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ERIC Number: EJ1193098
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-May
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0164-775X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Lessons from the Disney Approach to Leadership
Guiney, Meaghan C.
Communique, v42 n7 p1, 28-29 May 2014
While attending the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) 2013 Annual Convention in Seattle, Meaghan Guiney was struck by Richard Gerver's keynote address, during which he discussed his experience of becoming the principal of a troubled school in the United Kingdom. He described a realization that if schools could somehow become more like Disney theme parks, students would endure the "tough stuff" because they wanted to be there so badly. A few months later, Guiney attended a training session on leadership presented by the Disney Institute. In this article, Guiney shares what she learned about Disney's model of leadership and how school psychologists can incorporate Disney's model into their position as school leaders. While Disney's leadership model cannot be quickly and easily applied to school improvement, school psychologists can implement the key lessons learned by Guiney: (1) If schools do not make students #3, they will not feel like #1; (2) Overmanage, do not micromanage; (3) Common sense is not always common practice; (4) Adapt, do not adopt; and (5) Stay focused on the future. Despite tight budgets, unfunded mandates, and challenging students, school psychologists can help their schools adapt (rather than adopt) some aspects of the Disney leadership philosophy. In some cases this may be as basic as incorporating more of the NASP Practice Model into a school psychologist's role and daily practice.
National Association of School Psychologists. 4340 East West Highway Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 301-657-0270; Fax: 301-657-0275; e-mail: publications@naspweb.org; Web site: http://www.nasponline.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Counselors
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A