Director in Leadership

Robin Tameka Smith

Background

Sue is the Director of the after-school program of the Purposeful Writing group. The program partners with the local school district. The Purposeful Writing group works with students on creative reading and writing techniques. Sue hired a new classroom coordinator named Ms. Savage to facilitate the program. She hopes that hiring Ms. Savage will help improve the program and that she can bring new ideas to the PWG group. Ms. Savage is a new graduate from the local University.

The Leadership Challenge

Sue needed to help Ms. Savage understand her new role and responsibilities. Sue is in a new Leadership Path-Goal theory training course she has just implemented into her program that allows her to gain experience in leadership, and she is excited to apply what she learned. Sue needed to apply leadership styles to help her new coordinator. This was Ms. Savage's 1st classroom, and she recently graduated from the local University and received her degree in Liberal Studies, emphasizing K-6 grade Elementary education. Savage worried about her role as the classroom coordinator for the after-school program since this was her first classroom.

Decision

Sue assessed Ms. Savage's Leadership skills using the Leadership Path-Goal approach to determine her best leadership style. Sue needed to help Ms. Savage teach her new role as the Classroom Coordinator.

Outcome

Ms. Savage begins the new year teaching in a new role as the classroom coordinator. After teaching for a week, Savage expresses that she is struggling to learn her role and would like her classroom to be more welcoming for her students. She needs more training on the curriculum and wants to add some classroom decorations and make the classroom her own. After Savage and Sue met for a few weeks, Sue asked Savage if she could get more involved in creating the curriculum for the new year. In the 1:1 meeting, Ms. Savage expressed that she has developed a high ability and confidence to perform her role as the coordinator and feels like she can run her classroom alone and create a safe environment for her students. Sue feels like Ms. Savage is confident in her new role and is ready to get more involved.

Discussion Questions

1. What leadership style is appropriate to help Ms. Savage teach her new role as the classroom coordinator?
2. What Leadership style should be used after Ms. Savage does not need authoritative leadership?
3. What leadership style can Sue use to help Savage get involved and grow in her role?
4. What leadership style should Sue apply when Ms. Savage feels confident in her responsibilities and role as the classroom coordinator?

License

This case study is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.