Mandy Ellis - Lead with Literacy: A Pirate Leaders Guide to Developing a Culture of Readers

The life of an educational leader can be a lonely road. Your task list has multiplied, yet time seems to have diminished. It is essential that you have a strong network of support to celebrate the great things happeningas well as get you through those rough moments.

We wrote Lead Like a PIRATE to do just that. We wanted to help support educators by sharing our stories and strategies. We wanted to be sure that no one felt as if she/he were alone. Our goal has been to set up systems of support through our PLN to empower leaders to take risks to ensure that school is an amazing place for students and staff.

Since our books release, it has been inspiring to watch our #LeadLAP crew grow. The examples and stories shared daily on our hashtag are encouraging beyond belief. We came to realize that we are surrounded by greatnessand that greatness needed a voice.

One evening after our book was published, we started brainstorming how we could continue to support leaders in a way that wasnt the norm. One thing we discussed was that leaders sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of information available and the speed at which it comes at them. We asked, How might we offer bite-size expertise for leaders that would have huge impact on schools? Our answer was the Lead Like a PIRATE Guides.

When we wrote Lead Like a PIRATE, one of things we wanted to convey is our firm belief that PIRATE leaders are never satisfiedthey relentlessly search for new and better ways to make school amazing for students, staff, parents, and communities. They lead with passion and a palpable enthusiasm that radiates within the walls and around the campus. Mandy Ellis is this type of leader, and Dunlap Grade School (DGS) benefits greatly because she brings her passion for reading and literacy to work with her Every. Single. Day.

As educators, we all understand the need to implement high-quality literacy programs in our schools, and we all support literacy in a variety of ways. Mandy takes her role as a leader of literacy to the next level as she works diligently to infuse reading into every aspect of her schools culture. From the moment you walk through the doors of DGS, and as you move through the halls, into the cafeteria, onto the playground, stop into the classrooms, or visit a staff meeting, the message is clear: Reading is treasured here.

In her Lead Like a PIRATE Guide, Lead with Literacy, Mandy pushes open the doors of her school and walks you through the steps she has taken to make literacy come alive. From the bathtub of books to the #BookShelfie Station and a dog named Teddy, Mandy shares many impactful, yet easy-to-implement, ways to make reading a priority in your school, many of which you can start next week! In true PIRATE fashion, Mandys sense of purpose, passion, and priorities has created a ripple effect in her school and community. With a little effort, some creativity, a lot of energy, and a ton of enthusiasm, Mandy has transformed her school into an amazing place. We are honored to have her as part of our crew and thrilled to bring you her Lead Like a PIRATE Guide:Lead with Literacy.