Shauna Catalano

Saturday school with 300 teens, gotta keep smiling. 

I am a middle school teacher of 20 years and currently an aspiring administrator.   I am getting my second Masters Degree at Grand Canyon University in Administration. My life revolves around education and being the best leader I can be within the public school system. On this cite you can follow along in my leadership journey. 

Please read my leadership philosophy below.

C. S. Lewis

Grand Canyon University 

EDA 501

Leadership Philosophy

December 5, 2022

My personal leadership philosophy begins with the acknowledgement that a leader needs to be a role model. A leader is one that can lead by example, demonstration, and consistency. As a future leader I will be instrumental in guiding teachers and staff in modalities in which each person can support one another. A leader needs to show respect to everyone, every day, by including a positive approach for any situation that may arise. As a future administrator I will be accountable for an entire school, and therefore will need to take responsibility for the successes and failures of myself and my team. This may include developing new areas for improvement, and how to move forward with growth that strives for continued success. A leader needs to be an active listener and have good communication skills. Administrators will have to deal with a wide variety of personalities from students to parents, the community, and of course the staff. As an active listener one needs to have the skills of empathy and understanding for a variety of issues, and the courage to share unpopular or difficult decisions that may affect others. A leader needs to be flexible because things are always changing in the world of education. Being a rigid leader will not benefit myself or the individuals that I am trying to lead. Most important for myself is having the ability to collaborate with others to solve common goals. There are leaders within a team that can also have innovative ideas or different perspectives that can support as well. A strong leader will have to have resilience, patience, and daily self-awareness to lead well. Being a leader can be hard as you are the one that is looked up to for professional expertise. A good leader will always rise to the challenge.

Leaders are role models that lead by example when running a school. A strong foundation of collaborating and support needs to be a goal. I want to lead as a service leader that can focus on the growth and well-being of the people I work with. I want to be fully transparent to my staff by listening while building a strong community. I want to encourage teamwork and collaboration for all members in the school community to work towards the goal of success student achievement.  Relationships with teachers, staff, students, and the community are key to strong leadership. Having a sense of community is possible by positive interactions with teachers and students. These interactions will result in better student motivation and engagement. Collaboration and Professional Development is important for educational leadership. It is important for administration to stay up to date on educational trends, safety issues, student achievement can all be topics for teacher collaboration days or professional development. Mentoring in the classrooms can be done by administration, and supported with the leadership team. Helping teachers to reach their full potential in the classroom for student success is a key factor in education.