It is exciting times for Denver Public Schools as we prepare to embrace a new superintendent. A leader who must set the vision, tone and energy for the district. Don't kid yourself. Leadership matters ... but why?
Research suggests that good leadership elevates employees' work experience. From personal experience as I have asked around, teachers and staff tell me that the key reason they stay at their work place is because of the relationships they form with their colleagues and leader. From the leader, employees seek clarity of direction and purpose. The leader provides a sense of value and engages staff in meaningful dialogue that leads to trust. Research notes that effective leadership helps the district and schools thrive and prosper.
Research can be dry, so let me cite another source: "Where there is no vision, the people perish," Proverbs 29:18. Well, the thought of "perishing" sounds extreme, but let's take another interpretive slant. The leader's vision can articulate a clear picture what the desired state is for the organization. In our schools, we have values and a strategic plan (The Denver Plan 2020) and these serve as tools and engines to drive us to attain goals. However, it is the leader's vision that really actualizes our values and gives direction and emphasis to strategies. Additionally, most leaders recognize that in spite of their vision, they can't do it by themselves. In fact, it's folly for leaders to think they can go it alone.
John F. Kennedy reminded us that "leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." Effective leaders know there is more to learn and there is likely someone else who might have the necessary knowledge and experience. Leadership becomes a reciprocal relationship between leader and people in the organization. In reality, the superintendent is the "lead learner" in the district. I anticipate DPS' next superintendent will be a wonderful learner. From this learning, the leadership vision will be more distinct, the path forward clearer and all of us will rise to support the work.
Beyond the skills of strategic planning, visioning, organizing and facilitating, great leadership exhibits more. Jim Collins' seminal work -- Good to Great -- addresses what he calls "level 5" leadership. This quality -- level 5 -- is additive to all of the other types of skills and qualities we might think great leaders have. Level 5 is a special nuance of humility and professional will -- I read this as moral purpose. As Collins writes:
"To grasp this concept, consider Abraham Lincoln, who never let his ego get in the way of his ambition to create an enduring great nation. Author Henry Adams called him 'a quiet, peaceful, shy figure.' But those who thought Lincoln's understated manner signaled weakness in the man found themselves terribly mistaken to the scale of 250,000 Confederate and 360,000 Union lives, including Lincoln's own."
The Board of Education has exercised great vigor in its search process to identify a leader with level 5 leadership, and that can only mean good things for the children of the Denver Public Schools.
Warmly,
Ron
Ron Cabrera, PhD
