MNT2LEARN Leadership Primer Linda Cliatt-Wayman
How To Fix A Broken School? Lead Fearlessly, Love Hard
Linda Cliatt-Wayman is a passionate educator with an unwavering belief in the potential of all children. Her leadership as a high school principal in North Philadelphia has been featured by TED, ABC World News Tonight, and Nightline. She is the author of Lead Fearless, Love Hard.
“If you’re going to lead, lead. I always believed that what happens in a school, and what does not happen in a school is up to the principal.”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Linda shares an anecdote about her first day as a principal. She says that leaders set the tone. How have you set a tone (or contributed to the setting of a tone) in your school or classroom?
Linda’s first slogan is, “If you are going to lead, LEAD”, meaning that what happens is up to the principal. What steps did she take, both small and big to make a difference?
Why did she start with the small stuff (ie lockers) and why are they important. What small steps could you make to change your environment?
Her second slogan is “leaders make the impossible, possible.” Have you worked with leaders who share that belief? Do you? What leadership characteristics does she display?
Her final slogan is, “So What, Now What?” How can you eliminate excuses in your workplace to focus on core issues? How can you get others to join you?
Linda shares several examples of how she is accessible to students so she can develop authentic relationships and listen to their stories and issues. Why is that critical to success in any environment? How can you adopt some of her strategies for yourself?
Linda’s unconditional love, consistent expectations as well as her belief in her students made all the difference. What leadership traits would make a difference in your workplace?
Additional reading