Dr. Michael Cowan is a lifelong teacher. Since graduating from BYU, he has served as a teacher, principal, school district superintendent, mission president of the Dominican Republic Santiago Mission, and as a professor at the McKay School of Education.
When asked about his experiences, Cowan mentions three principles, shared as a speaker with audiences across the world, that have helped him become a successful leader.
First, Cowan says, “I strive to be a servant-leader, which means it’s not all about me. It’s about you.” Cowan puts students’ needs first. Being a servant-leader “is not about comfort” or “how you can expedite the process.”
Teaching is a powerful way to serve others, and “education is a very human endeavor,” Cowan explains. “The influence [teachers] have has eternal consequences.”
Cowan’s second leadership principle is that “your priorities dictate your performance,” and students should stay true to who they are. “You need to align what your priorities are with your perceptions about who you are,” he says.
“When people get their priorities out of alignment, it becomes very awkward for them,” he adds. On the other hand, a person who stays true to themselves has their priorities in order, and their performance improves.
Third, Cowan says, “you’ve got to know your why—why you’re doing what you’re doing.” Furthermore, “your why has to be service-oriented,” he says. “When you choose your beginning and your end, you need to always have your focus on the end.”
One of Cowan’s goals is “to do everything possible to help this generation of children be meaningful contributors to society,” he says. He’s well on his way to achieving that goal as an educator, advising two presidents of the United States and testifying in Congress about education, as well as influencing students in his classrooms.
This influence is enriched as Cowan brings “the language of the Spirit” into his work, striving to follow the example of the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ. Besides speaking both through and of the Spirit in his teaching, Cowan prays for and about the students in his classes. “It’s all about fostering, nurturing, and ministering,” he says.
