The past few weeks I have been reading on leadership theories and change management. I have held full-time teaching positions in 4 schools and seen and experienced change with many of them. To be honest, I have not always been so adaptable and flexible to change. Especially in my earlier years of teaching when everything additional to teaching was a burden an additional cause of stress.

As the new school year dawns I am busy planning implementation of an Information Literacy (IL) program. Previously I would have selected a class and approached the homeroom teacher, explaining what I wished to achieve. I can see how this would place undue stress on that teacher particularly as half of the homeroom teachers are new to the school.

Instead I will use Reinsel Soulen’s ‘continuum of care’ approach to welcome new and returning staff to the library. Show them key resources and be sure not to overwhelm them. Build a strong positive relationship with them that will be the foundation of a collaborative teaching practice.

Schools are a place of change. It is inevitable. I’ve come to realise how we as educators adapt and how this change is delivered – both to educators, leaders and students – is essential for the success of this change.

References:

Reinsel Soulen, R. (2020). The continuum of care. Knowledge Quest 48(4). 36-42.