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Maureen White
Aug 29 10:46pm
Last reply Aug 30 8:18am
Reply from Maureen White
The major message that I pulled from this message and the reflection upon this message is that there must be a culture of a learning community that is reflective, proactive, and inclusive to all members and stakeholders of the school itself. When reflecting upon the things that Ms. Anderson addresses, what sticks out the most is that we can no longer do the things that we have always done and we must all take responsibility for all of the students within the building (Message from a Practicing Elementary School Principal, 2024). The key word here is ALL, as this includes not just the core teachers, but specials (in the elementary setting as this is) and also the staff members that have direct contact with students in a non educator role.
As an administrator of supervisor, this just cements the practices that I have looked for when joining a school community as well as when helping to select new leadership in the school. Ms. Anderson is very clear that we do not always have to look outwards for the things that we need, but to first look inward, or to the people that we already have in the community. She also stresses the need for collaboration and consistency to look for patterns. For me, in a supervisory role such as an instructional coach, I plan on frequently assessing how teachers are teaching to find the patterns of learning as well as evidence of higher learning within a classroom. When that is observed and noted that there is a consistent pattern, that is the teacher that I would like to utilize to help a struggling teacher or to lead professional development sessions that are school wide. Often, when we think of hosting a professional development series, we overlook the experts and the knowledge that is housed within the walls of the school. Utilizing that knowledge builds a culture of collaboration but also builds relationships that show you (as a supervisor or educational leader) appreciate and recognize the strengths of the teachers you work with. Speaking from experience, as a teacher who has needed help as well as a teacher who has led a professional development series, it is more helpful to me to work with a teacher who is currently practicing or to share my knowledge of what is working or not working with my colleagues rather than sitting in a workshop that is led by someone who may have not been in the classroom for several years. Utilizing those who are able to do that is imperative to building the culture of collaboration as well as building the trust that you need as an educational leader. Forcing your staff to sit through meaningless or filler PD sessions does not show that you value those that you lead in several ways with time and expertise leading the way. As that educational leader, I want to make sure that I am harnessing all of the power of those within my building to make sure that those that struggle and those who don’t have multiple ways of teaching a concept or approaching a problem. While I may be the “one in charge” I am only as good as those I surround myself with, and using their knowledge will only increase my knowledge but also show the value that I place in their knowledge as well.
Ashlee Joseph
Aug 29 9:51pm
Last reply Aug 30 8:22am
Reply from Ashlee Joseph
One of the concepts that Principal Anderson shared was collaborating with all stakeholders of the school to enhance the learning environment. The achievement of our students is top priority and having a shared responsibility will impact students in a major way. This concept reminds me of the scriipture in Ephesians 4:16 NLT which declares, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” This scriipture speaks to the importance of all staff working together to successfully administer the school. She also stated that the students are considered stakeholders as well. The students are the focus so when they are more aware of the deficits in learning as well as the expectations for them, it helps guide them on the path to achievement.
Another important concept that the principal spoke about was choosing professional development that meets the needs of the teachers and students. There are many wonderful topics that may be impactful, but we must ask ourselves are they relevant. Are they necessary to implement based on the expectations and deficits that the school has? One of the suggestions that she gave was to maximize the strengths and talents of the staff that are right there in the building with you. In most cases, we bring in outside vendors to provide professional development, but there may be times when the budget does not allow the school to go that route. When that occurs, it is great to use staff members that are knowledgeable to facilitate in the areas that are needed. There is a wealth of knowledge in all stakeholders and needs can be met using those who are already in the “village”. It may be even more impactful to be taught by your colleagues and those who have years of experience. After success professional development, as an instructional leader, it is important to ensure that what has been learned is consistently being implemented in the classroom. Performing consistent observations and providing feedback to the teachers will sharpen those areas that need improvement. When everyone does their part, high levels of achievement are attained.
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