Lead from the Side

 I'm going to try to be brief in today's reflection of the past week. (This is partly because I have a pile of marking to complete so that I can tabulate grades and write my report cards.) This week had three big-ish events that I wanted to mention, and I'm tying them together with the thread of "leadership".

Leacock Foundation Panel Discussion on "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Teaching and Learning"

On Wednesday, June 5, I participated as a panelist for this discussion.

I really enjoyed speaking alongside Meaghan, Nina, Leslie, and Jessica. (Apologies for my garbled first answer - it took me a bit to "find my groove"!)

I've written before about feeling like an imposter (such as in 2011 when I was on a panel with Patsy Aldana and Annie Kidder, or my first time teaching for Queen's University in 2018). I do NOT consider myself an expert on AI. I actually use it far less than some other people on my staff (some of whom use it because I suggested it to them!) So, why on earth would I agree to involve myself in conversations like these? I think it's important to offer "less than perfect leadership" or "growing examples" in forums such as this. I was there to represent the Association for Media Literacy, and in my "day-job" as a teacher-librarian, it's vital to realize when you do have the answers as well as where to turn when you don't necessarily have the answers. I am grateful to friends like Tracey and Moses who helped me find documents that were important to read and digest, even though they aren't at the sharing stage yet, to help me demonstrate that it's okay to be "in process". Be brave, or as Miss Frizzle says, "get messy and make mistakes".

It was also wonderful to connect with some friends that I haven't seen in a while. When did so many of my colleagues and acquaintances become principals?

UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Alliance - Joint Meeting Between the North American / European Chapter and the Latin American Chapter

On Friday, June 7, I was part of a meeting with two groups from UNESCO. I am Canada's representative for the North America and Europe Chapter of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Alliance. On Friday, our chair, Anna B-Kos, arranged for a joint meeting with the group from Latin America. Based on my observations, I was the only one with K-12 teaching, as many of the members are academics from universities, journalists, or run NGOs. Trust me, I experience a great deal of "imposter's syndrome" but my AML colleagues and contacts from the Canadian media literacy scene (Neil, Carol, Carolyn) do such a good job of lifting me up and reminding me that with my unique background in education, I actually contribute important things to the discussion that might not occur otherwise. There was representation from Mexico, Portugal, Peru, Jamaica, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, USA, Poland, Sweden, Estonia, Greece, and Canada. 

Ontario Heritage Fair Association Provincial Heritage Fair Celebration

On Saturday, June 8, I was one of two supervisors from the Toronto District School Board to escort our regional winners to this joyful event. There were students from many boards across Ontario, such as Thames Valley District School Board, Simcoe County District School Board, the District School Board of Niagara, and TDSB. (I'm the one in the library cap at the far back on the right side.) I'm allowed to share this photo because everyone signed media release forms. I did this in 2016 and was grateful to have another opportunity like this. 

Students met at Black Creek Pioneer Village and participated in a Great Canadian Bake-Off as well as a scavenger hunt in the 19th century village. I am really impressed with how Black Creek Pioneer Village is working hard to ensure multiple perspectives of the era are shared. For instance, the recipe was a partial one that the students had to, in mixed school groups, attempt to figure out, and the recipe was from the first black woman to produce a cookbook in Ontario. The "interpreters" (which is what they call the staff who are in period costume and explain things based on the building they host on-site) come from a wider range of identities and abilities.

Lunch was catered and we ended the day with two mini-workshops, by Rabia Khokhar and Natasha Henry (from the Ontario Black History Society). 

I was proud and delighted to keep an eye out for six students from my school (Agnes Macphail PS) as well as two from another TDSB school (Duke of Connaught PS). Here's a quickly snapped photo of "my Duke kids" talking to "my Macphail kids". (Thank you Kevin, William, Liyah, Tina, Ruby, and Ella, as well as Isla and Luna!)

My colleague Mabel had an even larger number from her school, Churchill Heights PS. It was very nice to meet Kirby, a retired principal from TVDSB, and to chat with many of the students who attended the celebration. They are all passionate historians, some of whom I think were slightly disappointed that they didn't get to present their projects one more time.

I described to my husband how I assumed the role of official greeter at the start of the day, welcoming students to Black Creek and striking up conversations with the parents and other supervisors. I asked him if it's because I'm too bossy. He said that I just like helping to maintain order and stepping in where I see a need. That is also a part of servant leadership. The job is not for personal glory but for serving others for the greater good. 

Leadership can look and feel like many different things. It's not a requirement to have a title. My leadership duties this coming week will involve serving pizza, making sandwiches, and setting up spaces, in addition to a couple of little speeches. Support your official and unofficial leaders and consider how you lead in your own "side-ways".