Embedded leadership is school instructional leaders who are not totally removed from the classroom as part of their administrative responsibilities. In my case, a department chair, who has a strong voice in hiring, evaluating, recommending continued employment, budgets, teaching schedules, and still teaches two classes out of a six period day. I supervise fourteen teachers. Every decision made, every new program, every new initiative, curriculum revision, has impact upon me as a teacher. My frustrations over imposed programs, new technology that doesn't work, new technology that wasn't researched, increased requirements for teaching test prep, it all impacts me. I think long and hard before asking my department members to do something new. You know that student who just doesn't respond to anything you try, I can relate, I have one. You know that technology a teacher doesn't have time to use (twitter or g+), I find time and share it.
I'm not sure how long schools have used the present administrative model but the time has come for a real hard look at full time administrators who are out of the classroom for life. As administrators are getting younger and younger with fewer classroom years we need to, at least, think about a term of service outside the classroom. A person wants to be an administrator, fine, but you serve in that role for a set number of years and then back to classroom for at least four years and then you can apply for an administrative role again. Would this create some scheduling issues, yes. What if the administrator couldn't find a teaching job? Good question, this would need to be explored. But we need to have a discussion. The skills that make you a good administrator at age 28 are not the skills that make you a good administrator at age 48. No matter your professional development you forget what it is like spend your day with students. A periodic return to the classroom for an extended period of time will recharge the system and you might find teaching far more rewarding than your previous position. More thoughts coming............
