Leadership. Culture. Learner Empowerment.

CHAPTER 10. Activate Your Renegade Leadership

Flipped Book Study: Watch before reading to enhance your learning.

Audio Outtakes: Supercharge your book study with these shareable chapter-by-chapter audio clips with colorful commentary. Connect with Brad to schedule him to join your book study or university class "live" on Skype, GHO, or Voxer.

Water Cooler Questions:

1. Which of the subtle shifts can we be more purposeful in changing?

2. How might we enhance hiring results by subtly changing the questions we ask?

3. What traditional best practice could we apply innovation to in order to achieve amplified learning?

Additional Listening/Viewing:

• Steve Harvey Inspirational Video (Leap of Faith): This is a true call to action. Perhaps my favorite two minute video of all time. 

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• Schools that Work for Kids: A compelling look at what "real learning" looks like to kids, and why schools need to change to be more responsive.

Additional Blog Posts:

• My Incredible Educator Journey (2014) by Jay Posick

A powerful reminder of the importance of mentoring.

• The Future Starts Today (2016) by Ben Gilpin

Whether we recognize it or not, a dramatic shift has already begun in education. School leadership is required to ensure the change is student-centered and sustainable.

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• The Rush (2015) by Dr. Brad Gustafson 

Before we rush to implement change we must take a critical look at pedagogy. 

Additional Books:

• Hacking Leadership (2016) by Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis

• What Connected Educators Do Differently (2015) by Todd Whitaker, Jeffrey Zoul, and Jimmy Casas

Double-Down Challenge:

Personalize your learning by selecting from mini-challenges at the conclusion of each chapter. Most chapters offer at least two different options to personalize your learning. Choose the mini-challenge that you would like to 'double-down' on, and then click HERE to track your progress on the Worlds of Learning digital badging platform.

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• Challenge 10.1: Mentor and Amplify

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Meet with a student teacher or group of university students. Take time to talk pedagogy and technology, and then provide them the opportunity to take initiative on a larger-scale project that pushes their thinking.

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• Challenge 10.2: Practice Fearless Learning

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As yourself, "What are my people counting on me to learn?" Connect with constituents and let them tell you! Attend an EdCamp or participate in Twitter-based PD. Finally, revisit the Renegade Leadership Scale (from chapter 1) to reflect on your next steps. Share how you practiced fearless learning via the #RenLead hashtag on Twitter.

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• Challenge 10.3: All-Star Caliber Support

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Be more intentional about the induction process. Start by creating a video or press release, and continue by making personal phone calls to the families of new staff. Add your own meaningful supports to the process and share out your efforts in a blog post or via the #RenLead hashtag on Twitter

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• Challenge 10.4: Talk About It

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Identify the "10 Percent" type conversations you need to have this school year. The bulk of these conversations will likely be about building upon best practice through pedagogy, or applying innovation. However, one or two will probably involve courageous conversations that address behaviors or habits that have formed over time. Reach out to a trusted colleague and commit to following up on these conversations.

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• Challenge 10.5: Learning Questions

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Transform one (or more) of the interview questions you are currently asking from a "leading" question to a "learning" question. Share the before/after in a blog post or Tweet using the #RenLead hashtag.

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• Challenge 10.6: Focus on Pedagogy

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Write down the tenets from the Renegade CODE in a prominent place in your office or classroom. (You could reproduce Figure 3.1 if that is easier.) Tweet a picture of the CODE near your workstation to the #RenLead hashtag on Twitter.