Sharing Good Practice
TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE
EDUCATIONAL SERVANT LEADERSHIP
BY PHILIP BURGESS
trenches (classrooms, playgrounds,
sports fields, studios) as often as
possible, experiencing first-hand what
staff deal with daily, this way they
may lead with genuine empathy and
by moral and ethical example. The
servant leader communicates clearly,
calmly and in person, the ambitions,
goals and even dreams for the future
of the school and how the staff,
students and parents by their ideas,
dedication, professional ability and
daily actions can positively contribute
to the achievement of those dreams.
The servant leader trusts, inspires,
encourages and supports. Staff
feel safe and have the confidence
to experiment, to think laterally, to
innovate and to contribute to the
positive evolution of the school, rather
than feel like a cog in a series of data
gathering gears turning slowly toward
some future, utopian goal.
“
T
o Protect and to Serve” the
famous LAPD motto is the
perfect introduction to the
topic of how school leaders
should approach the privilege of
leadership. The term Servant Leader
is not often spoken of, regarding
educational leadership, however in
my opinion it is the most powerful
and effective form of leadership in any
industry or profession and is especially
powerful in education. I wish to make
it clear that servant leadership is not
a style or theory that is learned from
a text book. Servant Leadership is a
philosophy of life. It evolves from core
beliefs, life’s failures and successes,
daily habits, personal growth and
a true dedication to the positive
development of yourself and others
(staff, students and parents) to become
the best version of themselves both
professionally and personally.
To quote Mr. Simon Sinek ‘… It’s not
about being in charge but being
responsible for those in our charge’.
Servant Leadership is about giving
away all the credit, but accepting all the
responsibility. A servant leader does
not ask why a person isn’t succeeding
in their role, but should ask what they
need to succeed, or how can I serve
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their needs so that they may perform
at their optimal best?
A servant leader would never, again to
quote Mr. Sinek, sacrifice the people
for the numbers (money), but would
sacrifice the numbers for the people.
We see this often in times of economic
constriction, that the first reaction is
to cut, reduce cost, especially human
resources. But the one thing that
immediately destroys trust, loyalty,
creativity and productivity is the
elevation of the bottom line at the
expense of the people that you rely on
to work at their optimum to produce
that bottom line. Sir Richard Branson
states this beautifully; “The customer
does not come first, the staff come
first…happy staff - happy customer.”
Ergo happy teacher - happy student;
happy student - happy parent.
A servant leader never micro manages,
nor does s/he seek to find fault, and
never leads from a distant office via
email. A true servant leader is in the
Class Time
The servant leader leads the way by
overtly communicating by word and
deed that they will stand strong in
times of adversity and step back in
times of success.
The servant leader will help staff off
the ropes if a new idea or innovative
lesson didn’t quite work and will listen
and counsel them as to how they might
re-think and improve the idea for the
next crack at the lesson or project.
Their successes are your success and
your success is always celebrated in
private after theirs is celebrated in
public. Staff never feel compelled to
work for a servant leader, but choose
to work for a servant leader and therein
lies its power.
To serve as a leader is the highest
honour and privilege and must be
conducted with humility and empathy.
As giving is a noble act, giving of one
self so that others become heroes
in their lives and professions, is the
noblest of noble acts. Remember,
the school, students and staff are not
there for you, you are there for them.
Phillip Burgess is Currently the Principal of Al Diyafah High School. I’m a
dual British and Australian citizen. I hold a Bachelor of Business, a Bachelor
of Education and a Master of Education in Leadership and Administration. I
have had the privilege of leading IB and British curriculum schools in multiple
countries.