Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
Case 3.3: 2019 Global Teacher of the
Year: Peter Tabichi
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Peter Tabichi is a transformational teacher, defying his own personal challenges and assuring
that each child in his rural school had a role model. While he faced hardships as a young
man, including the loss of both parents by age 11, he persevered and became determined to
help others in need as a teacher in Kenya. As the Math and Science teacher in his remote
school, with poor internet connection, outdated equipment, and poor student completion
rates, he was awarded the Varkey Foundation’s 2019 Global Teacher of the Year after being
Learning Objectives:
• Students should understand the broader context that leadership can be learned and
is available to more than just a select few.
Answers to Questions in the Text:
1. Applying the Katz three-skills approach, describe Peter Tabichi’s technical, human,
and conceptual skills. Which of these three skills is most important to Tabichi’s
success as a leader?
All three. Clearly the Katz model outlines a symbiotic relationship between technical,
2. How would you describe Peter’s competencies?
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
He developed his competencies over time by developing his skills throughout his life.
His key competent behaviors revolve around his ability to see a better future for his
3. Describe how you believe Peter’s career experiences and environmental influences
have shaped his leadership skills.
Peter gave to the students many of the gifts he lacked during his upbringing. As a role
4. Describe some of the problem-solving skills Peter has exhibited. How have his
competencies and individual attributes contributed to his problem solving?
Problem solving implies managing an issue as it emerges (putting out fires as they
Potential Teaching Approaches:
This case study is conducive to group discussions and exercises.
Below is a way to structure a class, based on Case Study 3.3:
• Have students create a list of important leadership skills they feel people should
possess, based on their own personal experiences.
• Lecture on Skills Approach and the Katz Skills model and discuss the difference
between students’ lists and the model. Are there any skills missing? What skill
commonly occurs in all lists?
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
Exercises for This Case Study:
1. Individually, ask students to write a thank you note to their own “educational story”
2. Ask students to share their stories (if they feel comfortable doing so) and ask students
to listen for skill-related connections (technical, human, or conceptual).