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Educational Excellence

Educational Excellence and

Leadership: Committees,

Programs, and Projects!

Educational Excellence is all about promoting programs and projects for
excellence in education—and, in so doing, also supporting the personal well-being,
intellectual growth, and global awareness of women educators. Interestingly,
the latter focus not only encompasses involvement as a way to develop one’s
leadership but also incorporates ways that programs and projects can help in
achieving this goal!
Committees as a Leadership Opportunity

You’ve been asked to serve on a committee in your chapter. Is your first
thought to panic? Do you immediately feel you are not qualified? Is “no” the first
word that comes to mind? If any of these scenarios is “you,” you are not alone. You
look at your fellow members, especially seasoned members who serve your chapter
with ease, and say, “That’s not me.”
Let’s flip your scenario. Instead of saying “no,” look at work on a committee
as an opportunity to grow in leadership. Start at the chapter level. Start small. Join
a committee already established with experienced members. Follow their guidance
and learn what is expected. Your chapter will appreciate your efforts, and you will
grow as well. In this multi-faceted Society, you will now have more knowledge
and begin to realize the full range of opportunities offered to you as a member.
According to the Go-to-Guide for Chapter Members: Handbook of the Delta
Kappa Gamma Society International, “The chapter, the heart of the Society, needs
members who are ready, able, and willing to accept leadership roles. Supporting
and training members in leadership roles at the chapter level is vital to the overall
success of chapters and, ultimately, the Society.”
Once you have chapter-level experience under your belt, the state organization
is your next step. Once again, the support you need to grow as a leader is provided
through a variety of avenues. Your state organization offers leadership training
through conferences and at regularly scheduled state organization meetings.
These trainings are often targeted to specific roles and committees. For example,
members of the communications and marketing committee will be offered specific
guidance and a framework regarding what communications are their responsibility
and the best ways to fulfill their role. The same is true for the other committees at
the state organization level.
Interested in moving beyond the state organization level? Then committees
at the international level provide another possibility for growth as a leader. Each
region is represented on international committees, which allows for input across
the globe. Members of two committees—finance and nominations—are elected at
the international convention by the state organization presidents, while the other 13

Collegial Exchange · 55