TAKE US TO YOUR LEADER

This Webquest is designed to guide teachers through choosing what they believe are the qualities of a good leader and looking for these qualities in people.

Introduction:

The previous superintendent of your district did a terrible job, causing unrest and unhappy teachers. He was well known for making poor decisions like raising the maximum class size to 45 students and using taxpayers money to buy expensive Cuban cigars. Fortunately, he was caught and fired. It is now time to hire a new superintendent.

Task:

Your team has been selected to screen the hiring process for a new superintendent for your district. You are looking for a true leader for the new age.

You will need to use Internet sites to figure out what qualities you are looking for in your future leader and research the four brave applicants. As a team you will need to select one of the four and recommend him or her for the job.

Please click on Process to find the specifics of your assignment.

Process:

1. As a team, explore the web sites under the heading Leadership Qualities in the Resources section. These will include lists of good qualities for an effective leader to possess. Feel free to also use any leadership books that you have with you and your notes from class.

2. Together make a list of the 6 qualities that your team feels are the most important qualities for a good leader to demonstrate.

3. Go to the Applicants section in the Resources section. Each team member must choose a different applicant and use the links to read about him or her.

4. Using your list of the 6 important qualities of a good leader, write a short speech to present to your team explaining why your applicant should or should not be hired to be your new superintendent.

5. Each team member will then read their speech to their group.

6. The team should now vote on which of the four applicants you wish to recommend for hiring.

*7. OPTIONAL: Each team put together one speech to read to the class to recommend their chosen applicant. After hearing all of the recommendations, the class will vote on who to hire.

Resources:

Leadership Qualities:

Education World - 15 Leadership Qualities

WeLead Online Magazine - 8 Traits of Effective Leadership and Leadership Self-Discovery

LeaderValues - Five Essential Qualities of Leadership

Innovative Leadership - Effective Leadership: A Very Old Formula

National School Boards Association - Leadership Qualities

Click here to return to the Process.

Click here to see the Applicants.

Applicants:

Bill Gates

Oprah Winfey

Oprah's Leadership Academy

The Time 100

George Bush

Biography

Time Person of the Year

Harvard Business School

Principal Skinner

Seymore Skinner File

The Simpson's Bios

Skinner Quotes

Evaluation:

Click here to look a the marking criteria for this project.

Conclusion:

Now that you have chosen a leader for your district, you should be feeling very good about yourselves. Keep working on your Master's degree and who knows, maybe you will be the next superintendent?