Maria Patterson

Maria Patterson, principal of Hollinger Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona, talks about being a "leader of leaders." Excerpted from video footage developed for NCREL's Urban School Leadership case studies.

"The teachers here are really leaders. They truly believe that I am their leader, but all I do is basically give them the opportunity to show their leadership, but you have really let go of it. You have to as an administrator feel comfortable about releasing that kind of authority, and you still stay on top of it, you're still a part of the principal's role, you're still part of the leader, but they share that with you, and I think that's makes them happen to be standing in conferences, they have taken that risk. And if we want children to take risks, and that's what I want my children to take here-lots of risks-then I have to let the faculty take risks as well."

This Critical Issue summary was researched and written by Kent Peterson, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Date posted: 1995