Project LEAD IT was founded in the fall of 2000 in Berkeley, California. The organization came out of a critical and reflective analysis of what lies at the core of classroom teaching and education in general. Drawing on experience as a classroom teacher, an outdoor educator, and a ropes course and team-building facilitator, the founder of Project LEAD IT looked to find a common denominator that leads to success across these seemingly divergent activities. The objective being to find a way to conceptualize teaching and teachers that strengthens the profession and, more importantly, empowers teachers with skills that ultimately support students and their educational growth.

The outcome of this process was a realization that at its core teaching is a leadership endeavor. We are asking teachers to deliver us students who have reached a particular goal, be it moral, social-emotional, or academic. This is the inherent responsibility of being a teacher; there is no option to do otherwise. For group members to achieve a goal, the group must work to support that achievement. For the group to support that achievement effectively, it must be well led. Ultimately, this task lies on the shoulders of the teacher. Given this responsibility, teaching must be reconceptualized as a leadership position with explicit focus being put on how we develop and enrich the leadership of teachers as it relates to the rigors of everyday teaching and to the development of students in the social grouping of our schools.

This conceptualization of teaching is the foundation for Project LEAD IT's guiding principles:

• Explicitly define teaching/educating as a leadership endeavor.
• Focus leadership development on the actual activities, roles, and tasks performed by teachers within the realm of the classroom.
• Conduct outreach and training programs to foster the development of leadership in teachers/educators.
• Encourage leadership development as a core value in training new teachers.

Founder/Director: Justin Pollock holds a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Teacher Education from Stanford University. A former middle school math and science teacher, he has taught courses in experiential education at the University of California, Berkeley and consults with educational and other non-profits on issues of trainging and development, leadership, and strategic planning. He has been involved in outdoor and experiential education for over 15 years, working as a guide, instructor, and instructor trainer. Over the course of 6 years as a team-building, ropes course, and leadership facilitator, he has worked with youth, adult, and corporate clients. Justin is also actively involved with the development and implementation of training programs for facilitators and experiential educators. Project LEAD IT is a direct result of the attempt to identify the commonality of these educational roles and the underlying keys to success in each. The result is leadership as defined and examined by Project LEAD IT's programs.

POSTAL MAIL:
Project LEAD IT
4307 Albemarle St. NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 487-0414


EMAIL:
info@projectleadit.org