Inside the Staffroom
7 WAYS TO DEVELOP AND EMPOWER
TEACHER LEADERS
BY CHASSIE SELOUANE
and strive to share best practices.
If a resource or strategy is working
well with your students empower
others by sharing what you are
doing in your class.
L
eadership is a buzz word in the
education world. Researchers
like Fullan (2012), Whittaker
(2012), Bell and Smith (2010),
have concluded that high performing
schools thrive when led by an effective
leader and a focus in placed on building
leadership capacity is the stakeholders.
Dr Stephen Covey defined leadership
as “The Ability of communicating to
people their worth and potential so
clearly that they are inspired to see it in
themselves”.
As an Educator, how do we Foster this
development of potential and worth,
in ourselves all while inspiring others
to see these things in themselves?
Covey suggests that the secret to
success lies in his 7 habits. Here are 7
ways to Empower Yourself and Others
through the 7 Habits.
1. Habit 1: Be Proactive: Having
a Positive mindset has been a
reoccurring theme in this author’s
articles for years. Attitude is
Contagious has also been a
reoccurring phrase and with Habit
1, these words ring true. Remember
that you can only control your
behavior and actions.
and long-term goals for ourselves
and our classes. Share these goals
with your colleagues and students,
because
accountability
and
responsibility begins with You.
3. Habit 3: Put first things first: All
Teachers rely on lesson plans, but
most teachers’ greatest complaint
is having enough time to complete
them, along with their other duties.
Perhaps learning how to efficiently
plan our time for each day, each
week and each school year is one of
the most difficult, tasks. Creating a
schedule for ourselves that include
much needed breaks, as well as
work time is an empowering way
to take control of our time, and Put
First Things First.
4. Habit 4: Think win-win: We expect
students to learn how to work with
one another using 21st century skills
and find ways to get along in a non-
competitive way for the greater
good of the team. As teachers, we
need to reach out to our colleagues
2. Habit 2: Begin with the end in
mind: As Teachers we should
anticipate the end, and model best
practice by creating both short-
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Class Time
5. Habit 5: Seek first to understand,
then to be understood: Empower
others by attempting to understand
their paradigms and how they see
the world. Try to make a staff room
buddy with the stipulation that you
take turns once a week to meet for
10 minutes twice a week. The first
5 minutes are for your partner to
talk, the second are for you. No
responses, just listening. Often,
we listen to respond. We should
strive to learn how to listen with
empathy prior to advancing our
own arguments.
6. Habit 6: Synergize: How many
times as a teacher have you
told your students that working
together can create a better result
than working alone; yet, teachers
often sit with their ear phones in
their ear. Partner up with a teacher
that teaches the same year group
as you and find out what he or she
is teaching the upcoming week.
7. Habit 7: Sharpen the saw: Teachers
must learn how to create balance in
their lives. Focusing on improving
yourselves physically, mentally,
spiritually, and emotionally can
be very empowering. You have
to take time for you and your
health. Everything is better when
in balance, so go ahead and book
that long weekend holiday at the
spa, or that deep sea fishing trip
that you’ve been wanting to book.
You work hard and one of the most
empowering things is taking care of
yourself. (Covey,2017).
Chassie Selouane has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Education, a Master’s of
Education Degree- Curriculum Instruction with a Specialization in ESL Education,
a PMC in ESL Education, a PMC in Instructional Leadership & is a dual candidate
for a PHD in ESL and PHD in Instructional Leadership. Chassie is an Edmodo
Ambassador & Certified Edmodo Trainer. She serves as the GCC ASCD UAE
Ambassador. Chassie is the founding Director of Learning at Rising School Dubai.