Shifting Leadership Approaches to Establish a Culture of Shared Leadership

Shane Knight • Cahn Fellow 2020

In an effort of being Servant Leaders, school leaders work tirelessly to support teachers and students in their schools. Sometimes, in their effort to support those they lead, they go too far resulting in the loss of a collective shared responsibility for the programs, initiatives, and day-to-day tasks of the school community. At Knapp Elementary in Denver, CO the school leaders have developed a strong, trusting relationship with the staff they serve. This has developed a positive professional culture that has resulted in some unintended detrimental consequences, primarily that the community of teachers quickly defer to and rely on the Principal and Assistant Principal to lead nearly all initiatives, respond to virtually all issues, and be responsible for most day-to-day non-instructional tasks. Knapp’s leadership team examines how they can effectively shift their leadership practices to develop a stronger culture of shared responsibility within the school.