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COLUMN | Library in Context
Enacting Leadership
Transforming to Lead Learning
By Melissa Jacobs and Melissa P. Johnston
Back-to-school is always an exciting time, with new students, new Collecting and Using Evidence
teachers, and a chance to try out all those ideas and skills you
learned over the summer. As we started thinking about enacting Leaders collect data and use it to inform practice. The beginning
leadership, we were inspired by the AASL 2016 theme “School of the school year is the perfect time to think about collecting
Libraries Transform Learning,†drawn from its mission statement data focused on achieving that common vision—students’ suc-
that “empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.†cess. Show evidence of the ways that your practices contribute
to students’ successes. Use this data to set goals, make decisions,
But, how we can keep transforming ourselves to meet the needs and inform and guide practice.
and requirements of an ever-changing profession? The answer is
through taking on leadership roles in a variety of areas. Start planning your annual report at the beginning of the school
year. Think about the types of data that demonstrate student
The educational leadership climate in schools has shifted to one achievement and automate the practices of collecting that data.
that is a learning-centered model focused on “the leading of Capture both qualitative and quantitative data. Testimonials and
learning†to ensure that students achieve the intended outcomes. anecdotes from parents, teachers, and students can help guide
Effective learning leadership integrates three crucial dimensions: your own developing skill sets and highlight your efforts to
a) collaboration, b) experimentation with practice, and c) collect- administration.
ing and using evidence grounded on a framework that involves
critical discussion and re?ection (Todd, 2005). Leaders see the need for change and willingly embrace it, and
communicate the bene?ts to others. As this school year begins,
Collaboration re?ect on yourself as a leader. Now is the time to renew and set
some leadership goals for the upcoming year!
In order to enable others to act, leaders must ?rst foster col-
laboration and build trust and strengthen the capacities of their Melissa Jacobs, MS, MLS, is the coordinator of library
followers to meet their own commitments (Kouzes & Posner, services in the New York City Department of Education.
2007). Leaders envision exciting opportunities and enlist individu- Jacobs received her master’s in library sciences and
als who share in the vision of student success. school library media certi?cation from the City University
of New York at Queens College and a master’s in educa-
Collaboration does not mean that everyone needs to work on the tional administration from Touro College. You can follow
same task. Lead the way by setting your own individual goals. her on Twitter at @missyji.
Come to the table with your own objectives and demonstrate how Melissa P. Johnston, MEd, PhD, is assistant professor at the
to integrate rather than dictate the lessons. Online collaboration University of West Georgia, where she teaches graduate
tools allow for meetings despite distances in time and place. courses in the school library media/instructional technol-
Virtual meeting spaces often have digital tools built in. Consider ogy certi?cation program. She earned her master’s degree
which products work best for the culture at your school and what at the University of Georgia and her doctorate at Florida
training is necessary to use them effectively. State University.
Experimentation with Practice
Leaders are willing to experiment and take risks (Kouzes & Posner, Works Cited
2007). Most people are not risk takers, but in a constantly chang-
ing and sometimes uncertain profession school librarians cannot American Association of School Librarians. “AASL Transforms Learning with
afford to be timid! Calculate the risk to insure the bene?ts out- New Mission Statement,†2014. http://www.ala.org/news/press-releas-
weigh the potential dangers. Start small—risk-taking doesn’t mean es/2014/07/aasl-transforms-learning-new-mission-statement-and-strate-
you have to completely overhaul everything you do. gic-plan
When you are setting your goals, think of those things you Kouzes, James M. and Barry Z. Posner. The Leadership Challenge. Jossey-
constantly discuss but never do, such as teaching a new unit, Bass, 2007.
collaborating with a new teacher, adding an enrichment program,
creating a makerspace, or writing that long-overdue grant appli- Todd, Ross J. “School Librarians and Educational Leadership: Productive
cation. Move away from that easy-to-do idea that aligns perfectly Pedagogy for the Information Age School.†International Association of
with your current practices and think of that more challenging School Librarianship Selected Papers from Annual Conference. 2005.
idea you always said looked intriguing. Look at what you want to http://www.iasl-online.org/resources/Documents/IASL2005_Todd.pdf
accomplish and turn the risk into an opportunity.
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