In a previous newsletter, I highlighted the problems I saw developing with the concept of "learner-centered leadership." In a nutshell, the problem is being too focused on the learning ecosystem and not paying attention to other ecosystems that school leaders must "live" in.
The graphic above shows the relationship between the three important ecosystems school leaders must consider.
Notice that all three ecosystems are important, and leaders must spend time in all three. Keep in mind that a leader must always have at least one foot in the middle, at the intersection of all three ecosystems. The purpose is to stay balanced and aware of all ecosystems, even if you are concentrating time and effort on one specific ecosystem for a time period.
School leaders' time and energy are constantly flowing from one ecosystem to the next. It is important to stay balanced. Never forget that there are multiple ecosystems with competing (often contradictory) goals.
By balancing your attention in the middle, you can work in one specific ecosystem while staying aware of the other ecosystems.