Days 1-3 at Harvard’s Art of Leadership: Improving Schools

Hello TNSM! I am having an amazing time here at Harvard and can’t wait to share all my experiences with you when I return. That being said, I’m just too excited not to share a little right now!

Day 1:

Two remarkable educational leaders shared their journeys and discoveries with us. Dr. William Henderson had been a principal for over 30 years. He began to loose his sight as a young man and by thirty was blind. Although he was encouraged to quit working and collect disability, he decided instead to turn his visual limitations into strengths. He became a school leader who deeply understood the importance of interdependency, humility, and the power of inclusion within a school. Organization, inner-discipline, and compassion propelled him to become a leader within the world of education and a “life-changer” for many of his students and staff. In the afternoon Dr. Irma Tyler-Wood explained the importance of reflection and “inner-work” as educational leaders. She shared the following story with us, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

FLIGHT FROM THE SHADOW
By: Chuang TZU

There was a man who was so disturbed by the sight of his own shadow and so displeased with his own footsteps that he determined to get rid of them both. The method he hit upon was to run away from them.

So he got up and ran. But every time he put his foot down there was another step, while his shadow kept up with him without the slightest difficulty.

He attributed his failure to the fact that he was not running fast enough. He ran faster and faster, without stopping until he finally dropped dead.

He failed to realize that if he merely stepped into the shade, his shadow would vanish, and if he sat down and stayed still, there would be no more footsteps.

I hope all of us have time in our busy lives to step into the shade, be still, and enjoy the present moment.

Day 2

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130 Educational leaders spent the day at Project Adventure reminding ourselves how important trust and taking risks are in our profession. I met so many inspiring leaders who are changing the future one student at a time.

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Day 3

Dr. Robert Kegan and Dr. Kim Marshall both presented research based tools that provide us with a frame work to understanding how positive school culture and student achievement are closely linked. Dr. Keegan went on to walk us through a deeply introspective exercise that broadened our perspectives as leaders.

As I collaborate and work with the other participants here at Harvard, I am reminded of how unique and beautiful our community is at The New School Montessori. I describe our parents, student population and staff to colleagues here, and it’s hard not to detect a hint of envy in their eye. As we like to say, TNSM is a “unique place in the universe”, and it is true, but I am proud of the fact that our graduates are able to confidently step into the “real world” to make what is unfortunately “unique” much more universal.

Best,
Jeff Groh

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