Hello, fellow LDRS 501 peers! My name is Stella, and I am excited to work with you all. This is the first time using WordPress, so everything feels overwhelming at the moment, but it is nice to blog again. It’s been a long time!
I have just started a high school vice principal position in a local independent school. Within these first three weeks, I have organized a grade 8-12 camp, led several staff meetings, and met with several students. While I struggle to understand how all of the demands of my new position, I have a joy unspeakable which motivates me. The readings in our course are very relevant to my work life right now so I am excited to see how the Lord speaks through the course competencies into the very life of my school!
I love capturing God’s creation through photographs and teaching biology. Our Creator’s love is exposed as we explore the structure and function of the work of His hand.
Blessings,
Stella
Hey Stella!
Glad to have you here in LDRS 501!
Your unique approach to life and learning should bring great synergy with the class and your teams in the course.
Art, passion and commitment are all traits I know you for with relation to your teaching and life. Translating that into Strategic Leadership practice ill be interesting for sure!
Doug
Hi Doug!
I’m glad to be here in LDRS 501! I wondered if doing this course at the same time as taking on a new role was wise, but then I remembered that God has spoken to me through my studies at the exact right time that I needed the knowledge… so who was I to say He couldn’t/wouldn’t continue just because I was doing something new? D’oh! As I mentioned in my post, the readings are timely in that I am relating personally to the concepts and gleaning new ways to approach situations. As a first year teacher, I learned that small decisions could have big impacts. Now as a first-year administrator, I feel in the same situation. Saying “yes” to something (or ‘no’) can have a big ripple effect with unintended consequences, so being open slowing down, looking at the big picture in the immediate moment, is helpful.
I look forward to learning from you!
Lana
Hi Stella,
Welcome to the course. I have the same love for nature and believe in God’s creation a lot. All the very best for the journey you have just started as vice principal. I hope to learn a lot from you during our journey of ldrs501 and will be able to know your thoughts more.
Thank you for sharing your introduction.
-Kunal
Hi Stella! Nice to meet you. It seems that you are in a huge transition/learning time at work. But it sounds like you are working hard to connect with the students and staff. I am sure it can be quite daunting to figure out all the important pieces to your job and how they all fit together! I wonder – are you finding that people’s expectations of what they think to be “important” are not matching up with your own as you become more familiar with the role? I found that when I started my current job and I am now trying to critically think through how I prioritize responsibilities. I am sure that I can learn much from your context as it sounds like you are a mover and shaker!
– Lillian Boyd
lillian@springvale.org
Greetings, Stella!
Wow! You have a lot on your plate at the beginning of this school year! Praying you can achieve that workable balance required to take these online courses and maintain the energy necessary to work with and guide young people.
I am looking forward to hearing about your perspective on strategic leadership from your newly acquired position. How as it already impacted or influenced your relationships with your colleagues? Are you able to move toward your vision for the growth of the school in a synchronous manner? I admire your tenacity and determination to take a leadership!
Sally
Hi Sally! I am using a different name, but we did a course together this past summer, so you’ll probably piece it together soon.. think Milania?!! I definitely find myself using the word “impact” these days in my new role, as I try to balance demands, make decisions, and forge relationships. It’s an interesting time, as our Lead Principal is new as well, so our admin team is very collaborative at the moment as we face challenges together. I appreciate Jesus’ direction in the issues I face every day, as I alone cannot do much on my own. I pray your new school year is going well, and I look forward to learning with you! Blessings, Stella
Hi Stella!
I am finally connected to the course and thrilled to be writing my first blog reply ever. I did not know that you have blogged before? I look forward to another on-line journey with you as we learn how to be more strategic as leaders.
I am certain that this course is very timely for you as you have the unique opportunity to amalgamate what you read in the literature and apply it to your every day circumstances as a VP.
I also look forward to hearing more from your Christian school experiences in leadership and comparing them to public education.
Blessings to you Stella:)
Hello! Yay, you are finally up-and-running. Thank you for your comment, I am looking forward to participating in another course together! I blogged for quite some time, back in the day (2004ish?) when it was the thing to do. I even wrote some fiction under a pseudonym using the blog format posts as chapters. However, as a classroom teacher, I hear enough of my own voice now so I don’t feel a need to express myself in the same way anymore. Blessings! Stella