes creating a literacy culture in your school and classrooms. His featured stories guide the narrative, questions provide reflection, the common language keeps you focused, visuals organize your thinking, activities for immediate action are included, and ideas for online community connections are prominent features in The 6 Literacy Levers.

Gustafson shares, “The foundational work of literacy leadership starts with you” (p, 13). He advocates leaders to be role models of literacy and start reimagining. For example, what if the staff photo page in the school yearbook features teachers and staff holding up their current favorite book. Consider what strategic questions you are asking your readers to engage in to ensure authentic dialog? Are you moving away from the traditional book reports to something different? 

He gives a range of new projects for students to celebrate the books they have read, including having students create a graphic Bookflix, Bento-Boxes, or Reading Legacy Boards. Students generate ownership of their reading journey in creative and clever ways with the potential of piquing the curiosity of their peers to read the book too! What if a reader tucked a Perfect Read Award inside a book’s cover before returning it to the library. What a thrill that would be for the new reader to discover. 

As a literacy leader, remembering the key is connecting and building a community of readers who celebrate, encourage, and inspire each other to R E A D. “Connection is relationships. It is a community of readers. And it is the palpable energy we feel between the books, characters, genres, and people we love. Connection can be invisible or outwardly apparent, but it is always important” (p. 132). What is our literacy leadership posture? Are we detached or actively engaged? Are we delegating the work or doing the work? Questions for every leader who is on the relentless pursuit of championing literacy!