Please post your reflective comment for October based on The Alabama Code of Ethics for Educators Standard 2 and Chapter 2 of The Leader in Me. These instructions should remain at the top of the blog throughout the month. If your post over-rides it, then please remove it and re-post as a comment at the bottom of the original post. Remember to do this by clicking on "October Reflection" or "comments" at the bottom of this post.
Code of Ethics Standards
Standard 2: Trustworthiness
An educator should exemplify honesty and integrity in the course of professional practice.
Ethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Properly representing facts concerning an educational matter in direct or indirect public expression.
• Advocating for fair and equitable opportunities for all children.
• Embodying for students the characteristics of intellectual honesty, diplomacy, tact, and fairness.
Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting, or erroneously reporting professional qualifications, criminal record, or employment history when applying for employment or certification.
• Falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting, or erroneously reporting information submitted to federal, state, and/or other governmental agencies.
• Falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting, or erroneously reporting information regarding the evaluation of students and/or personnel.
• Falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting, or erroneously reporting reasons for absences or leaves.
• Falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting, or erroneously reporting information submitted in the course of an official inquiry or investigation.
The Leader in Me
Stephen R. Covey
“The research is clear: nothing motivates a child more than when learning is valued by schools and families/community working together in partnership…” Michael Fullan (20).
Questions to consider for Chapter 2
What do parents want from your school?
What does the business community want from your school?
What do teachers and students want from your school?
Chapter 2 and Standard 2 tie in beautifully together. Trustworthiness is one of those key elements that parents and community members have said that they need to see in our graduates. Can we take character to the next level through The Leader in Me model?
“Leadership is communicating people’s worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves” (41).
It is an absolute must that parents trust the school, the faculty, and the administration. I want parents to feel free to contact me and discuss anything that may be bothering them or just a concern that they may have. I also want to have lines of communication with them when students are doing well and not just when students are in trouble.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there is truth in the saying "Treat a man as he is and you make him worse than he is. Treat a man as he has the potential to become and you make him better than he is." Helping teachers, instructional aides, and students experience success by being the best they can be is how I measure my success.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments, guys! Thanks for setting a good example for everyone else by getting them in the right place!
ReplyDeleteParents want to know that their child is valued and treated with equity-provided the best quality education as possible. The community and businesses expect that the local schools are providing a quality education, helping students become good citizens ready and prepared for the future workplace whatever occupation they choose. Teachers desire the support from leadership and the community. They want to be given the proper tools to be the best educator possible. Teachers also want to instill a lifelong passion and desire for students to be self-learners. Students want to be safe, secure, and free to excel in an environment that is conducive to learning. Students also want opportunities; opportunities that only a sound education can provide.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the ethics standard and Chapter 2, I am struck by the first sentence in the description of Habit 1: I am a responsible person. How different our schools and our world would be if this were true! I hope that we will all strive to be that kind of person and teach our students to be the same.
ReplyDeleteAs instructional leaders, it is a necessity that we encourage educators in the schools to release students into society being competent people with great character. Hopefully, this will help students accomplish any goal that they establish for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI have been fortunate to work and visit in many schools across north Alabama. I learned firsthand that leadership is immediately "visible," or not. A first impression is formed as one enters the school building. Parents and the community,indeed all stakeholders, want a clean, friendly, and welcoming place for their children. We need to ask, "What does the initial first impression say about my school?" "How are children, parents, and visitors treated when they first enter our school?"
ReplyDeleteI miss visiting with you in your schools this year. I am volunteering at a local high school and working with an adult literacy program in my church.
I agree that we need to have trust between the school and parents, but I think the trust between the school leader and the students is just as important. In "The Leader In Me" Covey states that, Every young person wants to grow and to be appreciated" (40). That growth will enhance and foster a new relationship for that student the he/she will take into the workforce and into the community. Our students look to us not just as teachers, but many times as a moral compass. Right or Wrong that is the way it is and we have an obligation to be the best living example we can be of honesty and integrity. I think when we look through the "bifocals" (28)we need to see the whole child and make him/her our measure of trustworthiness.
ReplyDeleteTrust is something earned. In order to gain the trust of anyone, especially parents you must allow them to express their concerns to you in an atmosphere of confidence. I have found that being honest, direct, and understanding to the individual needs of my community has gained me a degree of trust with them. This trust helps me as a school leader in both good times and bad.
ReplyDeleteThe establishment of that level of trust however must be a priority and should be viewed as one of the most important parts of a school leaders job.
Trust is the most vital element in any relationship. The home/school relationship is not an exception. As instructional leaders, we have to work hard to establish and maintain a high level of trust. This all goes back to walking the walk.
ReplyDeleteThis year, I have tried to instill a sense of empathy in our students. In most situations I ask them,"Is this the way you would have wanted to be treated?" Hopefully, this will plant a seed....
Leaders can't pass the buck. It's up to them to get the job done, and they know it. Building trust is a vital part of the leadership process. The success of the school depends on many things. One of the main ingredients is a trusting relationship between the faculty, staff, students and parents.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very important that we earn the trust of parents and the community enough that even though they might not agree with every decision we make, they still trust that we are doing it with the best interests of our students at heart. That can really get difficult if parents and/or the community feel like we have something other than the best interests of all of our students in mind or that there is some type of hidden agenda driving our decisions.
ReplyDeleteTrust is one of those foundation character taits that we rely on so much. We have to earn trust by being consistent with our decisions. Building trust through consistency allows a community, faculty, or student body to truly take ownership in our schools and programs. People are more willing to go above and beyond when trust is in place. I look at the most successful leaders and find the people around them trust them first and feel appreciated. When this happens, the sky is the limit for what can be accomplished.
ReplyDeleteWhen being entrusted with the sanctity of the public one must "walk the walk." These are the struggles that I see leaders deal with the most. As a community leader it is important that we represent what we say in every facet of life. Trustworthiness is a virtue that can't be taken lightly. There is an inherent trust in leaders of schools. An expectation that the correct decisions will be made in the best interest of each student and employee. Wisdom, along with discernment will go along way to establish trust within our communities. As administrators we should never take advantage of the the precious cargo we are entrusted with.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of trustworthiness I often think of the Golden Rule. Someone in a leadership position should always remember that we should work hard each and every day to establish trust within the population that we serve. You should always do your best to "live what you preach" and then I think that people will see that you are genuine and trust can be established.
ReplyDeleteI once read teachers are the most trusted professionals, even more than your local family physician. With this trust comes great responsibility. Our students look to us daily as a positive example for which they can base some of their daily patterns by. We must accept this responsibility and earn the students' trust by the example of our character.
ReplyDeleteTrust is the basis for the most important relationships in our lives. Our relationship with God, the husband/wife relationship, our relationships with children, friends, students, etc. Because teachers are in a leadership position, we should be the kind of people we try to teach our students to be. If our students are able to trust us, they will develop respect for us. Trust and respect go hand in hand in all of our relationships in life.
ReplyDeleteTrust is a huge issue I think between parents and the school which really goes both ways. Sometimes, we as teachers think the parents don't care about their children and try to help them while the parents think the same about the school. I would love to do like the magnet school in the chapter and just have sit down with all the stakeholders and ask the same questions to see what they would say. I bet it would be interesting and I think it would start to bridge some communication gaps.
ReplyDeleteModeling good character and living a life of good values is what children, parents and community members will remember. We can talk about being trustworthy, honest, tactful and fair. However if we do not exemplify these traits in everyday life (ballpark, grocery store, church, in traffic, etc.), the words are empty.
ReplyDelete“Trust is the highest form of human motivation.” Stephan Covey
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ReplyDeleteThose who choose the field of education as a profession always seem to be in the spotlight. At any given time or in any place, we may see a former student. I would like to believe that most of the students who have sat in a desk would refer to their teachers as trustworthy or honest people. Society holds us to a higher standard and rightfully so. We are shaping and molding the future. Character traits such as trustworthiness and honesty are not taught or fulfilled in many of the homes of today's youth. Therefore, it is our duty as educators to teach and practice these two traits on a daily basis. It is also imperative that we uphold our reputation inside and outside of the classroom. Nevertheless, we are always going to be looked at under the microscope inside of our communities.
ReplyDeleteParents send us their most prized possessions--their children, and in turn, they trust that we will provide the proper guidance. In my opinion, parents expect us to set a good example of trustworthiness, treat their children with respect and dignity, and instill important life skills that will allow them to be successful in family and work. This is a difficult task because people often are reluctant to trust others. As school administrators, we need to foster that sense of trust to allow the relationship with students, teachers, and parents to flourish.
ReplyDeleteSister Mary Rose McGeady said "There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone's life". When I am no longer in daily contact with my students and parents, I want my legacy to be that I made difference in their lives.
ReplyDeleteIn both our personal and professional lives we must be of good character. Being trustworthy should be at the top of the list. In our schools students, teachers, and parents should trust their administrators to do what is right for everyone. We are going to provide each student with the Four Basic Needs as stated in The Leader in Me: Physical, Social-Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual. In closing, as an administrator, I want everyone to believe in what we are doing each and everyday is going to help our school and especially our students in the everyday lives and in their future.
ReplyDeleteIn teaching our future leaders, we need to make sure we are giving them the tools for them to succeed. One of the most important things we can teach them is to be trustworthy. Being able to make sure they are trustworthy adults is a big part of our jobs as educators. In the parenting classes that I teach, this concept is the main focus of one lesson. Students need to be able to trust us and we need to make sure we are teaching them how to become adults that others can trust. To me, that is what being an educator is all about, teaching our students the lessons they need for adulthood. Trustworthiness is one of the staples they need to succeed in the future.
ReplyDeleteA strong trust relationship is a vital component in any relationship. Trust is built upon openness, honesty, reliability, and confidentiality. It is especially important for the parents, students, teachers, staff, and community to trust in the leadership of their school. This provides a firm foundation for the relationship to grow and of course, it is much easier to build trust than to rebuild it.” I like the quote: “Trust builds relationships. Relationships build people.” As educators, we should all strive to provide a good role model of trustworthiness for those around us.
ReplyDeleteIt is understandable why business leaders are frustrated with schools and educators. We have in many cases treated them as intruders. We no longer have that luxury. We desperately need their partnership in our schools. Covey has it right. Schools and businesses want the same things. We both want "character and competence." It just makes sense that we work together on these core components.
ReplyDeleteThe more I think about trust, the more I equate it with communication. Trust is difficult to build, but easy to destroy. A lack of communication erodes trust, whether it is on an individual level or on a wider level, such as the school. Despite our best efforts, we often can't communicate everything that we need to say or that we want people to know. It is a constant struggle!
ReplyDeleteIt is very simple to say “trust me”! But, if we are not willing to share information about our schools and what we are trying to accomplish, we do not have the right to say “trust me” because we have not earned it. Whether it is a business in our community, parents, teachers, or students, we must inform all stakeholders of our intentions. As is stated in The Leader in Me, many times we are asking area businesses or parents for financial support for projects at the school but are not willing to accept their input as to the direction that the school may need to go. As school leaders, I believe we sometimes think we are the only ones who know what is best for our schools. In reality, these schools do not belong to us as administrators; we have simply been entrusted to carry out the plan or vision for the school as established by all stakeholders. To be a successful and effective educational facility, we have to adopt the concept of an old African proverb which says, “It takes a community to raise a child.”
ReplyDeleteWhen students see me appreciate and celebrate their differences, they begin to feel connected. Through this common bond, students will feel free to learn, to make mistakes and grow in a safe environment. Or more precisely, trust will develop. To me, there is no greater bond than trustworthiness.
ReplyDeleteI love reading everyone's comments because TRUST is the basis of the school enviornment. I have often found that in my job many of the concerns I deal with are related to the breakdown of trust between the school and the parent. We must continue to build trust by keeping all lines of communication open. As educators we must remember that trustworthiness is reflected in our actions not just our words, we are always under the microscope by all community stakeholders. Keep building leaders "One Child at a Time".
ReplyDeleteTrust is something that can be earned for a life time and also can take a life time to earn. We as humans can forgive a lot, except when a person has violated our trust in them. It’s even harder when that person is dealing with your child and their education. It is vital that we always be trustworthy in our words and actions.
ReplyDeleteWhen seeking the way to save A. B. Combs, the faculty first asked the parents and community members what they wanted from their school. This had to communicate to the community that opinions were needed and wanted to shape the school for the future and that the school trusted the community to be able to provide insight into the path needed to be taken, moving from the "seek first to understand" habit. I am sure the community members began to watch for evidence that the input would be put into place. Imagine the delight as changes were implemented that aligned with the "want list."
ReplyDeleteAs administrators, we must show respect to students, parents, and our community. We must maintain high esteem in all situations. I have been trying very hard to use Habit 5 more effectively by being a good listener when talking with students and parents over concerns or situations. This way we can earn their trust and respect by the way we handle situations and they know we will listen to their concerns.
ReplyDeleteStephen Covey said: "Leadership is communicating people's worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves."
ReplyDeleteThis quote from The Leader In Me, pg. 41, says so much about trust - trust in oneself to be able to communicate to others in a professional manner the worth and potential that is exhibited. I think that sometimes we get so caught up in what others will think of us that we fail to clearly lift up the great qualities that we see in others. We must have trust in our own observations, our means of communication, and our ability to "give credit where credit is due". As leaders we have so many opportunities to communicate worth and potential to students, teachers, school staff, and other administrators. I find that sometimes I need to trust more and find those opportunities to build capacity through communication.
Trust is both a emotional and logical act. When we trust someone we expose ourselves to the vulnerabiliites of people, believing they will do the right thing. I hope as a school administrator that I always try to do what is right by that person and the school in general.
ReplyDeleteMy experience tells me, that as leaders, if trust is going to exist with our stakeholders, we must first create an environment where they believe the following is present: fairness, consistency and communication.
ReplyDeleteJust as the alphabet is the foundation on which words, sentences, paragraphs, and even great novels are built trustworthiness is the foundation of ALL relationships!
ReplyDeleteThis is particularly true as we are entrusted with other people's children. We will spend a liftime adding "bricks" of trust to the original foundation, but we can destroy the "entire structure" of trustworthiness in one fail swoop with a single act perceived as deceit (rightfully or wrongfully).
Covey's Habit # 5, "Seek first to understand, then to be understood" goes hand in hand with trustworthiness. We cannot build trust while being a dictator. We must listen to our stakeholders, first. Afterwards, even if the stakeholders do not agree with our decisions, we have gained their trust by valuing their opinions enough to LISTEN.
Listening is to trustworthiness as the alphabet is to great novels.
There's an old story about stonecutters. When asked what they were doing, the first stonecutter replied, "I'm cutting this stone into blocks." When asked the same question, the second stonecutter replied, "I'm building a great cathedral." We can look at building trust the same way. When a child (or a parent) comes to us with a concern we can listen with the attitude that we are just going through the motions (cutting stones into blocks) or we can listen with the attitude that we are developing a relationship that will have a lasting impact on the future (building a cathedral). We choose how we spend our day - cutting blocks or building cathedrals.
ReplyDelete"Not only are they teaching skills that will impact students futures, but they are teaching skills and principles that are making an immediate impact, today." (Pg 43)
ReplyDeleteThe choices we make, influences students today and in the future. That is why our conduct should be such that students would want to model after us. We must portray honesty and fairness, that can be seen by all.
It is of the utmost importance that students consider us as trustworthy. You have to be careful of the "lunchroom table talk" that so many of us are guilty of. It only takes one time for a student to overhear something or find out something you said about them or someone else to destroy that trust. It is hard, but we must avoid the temptation to vent to colleagues.
ReplyDeleteIn my collegiate days, hased on a less-than-stellar teacher I had in high school, I thought the nyumer one job of a teacher was to teach the material. I still see much of that but also recognize with increasing conviction the need to address more.
ReplyDeleteI ran into a foremr student some time back who thanked me for helping him see beyond the provincial. I hope teachers do that.
I enjoyed having a student last year who considered himself my opposite politically. I once explained some issue and asked him if he thought I had presented both sides accurately.
I fear that, too often, we may fail Standard 2: "Properly representing facts concerning an educational matter in direct or indirect public expression."
My argument goes beyond "an educational matter" but should be true of ALL we do -- a HABIT in all we do, whether educational or other.
As educators, it is critically important that parents see us as being trustworthy. They are putting their most precious gift in our hands and trusting that we will instill the knowledge that their child needs in order to succeed. We must rise to the occasion and "embody for students the characteristics of intellectual honesty, diplomacy, tact, and fairness."
ReplyDeleteAs A.B. Combs built the relationship with the stakeholders in their community, we must reach out to our parents, teachers, students and business owners to plan for our children's future. When parents feel that they earnestly have a say in what is going on with their children's education, they become more interested in the process and trust builds between the school staff and community.
ReplyDeleteWhen the community trusts us to do what is right for our students, both for their academic needs and social well-being, we forge a partnership in which we move together to help make our students lives better.
ReplyDeleteTrust is the most important part of any relationship. Teacher/parent trust is essential for student achievement and in producing productive citizens. Trust is an everyday process in all aspects of one's life. Teachers must take the responsibility for building trust between the school and the community. This is an area that must be proactive, not just for administrators, but for everyone in the school building. Yes, I mean all of the staff (from the lunchroom staff, custodial staff, teachers, to administration)! A breech of trust in any area of the school can and will cause a breakdown of overall trust. It is the responsibility of everyone.
ReplyDeleteTrust is a key ingredient necessary to establish a good relationship with the stakeholders of our schools. I often tell parents when they come to our school to report a bullying incident, for example, that I'm glad they came because my number one job is that I keep their child safe. Parents like to hear that priority exists and that it is foremost.
ReplyDelete