From Classroom to Office: Preparing Teachers to Step into Leadership
Every great Lutheran school leader started somewhere… and most started in a classroom. They were the teachers who stayed late organizing an event, who encouraged a colleague through a tough week, or who saw potential in a student that others overlooked. Leadership doesn’t always begin with a title. It starts with influence.
1. Recognize When Leadership is Calling
Sometimes, others see it before you do. Maybe your principal trusts you to lead a committee, or fellow teachers come to you for advice. These small moments are clues that leadership potential is already in motion.
If you find joy in helping others grow, solving school-wide challenges, or thinking about the big picture of education, it might be time to start preparing for the next step.
2. Build Skills Beyond the Classroom
Strong administrators never stop learning. Begin with what you already do well—organization, communication, creativity—and look for ways to expand those strengths.
Consider shadowing your principal for a day, attending a leadership-focused workshop, or volunteering to lead a small initiative, such as curriculum mapping or a parent outreach project. Real leadership growth happens through experience, not just titles.
3. Find (and Be) a Mentor
Leadership isn’t a solo journey. Seek out someone who models the kind of servant leadership you admire—someone who listens first, leads with integrity, and keeps Christ-centered education at the heart of every decision.
Then, pay it forward. Mentor another teacher in return. When leadership is passed along through relationships, the entire school ministry becomes stronger.
Bottom line:
Leadership in Lutheran education isn’t reserved for a select few; it’s a natural next step for those who love their students, value their colleagues, and want to make a broader impact. If that sounds like you, start saying yes to small opportunities. The classroom may be where you begin, but the office could be where you help shape the future of Lutheran schools.