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Abstract
Leading with a servant philosophy of leadership cultivates a transformative educational
environment where leaders prioritize the needs of others above their own, creating a culture of
collaboration, inclusivity, and growth among students, educators, and the community. Jesus
cultivated a community where people were encouraged to take care of others regardless of social
standing or background. Educational leaders can transform schools into places of belonging that
celebrate diversity, cooperation, and mutual support by simply being ready to serve those they
lead. Crippen (2010) believes that servant leadership will enable pre-service teachers to become
“effective, caring, and moral leaders”. I agree with Crippen. When educators have a spirit to
serve others with no intention of gain, something wonderful happens, it becomes contagious. If
educators, administrators, and students alike embraced a servant attitude, focusing on meeting
the needs of others, everyone’s needs would be met.
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Jesus took the form of man and left Heaven to come to Earth to save man from himself.
This is the ultimate act of service. Even though he was God, he washed the feet of men. I pray to
develop the same humility of Jesus. As I invite the Holy Spirit into my daily habits and work, I
think about how Jesus' ministry was centered around serving others. This is why I strive to
embrace a servant leadership style inside and outside the classroom. Philippians 2:3-8 says
[3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more
significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but
also to the interests of others. [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in
Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born
in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2, n.d.)
Leading with a servant philosophy of leadership cultivates a transformative educational
environment where leaders prioritize the needs of others above their own, creating a culture of
collaboration and growth among students, educators, and the community.
Philosophy of Education Leadership
“Servant leaders operate with this standard motto: Serve first and lead second.”
(Principal’s Playbook - Knowing Your Leadership Type, n.d.). This simple sentence struck me.
Every job I have ever had has been in service to others. I had not realized this fact until now. I
believe in serving others, in modeling the way, in listening and supporting, and creating genuine
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relationships with others. I was drawn to my district because of two mottos they believe in. First,
Special.Different.Better. Second, Be Somebody. I love the beginning of the first part of that
motto, special and different. I do not identify with the better portion of the motto because I think
we can all be better together. The second motto, Be Somebody, comes from Coach Friday.
Coach Friday was revered not only at the school, but in the community for his work with the
young, black men on his football team. He emphasized “Be Somebody” in everything they did,
not just on the field. This idea permeated the Marietta City Schools district well after his passing.
I can’t help but think how much better we all would be if we had a Coach Friday to invest in us
and serve alongside us now. It is easy to get distracted by the new theories and models and
standards. But when we look at men like Coach Friday, we see the long-lasting impact two small
words have had on an entire community. It is my intention to serve my community in a way that
honors God. A way that is uplifting, supportive, and encouraging.
Leadership Practice
Leadership is the act of one person leading many. The image comes to mind of a
shepherd. Jesus leads us as a shepherd leads his flock. But Jesus was also in service to others.
Kouzes and Posner (2023) identified five practices of effective leaders: model the way, inspire a
shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart. Jesus engaged
in all of the practices. Jesus’ ministry changed the world, and I believe a leadership style
modeled after Jesus is what makes servant leadership so effective in every organization. Students
and teachers alike are watching us to see if we engage in these five practices. Servant leaders
understand that actions speak louder than words. We are modeling appropriate behaviors for
students, teachers, administrators, and the community. By modeling the behaviors, we expect we
set a powerful example for those we work with and lead. As a servant leader I also try to be
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authentic and genuine in all of my interactions. This builds trust with everyone I lead as well as
builds a culture of honesty and transparency within the building.
Inspiring a shared vision is critical to teamwork with a school building because it aligns
collective efforts towards a common purpose or goal that benefits the entire group rather than a
few individuals. Input and perspectives from all stakeholders are taken into account when
crafting a vision. Servant leaders create a culture where others feel comfortable sharing their
ideas, passions and motivations. This creates a sense of purpose and meaning that drives students
and teachers alike. Having purpose and meaning is something everyone desires in their life.
When we openly and actively promote the passions and motivations of those within our
organization teachers feel valued. “When educators feel valued, it can increase job satisfaction,
better morale, a more positive school culture, and higher retention rates” (Thompson, 2023). The
result of this is less teacher turnover, and better relationships within the school building as well
as the community.
As a servant leader I am focused on the long-term impacts of my work. I desire to create
a legacy of sustainable change that leaves a positive impact on the school and the community. To
create a positive legacy, I will have to challenge the processes in place by questioning
assumptions, seeking innovation, and fostering collaboration. By creating an environment where
others feel comfortable questioning assumptions, we are better able to collaboratively get to the
heart of what is working and what is not. I value the ideas and perspectives of others which
reinforces relationships and drives innovation.
Relationships
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Enabling others to act and encouraging the heart are the relationship components of both
the five practices of leadership as identified by Kouzes and Posner (2023) but are also of service
as a leadership style and philosophy. The relationship piece of the puzzle is what indicated to me
that servant leadership is my natural leadership style. I am a “people person”. I love others and
have a passion to help. So many mentors have taken the time to pour into me, to help me develop
intellectually and emotionally. These are the leaders that changed my life in a real and tangible
way. These are the leaders I would stay late for, come in early for, go the extra mile for without
being asked. That is the culture I want to build not only in a PLC meeting but in the classroom,
on the pool deck when I’m coaching, and in the community. I want to love others the way Jesus
loved. By serving others, I get closer to that every day.
Enabling others to act enables them to reach their full potential and contribute effectively
to the group. Servant leaders believe in the abilities of those they lead and provide the support
and scaffolding they need to grow and succeed. My favorite aspect of the five practices is
encouraging the heart. Kouzes and Posner (2023) identify two things’ leaders do to encourage
the heart, recognizing contributions and celebrating values and victories by creating a spirit of
community. Many behavioral management systems like PBIS use this philosophy to shape
student behavior with the idea that positive attention and praise is more powerful than negative. I
have seen this over and over again in the classroom. When students receive a positive phone call
home, something changes. They begin to create relationships and accept corrections in a
different way. They begin to understand that correction is not meant to hurt, but to help and build
up. Proverbs 15:32 addresses this same idea: “Those who disregard discipline despise
themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” Creating opportunities for
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others to gain clarity and understanding contributes to their growth as well as contributes to the
team.
Diversity
Servant leaders recognize that every human was made in the image of God and is valued
and loved by the Heavenly Father. This includes language, culture, and ethnicity. Each
individual brings a unique and special gift to the table to offer. We try to actively understand
others and meet them where they are to entire equitable opportunities and participation. Servant
leaders focus on relationships and community building which cannot happen without diversity
and inclusion. I seek to learn from others and recognize that those different from have valuable
insights and knowledge.
Conclusion
Servant leadership embodies the five practices laid out in The Leadership Challenge
inspiring those we lead to embrace them further building a culture of collaboration, empathy, and
service. I am committed to leading by example and by serving those I have the privilege to lead
by helping them to develop their confidence and abilities and through actively listening. I aim to
create a culture of inclusivity and collaboration where everyone has a space to thrive and
contribute.
References
Crippen, C. (2010). Serve, teach, and lead: it’s all about relationships. InSight : A Journal of
Scholarly Teaching, 5, 27–36. https://doi.org/10.46504/05201002cr
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Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2023). The leadership challenge: How to Make Extraordinary
Things Happen in Organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
Marietta City Schools / homepage. (n.d.). https://www.marietta-city.org/
Owens, J. J. (1963). Book Review: Holman Study Bible. Review & Expositor, 60(4), 434–435.
https://doi.org/10.1177/003463736306000412
Principal’s playbook - Knowing your Leadership type. (n.d.).
https://www.theprincipalsplaybook.com/educational-leadership/knowing-your-
leadership-type
Thompson, J. G. &. C. (2023, August 29). Prioritizing teachers’ growth and passions: creating a
sustainable and engaged teaching team. Education Elements.
https://www.edelements.com/blog/prioritizing-teachers-growth-and-passions-creating-a-
sustainable-and-engaged-teaching-team
