A Little Summer Reading - Lead Like A Pirate

My goal in writing this blog is to get my team excited about the new 2017-18 school year. What better way to bring enthusiasm and excitement for a new beginning than to do a little professional reading! 

My first read of summer is Lead Like a Pirate by Shelley Burgess and Beth Houf.  This may be my first read of the summer, but it is fast becoming a favorite.  I am finding that this little treasure is hard to put down.  My plan is to do a book study of this gem and break down the book on this blog.  Hopefully, my thoughts will inspire other educators to pick it up and read it.  We all need a little inspiration over the summer.  We need that pick me up that spurs us onto our next great adventure with kids.  Praise for Lead Like a Pirate has been overwhelming. Edu-Giants such as Todd Whitaker, Todd Nesloney, and George Couros have endorsed this book.  The book reads like a personal story of how Beth and Shelley built and led their "crews" on a journey of self exploration to create a climate in which each crew member felt they were a valued and essential part of their ship.  The book is sprinkled with inspiration, encouragement, and advice to help bring out the leader in every educator.

In chapter one, readers are challenged to LEAD Like a Pirate. Specifically, the author's talk about PASSION in chapter one.  What is passion in education?  What does it sound like? What does it look like?  What are you passionate about and how will that help you lead others to find their passions?  In the book the authors discuss their passions.

I suppose that beginning with ME is always the right place to begin this study...  

My Passions

• I am passionate about a school's climate and culture.  I believe that a school should be a place where all stakeholders understand the impact of being positive, have a relentless sense of urgency on improving student achievement (of all kinds), and promotes a sense of shared responsibility.
• I am passionate that every school have a body of concerned people that BELIEVE that our students are worth our efforts.  I believe that our students are capable and WILL grow if we find our student's strengths and grow them.
• I believe in teachers and their ability to reach our students.  I believe that it is the teacher that matters, not the programs or the resources given.  It is the teacher that will grow our students.
• I am passionate about collaboration.  I truly believe that none of us alone have the answers, but all of us, together, will find the answers.
• I believe that as educators we all have strengths, and if we foster those strengths and create a new leadership hierarchy, we will do incredible work with our students.

My question to you is this...

• What are you passionate about in education?
• How will you use your powers of leadership to help our staff?
• Why is passion an important part of our school culture?
• How will you show your passion in the 2017-18 school year?
• Does your principal know your passions?

Please feel free to comment below.  I hope that you will join me on my pirate journey.  I look forward to learning to and with you as we travel the rocky waves in Lead Like a Pirate.