Storytelling in Leadership: Innovation

Spark Creativity and Innovation Through Storytelling

Capture and post innovative moments with the iPhone

Celebrate learning moments together by sharing innovative teaching in the classroom.

Every administrator carries a communication device - most carry an iPhone. Catching someone at their best is the ultimate way to tell a story. There’s no better way to share than by witnessing excellent teaching in action. Teachers feel valued when an admin makes a post on their school social media account celebrating how they did a great job engaging students, or going above and beyond with a special lesson. 

Hello! I am Pam Amendola and I teach English at Dawson County High School in Dawsonville, Georgia. As an Apple Distinguished Educator and Apple Learning Coach, I have had the privilege to engage with a huge network of educators and educational leaders who understand how to leverage storytelling to spark innovation in teaching and learning. 

Empowerment is the magic great leaders use to build a foundation of the vision they want and the Why behind it.

Celebrate Accomplishments On the Go

• Post photos of the innovative things teachers are doing on district and school social media feeds.
• Use Voice Memos to get a direct quote from students involved in an innovative educational activity.
• Capturing a direct quote from a student is easy with Voice Memos. Kids love to share their stories. When they have a good educational experience, they are excited to share. Post a direct quote on a school social media feed and let the conversation begin!

Innovation and a Positive School Culture

Without a positive school culture, things fall apart fast. Celebrating teacher accomplishments is a small, effective way to create authentic recognition. Apple Distinguished Educator and author of Storytelling with Purpose Michael Hernandez shares, “Storytelling allows leaders to show transparency and understanding through feedback.” Posting on school social media “shines a light” on teachers succeeding and doing what they do best. What better way to celebrate their life's work than by shouting it out to their local community. This type of recognition costs nearly nothing and has a tremendous positive effect on school climate and culture. It also lets stakeholders know all of the innovative things happening inside of their schools. 

Teachers want to feel appreciated by administrators for their efforts. Tell the story of what good is happening around your school and teachers will be driven to innovate.

Good leadership is curated from wisdom, experience, and being a good storyteller.

Host a Podcast  

It may have a higher barrier to entry, but educators who are able to share their voice to tell stories of how they are innovating in their classrooms is an essential part of the storytelling narrative.

Apple Distinguished Educator, Wired Educator Podcast host, and Director of Innovation and Learning at Port Clinton City School District Kelly Croy, inspires by interviewing guest leaders on his weekly podcasts. He delivers “stories of impact” that are geared to inspire leaders to develop a vision and become visionary leaders. It’s not just a banner or a t-shirt, “it’s a foundation of who they aspire to be,” says Croy. 

If a district has a communications department, this may be an opportunity to host a monthly interview session with a featured educator from a different school each month. Using Garage Band to create a podcast is a great tool that's native to both the Macbook and the iPad. Creating an interview calendar in Notes is quick and easy. Drafting a script template with interview questions in Keynote can make preparing smooth and efficient. 

Inspire Others

Sharing stories of what’s happening in your district also has the power to help other leaders work their way through challenges they are experiencing at their schools. 

If a district or school doesn’t have the resources to host a monthly podcast, internal recognitions still tell the authentic stories of what’s going on inside a school building.

Post a Newsletter

Posting a newsletter created in Keynote is a great way to give shout outs to featured educators. Apple Intelligence helps school leaders tell these stories quickly and efficiently. Apple Intelligence is a personal intelligence system integrated into iPadOS 18 that combines generative AI with your personal context to provide helpful, relevant, and privacy-preserving features. These personal agents give administrators the ability to create and post on the go saving them time in their busy schedules.

No matter what the story is, empower teachers through recognition and they will continue innovating for their students.