Quotes from UPAL Students (Cohort V): Learning Creativity and School Leadership

It isn’t always easy for teachers and staff to buy-into the vision and goals of the principal; instead, staff should engage with the process and help create the mission to foster the connectedness and ownership of the school’s vision.  .

~ Lisa

I have learned creativity is necessary as a principal.  As leaders we need to allow our teachers to express their creativity in their teaching.  Giving the teachers flexibility with their lessons and the style of delivery is essential and most important in our schools!

~ Erin

I would like principals to understand that Student Creativity is a skill that is important to build upon in order to meet the whole child and not just the academic side…

Allowing the opportunity to integrate creativity into academics is something every educational leader should keep in mind. Not only is it critically important to foster the creative process in our students, but also in our teachers.

~ Julie

School Leaders should embrace the concept of creativity in every aspect of their leadership role… If you can DREAM it, ENVISION it, INNOVATE it, you can GROW from it.

~ Loren 

Student creativity requires time and in many instances, a hands-off approach from adults.  To foster creativity, the teacher needs to function as a co-learner, intervening when a sense of frustration surfaces.  Ask many questions and try to guide students to a solution as opposed to providing the solution.  This process and experience creates ownership and a feeling of satisfaction

~ Ellen

Creativity within classroom and within the entire school environment is a way of thinking. School leaders should encompass this way of thinking when they approach their work, when they evaluate others’ work, and when they assess student achievement…We as principals need to push ourselves to operate within this process, push our staff to learn in this process, and empower our students to grow in this process.  

~ Andrea

We have a lot of work to do as a society to “get back to our roots”, and I think it is about getting “back to humanity” and away from “making the grade”. I believe in design thinking rather than telling a child how to think. I believe in the power of our individual talents and how they can contribute to the overall wellness of our society. Let’s create a society that allows us all to strengthen who we are.

~ Liz

As an administrator, former arts-based teacher, and an artist myself, I find the “oops” opportunities to be the places where I get to exercise my creativity the most. This is true when I accidentally smudge a drawing and have to extend my idea to incorporate the smudge. And it is also true when I discover an “oops” in my work as principal and I have to be creative to contemplate the what if’s of possible avenues forward.

~ Alison

A servant leader employs grace. By doing so, the opportunity for others creativity is able to seep through. There are so many unknown variables that are at play when serving as a leader. With that, having a gracious approach makes that work both attainable and sustainable.

~ Nisaini

Students need to be able to express their feelings and thinking through art. May values, personal beliefs and struggles, aspirations can be revealed through art.

~ Tatiana

Creativity, when fostered, nourished, and developed within our schools, produces innovative and motivated citizens.

~ Bobby

School principals can themselves be creative and use those creative talents to build and maintain positive school climate and culture.  Principals have more power and ability then they sometimes perceive.

~ Jenn