Administrative Leadership

Hello my name is Thomas Flores and I am a 2nd grade teacher.

I have briefly read over the master plan and I am very impressed with the vision.   Some of these countries greatest achievements started with a clear and goal orientated vision.  Our countries history is full of visionary leaders who have accomplished great things.  These visionaries have and have had awesome leadership abilities.  They took risks, they fed into the heart of the masses, they were great thinkers and listeners, and they were individuals who tapped into the intelligence of others.  
Unfortunately, many (not all) administrative principals or site leaders, who oversee the everyday functions of an educational institution, are not visionaries.  They walk in a world only known to themselves without ever acknowledging those who are the true leaders at their site.  I believe that in order to reach this Master Plan vision of accessibility and achievement for all it is going to have to start with governance.  A shared governance in which every breathing individual that is part of a given educational institution, is involved with the decision making.   Each person and their experiences are valued and each person feels safe to share what they know.  A safe environment is essential to the success of all students; and to create such an environment we need effective leaders.  Without effective leaders at every educational institution in California, this vision will never be seen.  
Teachers need to feel good about themselves and good about what they do.  This is the job of the site administrators.  It all starts with one person.  If the leadership is not in place then we have already failed our children