In chapter 25 the Wong’s discuss the difference between teacher-workers and teacher-leaders. Obviously, I want to be a teacher-leader. However, I can see how easily it would be to fall into the teacher-worker category. Much is expected of teachers with little tangible reward (pay), which can be tasking and eventually lead to burnout. I’ve seen both leaders and workers at my internship. The workers are the first ones out of the building everyday. They are the ones sitting at their desks all class period. They are the ones who are late or absent from meetings. And they are the ones who only care about themselves and their classrooms, unwilling to collaborate or go the extra mile if it means helping others out. The leaders on the other hand, are the ones who are involved in school activities, who are present and participatory at meetings, and who bounce ideas off of others to better themselves and their instruction. To me, it seems like leaders understand that the as teachers, we share a responsibility to help the school run smoothly and efficiently as possible while providing students the best possible education we can.
