In this week’s post, I’m excited to share an excerpt from the chapter titled From Teacher to Leader: An Open Roadmap of Advice from my book, The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire the Leader Within. I hope you find it helpful, whether you’re embarking on a new school year, starting your career in education, or have found yourself in a new educational organization. Learn more about the book HERE.

Whether you’re a teacher or an administrator, those in a position to influence children’s lives recognize the unique opportunity to leave an everlasting impact. Gifts live within exceptional educators, waiting to be unwrapped in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. They can’t be found in any handbook or road map because education and learning have no fixed rules and no endpoint. As Simon Sinek, author of The Infinite Game, explains, education is an infinite game without a finish line, with players, curricula, policies, and procedures that continually evolve.

So, who is it that crafts the invisible road map to success?

While I had formal mentors as a new teacher and administrator, I’ve been fortunate to consider many educators as mentors throughout my career. They have shared words of wisdom, resources, and new ideas that have influenced the way I approach transformational leadership forever. In fact, I perceive every single educator I have ever met, since the beginning of my career, to be a mentor. Why is that? Some have gifted me with advice I will always hold close, while others have modeled practices that I would never even consider employing. I have taken all the wisdom shared with me over the years and created my own open road map to share with you. It includes eight pieces of advice for new teachers and leaders!

Click HERE to print the image I call this an “open road map” of advice because these are only suggestions, a framework, a guide. These are signposts to point any new educator and leader in the right direction, but it is up to you to choose your path and decide what kind of educator and leader you want to be.My hope is that this open road map of advice finds its way into the hands of mentors dedicated to nurturing strong foundations for educators, as well as new teachers who embrace lifelong learning as a journey. May these eight pieces of advice serve as an inspiration to imagine what the future could hold for you, and for the people you will continue to influence throughout your career.  1.Keep Connections at the Core: Get to know your students, colleagues, families, and communities by listening to their stories, passions, and interests; this intentional action will show them that you are human first and that you care. Be that person who wears an empathy lens. Be someone who takes the time to walk in the shoes of every student and colleague who crosses your path. By creating those connections and cultivating meaningful relationships, you open pathways to deeper learning and exponential growth! Jim Knight encapsulates this approach in his ASCD article, Seven Principles for True Partnership, where he describes his role in educational environments: “Instead of telling teachers what they should do, I saw myself as a facilitator creating the conditions for dialogue. Instead of seeing myself as an expert, I saw myself as a partner.” This philosophy is at the heart of how I engage with others, utilizing Knight’s Seven Partnership Principles to ground conversations and foster connections. The principles as defined in the ASCD article are: 1. Equality: I don’t believe any person or group is more valuable than any other. I recognize and honor the dignity of every individual. 2. Choice: I communicate in a way that acknowledges the professional discretion of others by positioning them as decision makers. 3. Voice: I want to hear what others have to say, and I communicate that clearly. 4. Dialogue: I believe conversations should consist of a back-and-forth exchange, with all parties hearing and responding to one another’s opinions. 5. Reflection: I engage in conversations that look back, look at, and look ahead. 6. Praxis: I structure learning so that it’s grounded in real life. 7. Reciprocity: I enter each conversation open and expecting to learn. 2.Embrace the Community: Make an effort to learn the mission and vision at the community, district, and building levels. Those who make up the culture and climate of your organization are rowing in the same direction to best serve the students! Every role in an organization is important and should be valued. You are now part of a team, and it takes a village to provide students with the right opportunities to thrive. You do not have to work in isolation. Observe and talk with the people around you; you will be surprised at how much you learn from them. Those conversations will stretch your thinking and have an immediate impact on your role. You will also gain a better understanding of who you can turn to for direction and advice when you need it! 3.Build a Network: Although an outstanding formal mentor is crucial to the growth process, it is vital to connect and collaborate with other educators and staff members in your educational communities. Everyone has knowledge and gifts to share. We are truly better together. Try not to compare yourself to others. According to Theodore Roosevelt, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” We are not here to compete. We are here for the kids! Just like we have different friends for various reasons (those who make us laugh, give us advice, listen to understand, or talk so we don’t have to), the same holds true for the educators we meet. Find the people in your organization who can make you better and help you see and learn other practices and perspectives. Also, consider expanding your network by using social media platforms. That’s how I have met some of the most impactful people to push my thinking in ways I never knew they could. Some have also become great friends! 4.Discover and Document: One of the best opportunities I was afforded was the chance to watch great teachers teach and great leaders lead! Intervisitations, lab sites, and debriefing time will allow you to discover and embed new practices into your repertoire of teaching and learning tools! If this doesn’t happen in your school district, ask! Perhaps your administrators can arrange for it (even virtually). If you are lucky enough to have instructional coaches, ask them to organize this authentic learning experience, but also invite them to come in and offer constructive feedback. I always loved when my coaches and peers gave me new ideas. They encouraged me to try new approaches and made me better! You may also consider creating a digital portfolio, which allows you to document and think about your learning in intentional and meaningful ways. I am grateful to George Couros for encouraging me to start mine just a few years ago. Luckily, I took his incredible Digital Portfolio Master Course, in which he walked me through the purpose and process of creating and using one. The experience has been reflective and allows me to create a digital footprint of my own learning. It’s never too late to start. Don’t think too hard about it. Just jump right in and make it happen—you won’t be sorry! 5.Pursue Professional Learning: I have been fortunate to work in school districts that provide professional learning opportunities for all leaders and teachers. These districts see the value in offering a range of courses that fit with the district’s mission and vision while meeting the needs of the staff and students. To me, the most impactful leaders empower and elevate teachers and leaders within the district by bringing in great educators and thought leaders from outside the organization to facilitate targeted professional learning experiences. These experiences have ensured that I can provide appropriate, relevant, and innovative professional learning for new teachers and leaders. I am also a big believer in not waiting for your district to provide professional learning for you. I REPEAT: do not wait! If there is something out there that will help meet the needs of your learners (and you) then pursue it and find it! Then, ask if you can attend it! Social media has been a space to professionally grow, and it’s FREE! Consider joining an X chat that is rooted in a topic you are interested in! Read professional books, articles and blog posts, and listen to podcasts. Elisabeth Bostwick and I recommended a plethora of inspiring podcasts in an Edutopia article we co wrote titled “Making Podcasts Part of Professional Learning.” Read more HERE. In another Edutopia article I co wrote with Stephanie Rothstein, “Taking Control of Your Professional Growth,” we share some of our favorite professional learning resources. Read more HERE. Also, if you are having difficulty finding a professional learning opportunity that meets your needs, then consider CREATING IT. You should always be in the driver’s seat of your learning! 6.Be a Mirror: Think about all the educators and leaders who have influenced your practice. You may not have even met some of them yet! Think about why those people were an important part of your journey. What did they say or do to influence the choices you make daily? Take the best qualities of those educators, mirror those attributes, and make them your own! If possible, reach out to them and tell them exactly why and how they have inspired you. They will be happy to hear it! Sometimes, we don’t recognize the impact we are having in the moment. Be the mirror and reflect the best versions of all those people! 7.Celebrate Successes and Failures: It is crucial to give yourself recognition for all successes, big and small. You are doing hard work, and you should be able to share your amazing moments of growth and awe with those who support and cheer you on! There is nothing more gratifying than knowing you have made a difference in the lives of your students and colleagues. At the same time, when you enter the field of education, you must be prepared to fail many times throughout your career. THIS IS A GOOD THING. I repeat: THIS IS A GOOD THING. When you aren’t failing, it means that you are not trying new things. It means that you are not pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. So celebrate success AND failure. You’ve earned it! 8.Pause and Reflect: Educators and leaders work hard and exhaust every minute in their precious days. Great educators and leaders also have servant hearts and are usually thinking about everyone else’s needs but their own. Take the time to pause and reflect. That means, take a break! Pursue your personal passions and interests, and practice self-care in the best way it suits you. This will look different for everyone. Some will indulge in their favorite exercise routines or go on a shopping spree. Others will take a painting class, read for pleasure, and/or write a book like me! The point is, whatever makes you happy on the inside, whatever pleasures your heart, do it! Taking those breaks to focus on YOU will make you a better educator than you were before! Learn more about The Leader Inside HERE