West Michigan Education Leadership Conference 2013
1. Leading Out Loud
Transparency in Building Trust & Community
David Britten
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, Retired
Superintendent of Schools
http://tinyurl.com/colonelb-lol13
2. Me in two slides…
• Grew up in the G-L district & attended both Catholic
and public schools
• GVSU and WMU
• Married with one son
• Taught HS math at Muskegon Catholic Central
• 22-year Army career (retired from active duty)
• 17 years as a public school administrator
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4/5/6 elementary school principal
Middle school principal
Middle & high school principal
Superintendent
8. Inspired Leadership
“Leading is not just a matter of knowing what to do —
that is the job of the strategist— it is a matter of knowing
and communicating why we are doing it.
“What is absent in today's brand of leadership is not
information, change, or knowledge — it is inspiration.
Inspiration gives knowledge an application and change its
meaning.
“We long for leadership because we are rarely inspired,
and we miss it terribly.”
__Terry Pearce
9. All communications were realtime and transparent throughout
the entire planning and
implementation process.
48. Get Connected
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Got to Twitter.com and signup
Start by following up to 5 people (@)
Watch the professional conversations (#)
Participate in an educational Twitter chat (#)
Follow 25 others
Put it on the table by telling others
49. Follow Superintendents
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@pammoran — Pam Moran/Virginia
@cdsmeaton — Christopher Smeaton/Canada
@colonelb — David Britten/Michigan
@scottrrocco — Scott Rocco/New Jersey
@mcpssuper — Joshua Starr/Maryland
@ewilliams65 – Eric Williams/Virginia
@DrPaskewicz – Mike Paskewicz/Michigan
@tebotweets – Dave Tebo/Michigan
50. Follow Principals
• @NMHS_Principal – Eric Sheninger, New
Jersey
• @lynhilt – Lyn Hilt, Pennsylvania
• @GeorgeCouros – George Couros, Canada
• @DeronDurflinger – Deron Durflinger, Iowa
• @Principal_EL – Salome Thomas-EL, Delaware
• @chrislehmann – Chris Lehmann, Philadelphia
51. Follow Other Educators
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@literacygurl – Kathryn Coffey, EMU
(http://literacygurl.blogspot.com/)
@delta_dc – David Coffey, GVSU Math Prof
@ronhoutman – Ron Houtman, KISD
@irasocol – Ira Socol, Virginia & Michigan
@bkayser11 – Brian Kayser, Virginia teacher
@mrlosik – Andy Losik, Fennville, Michigan
@dprindle – David Prindle, Byron Center, Michigan
Lists by discipline: http://cybraryman.com/plnstars.html
53. Twitter Professional Chats
• #edchat – Tuesdays, 12-1 and 7-8 pm EST
• #satchat – Saturdays, 7:30-8:30 and 10:3011:30 am EST
• #miched – Wednesdays, 8-9 pm EST
• #edleaders – Tuesdays, 6-7 pm EST
• #21stadmin – Mondays, 9-10 pm EST
54. Engaging with Social Media
Transparently engaging district stakeholders
(students, teachers, families, taxpayers, board
members, educators around the world) in topics
and discussions relevant to what is happening
in, or affecting, the district in a timely fashion.
55. Issues & Recognition
• Tackling issues head on when they arise,
informing taxpayers about what mandates are
using local taxpayer efforts, or enhancing
organizational focus and priorities
• Recognizing the efforts of teachers, parents,
students, community members, board
members and administrators
56. Branding
No longer are school and district leaders waiting
for the local newspaper to tell their story. By
harnessing social media, the overall vision,
accomplishments and feedback loop is being
shared transparently on a daily basis.
57. Leading by Example
Role modeling digital citizenship and social
media netiquette for students, parents, teachers
and other administrators.
----- Meeting Notes (9/27/12 10:54) -----Go through quickly; note multiple hats worn the past three years.
What it’s like being the superintendent.
----- Meeting Notes (9/27/12 13:00) -----This could have been our attitude about the whole affair, but I have a philosophy that goes back to my military career -- life is full of stuff, and it either serves as a force multiplier to help you, or it is MODD (things that make our day difficult). Either way, the "hill must be taken," the mission accomplished.
Unlike email, social media provides a broadcast and feedback communication system.
From managing the status quo to becoming the instigator of change.