Questions About Education and Leadership

¶ … shared vision allows for the fulfillment of common goals. Therefore, the first step in creating and maintaining a successful charter school will be to plan the vision with a common goals meeting and invite all stakeholders to the meeting in accordance with best practices ("Shared Vision and Common Goals," n.d.). The ELCC standard 1.1 clearly calls all educational leaders to "develop, articulate, implement, and steward a shared district vision of learning," (ELCC, 2011). This vision of learning is not limited to the confines of any one school or restricted to its building, its educators, and its students. Rather, a comprehensive vision is one that takes into account the entire community. Other schools in the community may play a role in the evolution of our school's vision. Community stakeholders including parents and curriculum leaders need to attend the meeting to provide their input and feedback.

It should not be assumed that all stakeholders have the same goals. However, stakeholders will share in common a desire for students to thrive. The specific definition of student thriving and the means by which to achieve student social, intellectual, and personal development are bound to be points of contention. We live in a diverse community and there will be a number of points upon which members and stakeholders disagree. Some of these points might be between the faith-based communities and the secular organizations that oppose them; whereas other points of contention may be related to funding and budgeting. When we are in the visionary and planning stage, we have the opportunity to share our concerns and considerations in a non-threatening way, with mutual respect guiding the decisions that are made. A process for developing a shared vision of learning depends on ongoing rules of engagement that are respectful and sustainable. Stakeholders should be systematically involved in ways such as regular email and updates that allow every participant to remain engaged and feel genuinely empowered and respected. Calling upon members of the community to directly offer their input will prevent the domination of the meeting(s) by primary organizations or persons in power, allowing for a more democratic and shared vision for the future.