“Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different .” —T.S. Eliot, The Sacred Wood (1920)

Do you consider borrowing something without permission the same as stealing?

Perhaps a more school-like question – Are master teachers akin to “good poets“?

Maybe so; maybe not. Like most questions of this nature, the details and circumstances matter.

When the context and facts involve schools and classrooms, sharing (of classroom strategies, lesson plans, projects and activities, problem sets, formative assessments, communication templates, etc.) is often how novice teachers are able to survive their first year, second year, and beyond. The same is probably true for new assistant principals. Perhaps, principals and superintendents have similar experiences as well.

This quote presents a progression of the professional competency and development of poets; presumably one that runs in parallel with personal maturity. Teachers (and the other roles mentioned) also have a progression of professional competency. The specifics for each individual likely vary; but those who remain in “copycat” mode are the slowest to develop. Individuals who take without giving remain stunted regarding their professional development. Educators who always look for shortcuts end up destined for a very long road indeed.

Plagiarism concerns aside for a moment, we all can/might benefit by learning from others. Professionals, by definition, are committed to an exchange of ideas in the marketplace.

As a new school leader, you have a twofold challenge which involves you (as an individual) moving along your own professional progression with quality and effectiveness while also contributing to the same journey of those assigned to follow you. It is easy to make a mess of this without experience.

No matter your situation, we know where the pitfalls are likely to be and we can help you identify when to imitate and when to create something different.