Model, Support, and Reward Excellence
By Mauro Bressi
In leading and supervising my teachers, I employ three basic principles: I model excellence, I support excellence, and I reward excellence. This triad is my foundation for promoting instruction and learning that translate into high achievement among students in my school.
I take being the lead teacher of my department very seriously. It is of primary importance that I exhibit all of the good qualities of teaching that I expect from my teachers. I am passionate, scholarly, committed, and hardworking. I believe my devotion to scholastic and pedagogic excellence inspires my teachers to do their best. There is no substitute for leading by example.
To help teachers do their best, I make sure they have all the tools, materials, and resources they need to do their job effectively. I know the standards and curriculum and anticipate what teachers require for instruction. I ask them what else they desire and procure it for them. I discover where their interests lie, what excites them, and encourage them to pursue those interests with their students. I am sympathetic and caring, not just demanding. I believe a teacher cannot be excellent without essential support.
Although excellence is its own reward, it should nevertheless be recognized, even celebrated. At the appropriate opportunity, I bestow high-performing teachers with a gift or other sign of appreciation. And I let my teachers know how important they are, that their individual and team efforts are meaningful and valued. In this way I build morale and reinforce excellence. I believe in rewarding a teacher for a job well done.
I don’t see how an administrator can do otherwise than model, support, and reward excellence in teaching. It’s fundamental, and it works.
Mauro
Bressi
Edward R. Murrow