Crafting Your School's "Gettysburg Address"
It may be the best historical example of a mission statement: President Lincoln'sGettysburg Address. It's clear and concise, the rationale is tightly aligned with the vision, and it even conveys the humble leadership qualities of its orator.
With the Union beginning to take the lead, Lincoln used the Gettysburg Address to mark a corner turned in the Civil War, and to energize the constituency upon whom enduring victory depended.
As a precursor to this historic speech, authors Harvey Alvy and Pam Robbins say Lincoln was immersed in an array of leadership practices relevant and useful for today's school leaders: self-reflection, getting in the trenches, and seeking out opposing perspecitves.
In Learning from Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success, Alvy and