The Scholar

As the academic lifer of the edleadership crowd, the Scholar knows the past, present, and future of educational reform better than anyone. Scholars are not just vaguely familiar with the research they frequently cite, they know it inside and out. Their attention to detail and healthy skepticism combine to make the Scholar less likely to get caught up in the reform du jour and more likely to focus on the things with the most proven track record of success.

Never one to get caught up in groupthink, the Scholar has an innate ability to sniff out bad sources and bad ideas, whether that means looking beyond a study’s conclusion to critique its methodology, identifying any sources of funding with vested interest, or simply putting popular buzzwords into the context of real-world practicality. Scholars don’t have a lot of time for pep talks, inspirational quotes, or educational “rock stars” who have built massive followings by latching on to sometimes-dubious trends.

Scholars are driven by logic and rationalism—rarely will they make a decision without sound data to back it up. They also tend to be more agile than some of their peers, simply because they are so in tune with what’s happening outside their personal school or district bubbles. They won’t necessarily jump at every opportunity to serve as a pioneer, but they also won’t be deterred by fear of change.

If the research is sound and a concept seems like a good fit for a given situation, the Scholar will want to start gathering data as soon as possible. Because of this, Scholars tend to lack patience for bureaucracy and handholding, preferring instead to review and adapt iteratively. One of the biggest benefits of working for or with a Scholar is the objectiveness of his or her feedback—a Scholar rarely has time for personal grudges or emotion-clouded judgment.
 

What the kids see

The Scholar is one of the least visible personality types—maybe it’s because Scholars tend toward the introverted side of the spectrum, or maybe it’s because they feel their time can be more valuable elsewhere. In either case, students will benefit every day from the supports and structures the Scholar has championed, thought it will often come at the expense of the face-to-face interaction other personality types might enjoy more.
 

Potential pitfalls

It’s a polarizing world out there, with the omnipresent temptation of validation and confirmation bias. Once the Scholar starts taking sides, the same powers of research and rationalization that got them here can be used to bolster weaker ideas and/or extend the duration of impractical trials even when everyone else can see there is no chance of success.

Scholars are encouraged to avoid dismissing anecdotal evidence out of hand. Any edleader with enough experience can attest to the fact that “looks good on paper” doesn’t always translate to what’s best for kids. There are only so many factors one can account for, and no two communities or sets of circumstances ever produce identical results.

Learn about the other types: