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The Captain Courageous Educational Leader

By Marie Banuelos

Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services

Barstow Unified School District

Having been an administrator now longer than I was a teacher is startling realization enough, but what it takes to lead in today’s educational climate is mind-boggling. I remember when I had my own “ship to sail” in my classroom, where my world had its own rules and where children reigned supreme. Those were the days when I truly guided my own ship and had a willing crew.

As an administrator now, the ship is much bigger to keep on course and the crew not always so willing. There are rough seas and sharks in the water, and it is my job to see that we can navigate to our goals safely. But we are sailing into uncharted seas and the crew wants to go back “home.” They are scared ... and so am I.

The question, “What will it take to lead tomorrow’s schools?” is not an easy question. We talk about hiring skilled and knowledgeable administrators, those who are proven and have weathered the storm. We look to administrative training to fill the gaps in knowledge and build leadership skills of collaboration and coaching. We encourage our administrators to keep abreast of new trends and, all the while, preach how a good administrator is a good leader, healthy, knows how to handle stress, can prioritize, manage time, stay current, and can organize anything. Yes, and then? She still is not going to be able to manage the ship or the crew who is afraid, much less navigate dangerous, uncharted waters. So what does an educational leader, the captain of the ship, need in order to plot new courses and be successful?

Courage. Plain and simple. The one thing that comes from heart, desire, commitment, a sense of justice, integrity, and the belief that all children deserve the best we can offer them.

Courage. The quality that can be brought forward but cannot be taught. We can teach people to manage systems, we can teach them processes to get others to accomplish work. But it will take courage to keep going even when afraid and to get the crew to follow. In uncharted and scary oceans, it doesn’t matter how much knowledge and skill one has, it is courage that will lead.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon

The most effective leaders have extraordinary courage. It was brought out of them by circumstance, life experiences, or by example. The best administrative training comes through courageous mentors/coaches, educational leaders with knowledge, skills, experience, and courage. These mentors/coaches are the leaders who broke new ground and charted unknown seas to success. These leaders believe that others have it in them to do the same and are willing to mentor/coach their first mates to their own captainships.

Mentorship and coaching are the two strongest ways to assist educational leaders to be effective. Together they create the opportunities to find one’s strengths and identify areas for improvement through self-evaluation and realization. A mentor/coach is more than a teacher. A mentor/coach is the example a learning administrator can follow and emulate. A mentor/coach can shed light so the administrator can see all facets clearly and make more informed and thoughtful decisions, her own decisions.

Mentoring/Coaching provides opportunities for the administrator to examine her own thinking and decision-making processes. The mentor/coach has various methods for providing context and reflection to the administrator. One method is a reflective listening and questioning process. This is a one-to-one process where the mentor/coach listens to the issue with which the administrator is struggling and, by reflecting back the thoughts of the administrator and asking probing questions, encourages the speaker to dig deeper and examine her own reasoning and plans. The premise is that the administrator has the skill and capacity to deal with the issue effectively and to recognize where she may need help. This is an additive model rather than a deficit model of reflection and it empowers the administrator to take action. This form of cognitive coaching can be very effective to empower the administrator to move forward into uncharted seas.

The California Department of Education recognized the power of Cognitive Coaching. In a soon-to-be-released report from the California Department of Education Professional Development Task Force, coaching is a key component for producing effective educational leaders. In addition:

* The California Designs for Learning System includes coaching as a strategy in several design elements.

* The Governor’s Principal Training Proposal calls for a minimum of 80 hours of continuing support for principals.

* BTSA uses coaching support for the improvement of teacher practice, as does California’s Peer Assistance and Review effort.

* The National Staff Development Council includes various forms of coaching in its suggestions for professional development.

The California School Leadership Academy (CSLA) has established The Network of Education Coaches. CSLA believes that “effective leaders understand themselves well, have a clear vision of their organization’s future, have the courage and skills to take action, and have the confidence and know-how to include diverse perspectives. [CSLA] believes that these capabilities can be learned and that coaching is a powerful means of developing these capabilities.”

The purpose of CSLA’s Network is to develop a cadre of trained coaches who meet the network’s Essential Standards of Quality. These qualities include specific training, regularly scheduled skill-reinforcement, reflection on practice, participation in peer coaching and receiving input from those coached. Trained coaches develop expertise in coaching new principals, district office leaders, school leadership teams, organizational development, implementation of content area standards, and continuous improvement of student achievement.

I am fortunate to have several mentor/coaches, all courageous. They are the ones who prod my courage to come forward. They lead by example, they do the right thing even when it is hard. They show care and concern for people but do not sacrifice integrity and honor to do so. They support others to do the right thing and hold them accountable for doing it. These captains, mentors/coaches, have accomplished the most amazing results, and in their schools children benefit. They also challenge my thinking, my reasoning, and my motives. They make me reflect, look into my heart, and examine my beliefs. They break the waves for me to take the helm into smoother waters. They lead and teach by example. Sometimes I wonder how these mentor/coaches have such confidence and can hold a course even when the waters are far too dangerous for most and the storms are so ominous on the horizon. By participating in The Network of Education Coaches so I can support those as I have been supported, I am learning how to better my skills and stay courageous.

“Success is that old ABC - - ability, breaks, and courage.” Charles Luckman

For me, it has been very challenging to be a leader; sometimes scary, both emotionally and physically, but I remember my mentors/coaches and their examples to hold the ship on a straight course. I am often battered and beaten, but grateful for the ability to withstand those storms of status quo, past practice, and some unwilling crew members who would rather not change course even if it does benefit children.

I am just a captain of a small ship. I have not invented new systems or created any earth-shattering process to solve all of education’s woes. But I have had the most marvelous crews who have come with me, even in fear, and courageously stepped forward to take the helm – even in rough seas. These are the ones that make me stay courageous even when I would rather not. These are the leaders of tomorrow’s schools and districts. These are the ones who will continue to chart courses for children’s educational success. These are the ones for whom I remain steadfast and act courageously, even when I am afraid. Their courage is mine, and I feel the responsibility to remain constant for them. I was mentored/coached to show courage, to break the waves so others can have smooth sailing. It is the smallest of courage I can offer and the hardest to give. I thank my mentor/coaches for teaching and supporting me to give it.

“In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of fellow men, each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of past courage can define that ingredient – they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul.”

Senator John F. Kennedy, Profiles in Courage, p. 246 (1956)

Comments to: gthomas@leadingtoday.org

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About the author:

Marie Bañuelos has been in education for 27 years. She taught high school, was assistant principal for secondary, administrative coordinator in San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools serving 33 districts, principal of a middle school, and assistant superintendent in educational services for Barstow Unified School District. For the last seven years and currently, Marie leads accreditation teams for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, was a member of the Distinguished Educator Initiative working with low performing schools in California, is a cognitive coach and mentor to teachers and administrators.

Marie has an AA in Philosophy, BA in English and Philosophy, and a Masters in Education. Her graduate studies are in curriculum, instruction, and staff development. She co-authored a curriculum with Jack Canfield on building self-esteem that won the Product News award for best new publications. Marie has done consultant work with over 100 schools on building staff teamwork, moral, unlearning prejudice and moving toward equity for students, curriculum alignment, good instructional practices, and sound policies, procedures, and systems for effective schools. Marie is the CEO for The Business-Education Partnership Group, LLC that assists schools to connect with local businesses by putting problem-based learning (applied academics) into classrooms solving real business problems. Marie is dedicated to assuring that every student receives the best possible education so they will be successful, contributing adults.