Leading Out LoudTransparency in Building Trust & Community

David BrittenLieutenant Colonel, US Army, Retired

Superintendent of Schools

http://tinyurl.com/colonelb-lol13

Me in two slides…

• Grew up in the G-L district & attended both Catholic and public schools

• GVSU and WMU• Married with one son• Taught HS math at Muskegon Catholic Central• 22-year Army career (retired from active duty)• 17 years as a public school administrator

– 4/5/6 elementary school principal– Middle school principal– Middle & high school principal– Superintendent

WTF!

Surely you jest!

Inspired Leadership

“Leading is not just a matter of knowing what to do — that is the job of the strategist— it is a matter of knowing and communicating why we are doing it.

“What is absent in today's brand of leadership is not information, change, or knowledge — it is inspiration. Inspiration gives knowledge an application and change its meaning.

“We long for leadership because we are rarely inspired, and we miss it terribly.”

 __Terry Pearce

All communications were real-time and transparent throughout

the entire planning and implementation process.

HTTP://PORTICAL.ORG/PDFS/SOCIAL_MEDIA_HANDBOOK_TICAL.PDF

http://edupln.ning.com/

http://connectedsuperintendent.wordpress.com/

http://www.protopage.com/ltcdavid

Get Connected

• Got to Twitter.com and signup• Start by following up to 5 people (@)• Watch the professional conversations (#)• Participate in an educational Twitter chat (#)• Follow 25 others• Put it on the table by telling others

Follow Superintendents

• @pammoran — Pam Moran/Virginia• @cdsmeaton — Christopher Smeaton/Canada• @colonelb — David Britten/Michigan• @scottrrocco — Scott Rocco/New Jersey• @mcpssuper — Joshua Starr/Maryland• @ewilliams65 – Eric Williams/Virginia• @DrPaskewicz – Mike Paskewicz/Michigan• @tebotweets – Dave Tebo/Michigan

Follow Principals

• @NMHS_Principal – Eric Sheninger, New Jersey

• @lynhilt – Lyn Hilt, Pennsylvania• @GeorgeCouros – George Couros, Canada• @DeronDurflinger – Deron Durflinger, Iowa• @Principal_EL – Salome Thomas-EL, Delaware• @chrislehmann – Chris Lehmann, Philadelphia

Follow Other Educators

• @literacygurl – Kathryn Coffey, EMU• (http://literacygurl.blogspot.com/)• @delta_dc – David Coffey, GVSU Math Prof• @ronhoutman – Ron Houtman, KISD• @irasocol – Ira Socol, Virginia & Michigan• @bkayser11 – Brian Kayser, Virginia teacher• @mrlosik – Andy Losik, Fennville, Michigan• @dprindle – David Prindle, Byron Center, Michigan

Lists by discipline: http://cybraryman.com/plnstars.html

Follow Groups

• Professional education associations• Public school advocacy groups• Local media• City/township government• State government• Elected officials• Professional journals

Twitter Professional Chats

• #edchat – Tuesdays, 12-1 and 7-8 pm EST• #satchat – Saturdays, 7:30-8:30 and 10:30-

11:30 am EST• #miched – Wednesdays, 8-9 pm EST• #edleaders – Tuesdays, 6-7 pm EST• #21stadmin – Mondays, 9-10 pm EST

Engaging with Social Media

Transparently engaging district stakeholders (students, teachers, families, taxpayers, board members, educators around the world) in topics and discussions relevant to what is happening in, or affecting, the district in a timely fashion.

Issues & Recognition

• Tackling issues head on when they arise, informing taxpayers about what mandates are using local taxpayer efforts, or enhancing organizational focus and priorities

• Recognizing the efforts of teachers, parents, students, community members, board members and administrators

Branding

No longer are school and district leaders waiting for the local newspaper to tell their story. By harnessing social media, the overall vision, accomplishments and feedback loop is being shared transparently on a daily basis.

Leading by Example

Role modeling digital citizenship and social media netiquette for students, parents, teachers and other administrators.

Network with Me

• dbritten@godfrey-lee.org• www.twitter.com/colonelb• www.facebook.com/ltcdavid• Blogs– Superintendent’s Notes

http://rebel6.wordpress.com/– Rebel 6 Ramblings http://rebel6.blogspot.com/