2. Five Ways Teachers Can Be Leaders On and Off Campus
• Join a Community Board
• Be a Guest Lecturer
• Be a Mentor or a Tutor
• Volunteer to Serve on Committees Within the University
• Continue Education
9. References
Dawson, S., & Freed, P. (2008). Nurse leadership: making the most of community
service. Journal of Continuing Education In Nursing, 39(6), 268-273.
doi:10.3928/00220124-20080601-05
Hays, J. (2008). Teacher as servant applications of Greenleaf's servant leadership in
higher education. Journal of Global Business Issues, 2(1), 113-134.
Simplicio, J. (2011). The committee and its role within the university. Education,
132(2), 332-335.
Maitland, I. (2008). Where do I belong? Creation of a community of practice by
participation in tutor-mentoring pre-undergraduate students. International Journal
of Learning, 14(10), 162-168
McKee, C., Johnson, M., Ritchie, W. F., & Tew, W. (2013). Professional development
of the faculty: Past and present. New Directions for Teaching & Learning,
2013(133), 15-20. doi:10.1002/tl.20042
Editor's Notes
This is a presentation on five ways university instructors can be leaders on and off campus.
We will discuss joining a community board, being a guest lecturer, serving as a mentor, tutor, committee member and continuing education.
Join a Community Board
All professionals have a need to give back to society and joining a community board is one-way university educators can provide feedback as well as learn from peers serving for a common cause (Dawson & Freed, 2008). These can be non-profit, community-based or education boards such as the United Way, K-12 advisory boards, or other charitable organizations. Additional benefits include networking, friendship, emotionally stimulating feeling of helping others, and resume credentials as a community leader.
Additional benefits include networking, friendship, emotionally stimulating feeling of helping others, and resume credentials as a community leader.
Guest Lecturer
Servant leadership is promoted in education and as a teacher or specialized educator, one may become a guest lecturer for support groups, conferences or local civic organizations (Hays, 2008). As a guest lecturer, teachers can share experience and expertise on topics, which may help decision-makers learn more information about specific community issues or provide a new idea for entrepreneurship, example. Sharing time with community leaders is essential to a university as they want community support and by sharing one’s time, the educator can help provide this service to both the university and community leaders.
Serving as a Mentor or Tutor
Another great way to assist students towards reaching goals is serving as a mentor or tutor for students. Maitland (2008) states instructors can gain a better understanding of how students learn, which they can take back into their own class preparations. In addition, instructors who mentor help struggling students reach goals, which is rewarding for both parties.
University Committees
Each university has general boards and committees that academic employees are encouraged to serve on through membership. Simplicio (2011) states many instructors avoid participation on committees due to the time commitment involved in being a member. In addition, many of the committees are seen as inefficient (Simplicio, 2011). One can understand the committees are supposed to benefit the university as a whole and membership also has its privileges. For example, one may meet additional staff, network, and actually solve problems facing the instructor’s students or department (Simplicio, 2011). Instructors can have the satisfaction of making a difference, although sometimes it may be a small one, but the contribution and experience of working in collaboration with peers can also boost one’s resume and assist the instructor going forward in their career.
Continuing Education
Continuing education for university faculty is a widely accepted practice amongst most universities. Continuing education for additional certifications, degrees or experiences through staff and faculty seminars are ways instructors can grow personally and professionally and enhance their lives (McKee, Johnson, Ritchie, et. al, 2013). The ideas driven from these experiences may promote collaborate, entrepreneurship and new ways of providing quality education to students. Another way to enhance one’s education is by attending conferences in one’s field of teaching.
Continuing Education
Continuing education for university faculty is a widely accepted practice amongst most universities. Continuing education for additional certifications, degrees or experiences through staff and faculty seminars are ways instructors can grow personally and professionally and enhance their lives (McKee, Johnson, Ritchie, et. al, 2013). The ideas driven from these experiences may promote collaborate, entrepreneurship and new ways of providing quality education to students. Another way to enhance one’s education is by attending conferences in one’s field of teaching.
