Shared Leadership
Diana Stein
ADMIN/510
July 11, 2016
Russ Cornell
CAPE #4: Sharing
Leadership with Others in the School Community to Help Accomplish the Vision
The principal is the visionary of the
school. The principal guides and shapes others within the school and the
community in their collective understanding to embrace, help build and propel
the school vision. The vision of “creating thinkers, communicators, and
achievers” at The Classical Academies is only possible through empowering
others, inside the school and the entire community, to help accomplish the
intermediary goals that will positively affect the school vision as a whole for
generations to come.
One of the greatest responsibilities
of the principal has is to maintain insight and good judgment in all areas
where staffing and scheduling of the school are concerned.
In particular, the principal understands the unique balance between skills and
abilities as related to quality instruction, creative autonomy, and
professional community building. Ensuring the coordination of the curriculum,
consistency in quality of teaching, and motivation of teachers rests on how
well the sharing of leadership is balanced with driving the skill and will of
the individuals directly and indirectly involved.
One could argue that it is human
nature to feel the need for affirmation of value. Simply said, we all need to
know that we're making a positive difference and appreciate having a voice in
choice in how we bring our passion to life. Teachers subscribe to this same
line of thinking. Therefore, methods of supervision of instruction must empower
teachers to maintain authority over decisions related to personal and
professional growth. It is key that all choices made by teachers remain focused
on positive outcomes that harmonize with the shared school vision of what’s
best for the students whom they serve. This blog entry will focus on:
·
Connecting
the school vision to shared leadership
·
Communication
planning with equal access for all stakeholders
·
Strategies
to overcome potential barriers to accomplishing the vision and plans for the
organization
·
Identifying
resources to build and sustain efforts
Connecting the School Vision to Shared Leadership
School communities vary from one
another just as people do. There is no “one size fits all” solution for
creating a school vision. The successful principal is keenly aware of this and
is skilled in reaching out to several audiences who are connected to the school
community including parents, non-parents, senior citizens, teachers, students,
business and business leaders, the professional community, labor unions,
special interest groups (activists of any sort, religious leaders, etc.), and
the “disenchanted bottom feeders” (Uben, 2016).
The principal in the know understands
that he or she reports to the people, and not the other way around.
Communication styles vary just as our diverse population does; all information
must be equally accessible to all. Everyone needs to understand the school
vision if they are going to stand behind it. For this to happen a reliable,
measurable, bilateral, and diverse communication system needs to be in place.
Although a group of people may attend
the same school this doesn’t predetermine that they share the same values and
belief systems. “Old World” mindsets and operating systems don’t fit into our
secular society, and don’t work in our public schools today. Uben (2016)
explains this phenomenon as “Gemeinschaft (unified) culture vs. Gesellschaft
(diversified) culture.” Our diversified culture and complexity of community is naturally
reflected within the school system. The principal must communicate clearly and
transparently to a wide and diverse audience of people, with equally diverse
needs. Harmony and positivity are defined by the school vision. Getting there,
however, isn't always conflict free. Differences in belief systems, continuing
social problems, helicopter parents, high-stakes testing, and any number of
other issues that concern our population also concern the school principal. What
we can stand together on is our
commitment to our school vision through shared leadership:
Core Purpose
Partner with parents to inspire and educate students
Mission
Statement
To partner with parents to encourage each student to think
critically,
communicate effectively, and achieve excellence
by providing
academic options
Vision
Statement
To passionately serve, respectfully communicate, and joyfully partner for
student success
The Classical
Academy (2014)
Communication Planning with Equal Access
Communication within and outside of
the school population has never been more readily available, largely due to
advances in social media. Social media may be used to describe, analyze, and
interpret school experiences via multiple tools and platforms (e.g., Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, mobile devices, desktop workstations, Apple TV,
etc.). With so much freedom of speech comes great responsibility; how the
school communicates equity issues related to race, diversity, and access for
all depends on the steps that are put into place and monitored by the school
administration.
Digital Citizenship directs all
decisions and behavior in regards to privacy, laws, as well as the perpetuation
of a shared, positive school vision. Social media has transitioned from
informal chats about “yoga and wedding plans”, into mainstreaming of news
communicating everything from school choice to presidential campaigns.
Social media tools also enable
greater interaction between principals and all of their stakeholders including
fellow educators, the school community, and the world at large. Principals, and
all people in positions of influence, are expected to be knowledgeable and
savvy in the rules, regulations, and power of digital communication in all of
its forms for the safety and protection of all. Purposeful, transparent
communication, including equal access for all, is vital for the exchange of
ideas, concerns, data, and desired outcomes in order for the school and community
to thrive.
Since some web content is not safe
for kids or teens, maximum security must be sought after by setting up safety
filters and advertisement blockers. Strategies for success in the use of
digital tools include:
·
Staff, parent, and student education related to Digital
Citizenship
·
subscribing to web trusted privacy and decency tools and
applications (e.g., CommonSenseMedia.org, Purify-app.com, BrowserForKids.net,
etc.) for filtering Internet related content before it is shared within the
school community.
·
Establishing "Closed Group" social media pages
or password encrypted websites for approved members only.
The immediacy of digital
communication does not overshadow the intimacy of a handwritten note or a
face-to-face meeting. Sometimes a smile is worth a thousand words when support
or praise is sincerely communicated. One way to share the good news to promote
a positive community vision is for teachers to recognize individual students
weekly with a handwritten Praise Postcard.
Additionally, internal communication
between the principal and the staff needs to be consistent to build trust and sustained
rapport. Changes in programming, curriculum, and scheduling are much easier to
absorb and flex with when the element of surprise is removed. Staff members
appreciate having advance time to prepare or shift personal plans if the
situation calls for it. The Master Schedule is best designed and solidified by
the time that the staff is released for summer break in June. According to Professor Russ Cornell (personal
communication, July 6, 2016), "This boosts morale and allows for
teachers who wish – to plan ahead…"
Strategies to Overcome Potential Barriers to the School
Vision
Potential barriers to positive
momentum of building the school vision include time and resources. The school’s
greatest resources are the staff, but they are also limited by time and
availability. For these reasons, it is paramount that the principal build in
time in the Master Schedule for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to
actively participate in decisions that affect their
own areas of responsibility. According to Trump (1959):
This includes an expanded role
in curriculum and instructional decisions, evaluation decisions, and day-by-day
organizing and scheduling functions.
These tasks are most effectively carried out by a team or in a learning
community basis.
One of
the most crucial factors in a successful team operation is
adequate planning time and efficient utilization of that time. If at all
possible, team planning should occur during the regular school day. Planning
should be regularly scheduled; at least two hours per week are needed in a
minimum of one-hour blocks. Building an agenda for team meetings needs to be an
opportunity for all team members to share in the planning for the team.
Trump outlines five planning
tasks, both short- and long-term in nature, to be the responsibility of
individual teams. These five steps include:
1. Goal Setting. One per
semester to examine the school philosophy, curriculum guidelines and direction,
and identification of goals for the particular group of students that the team
is responsible for.
2. Design Meeting. One per
quarter, for each Unit of Study. The purpose of the Design meeting is to select
instructional themes and topics and to develop particular Units of Study.
Responsibilities are outlined, and calendars are set with target dates, along
with methods of student evaluation.
3. Grouping or Scheduling Meeting. Once every
week or two, to outline upcoming activities, define instructional plans,
organize student groupings, and build daily/weekly schedule.
4. Situational Meeting. One per
week, or as needed to focus on individual children, particularly at-risk
children. Each faculty member is assigned a particular child with daily contact
and encouragement built-in. This team- mate is responsible for carrying out
team decisions, with team meetings held weekly to evaluate which children need
additional support.
5. Evaluation Meeting. One per
quarter to evaluate, analyze, and provide feedback on the effectiveness of
classroom instruction. This includes achievement of goals, strengths and
shortcomings, and general teamwork during the completion of a major Unit of
Study.
Potential barriers to promoting the
school’s vision are the naysayers of the group. These individuals may have
little or great impact, depending on the level of influence held within the
particular school community. One strategy to persuade a naysayer is to gain
perspective of this person’s perception through open and straightforward
dialog.
Use this meeting to investigate what the primary drivers of discontent are, and
aim to build a connection to resolving the conflict with a win-win in mind.
Sometimes simply having the
opportunity to be heard has the power to change the direction of a negatively
spinning situation or state of mind. At all times it is imperative to keep the
students’ needs, the school’s needs, and the school growth plan in primary
focus. The principal's role
includes maintaining an active learning environment and leveraging community
resources to benefit all children and families.
Meeting the diverse needs of our
student population requires flexibility throughout each phase of growth. For example, carefully constructed and
well-communicated course progressions are designed to ensure all students will
advance through projected learning stages with ample supports. Additionally,
school organization and physical structures (e.g., smaller schools with
individualized learning communities) to support student achievement have been
built as direct responses to our population expansion in recent years, growing
from three to seven campuses over the past seven years.
As the school grows, the principal
must keep in mind that change is difficult for most, and few people like
surprises. Planning for change and decision making over time that includes all
stakeholders will make those changes easier to manage when the time comes to
shift direction. Scheduling is no different.
The staff that is included in
planning and has voice and choice built in will be much more receptive to the
required changes. When this happens mutual respect is gained, making
flexibility more natural when it is needed for instructional and curricular
needs (Aronson, 2014). The way that the
administration plans for changes reflects the values of the school. This is
also reflected in the master schedule and the student/teacher ratio.
Resources to Build and Sustain Efforts
Planning -
Guiding Principles
The following are planning steps to
consider according to “Master Schedule Guiding Principles, Priorities,
Milestones & Metrics” (2013):
·
Establish a set of Guiding Principles, Priorities, and
possibly (non-negotiables).
·
(Develop) a commitment to a student-centered,
learning-centered master schedule that supports student achievement and equity.
·
(Design and) commit to a master schedule that supports
interdisciplinary teaching and learning, including project-based learning and
other forms of deeper learning.
·
(Foster) commitment to a master schedule which is also
teacher-centered, supporting time for communities of practice (common planning
time/collaboration)
·
(Nurture) a commitment to a schedule that ensures equal
access to challenging curriculum, heterogeneous academies/pathways, and
flexibility for improved instruction.
·
(Adhere to) a master schedule building process that is
open, inclusive, transparent, and collaborative. (Example: Rigor, Relevance,
Relationships, Results)
The principal
must continually strive to build parent partnerships and actively engage the
community in efforts related to building the school’s vision. Questions for the
principal and staff to reflect upon are related to shared leadership and
decision-making. Encouraging parents to become more purposefully involved with
their children's learning involves creating a welcoming school climate.
Self-reflection at scheduled points throughout the year is simplified using
this short self-assessment:
This self-assessment is aligned with the standards for principals in
Leading Learning Communities: Standards for What Principals Should Know and Be
Able To Do, ©2002 National Association of Elementary School Principals.
Partnerships
can amass the support, resources, skills, networks, and programs that are
useful in helping school counselors provide responsive services to meet the
numerous complex needs of the often large caseloads school counselors serve
(ASCA, 2010). Partnership programs can also create the environments,
relationships, and experiences that reduce risks, build social capital,
increase academic achievement and attendance, decrease behavioral issues,
enhance school climate, foster resilience, and create developmental assets for
children and adolescents (ASCA, 2010; Benard, 2004; Bryan, 2005; Bryan &
Henry, 2008; Epstein & Van Voorhis, 2010; Galassi & Akos, 2004).
(Bryan &
Henry, 2012, para. )
Bryan & Henry (2012)
Conclusion
The
principal guides and shapes the community’s collective understanding to
embrace, help build, and propel the school vision keeping in mind the
overarching belief that all students are academically positioned in rigorous
content that will best prepare them for college and beyond to become active,
productive citizens. All aspects of the school development and direction are
based on what is best for increasing student success.
The
master schedule is developed around student needs and district goals.
The school vision at the Classical Academies is “to create communicators,
thinkers, and achievers.” Student supports are planned into the scheduling,
maximizing instructional minutes of teaching and learning. This includes weekly
planning with Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), collaborating with each
other, and with our community at large.
Principals
must be skilled at organizing internal public dialogs that are data-driven and
organizing external or community-based public dialogs that are data-driven
(Simmons, 2016). The principal who leads change by sharing leadership to strive
to accomplish the vision is simultaneous empowering school–family–community partnerships, parent
involvement, empowerment, social justice, and democratic collaboration. This
vision includes more than the school, the parents, and the students. The
community plays a vital role in engendering productive engagement of school
reform. College enrollment, employment rates, access to higher education and
training, promotion, and graduation rates are each propelled through
accomplishing a positive school vision. The cumulative results of these combined
efforts are mutual respect and healthy, productive, life-long learning
environments for students, staff, and the community.
References
Bryan, J., &
Henry, L. (2012, October). A Model for Building
School–Family–Community Partnerships: Principles and Process. Journal
of Counseling & Development, 90(408), 420.
Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=2ec150aa-cd34-485d-bd89-555c6ef00ac1%40sessionmgr106&vid=1&hid=128
J. Lloyd
Trump, Images of the Future, Experimental Study of the Utilization of
Staff in the Secondary Schools and the National Association of Secondary School
Principals, 1959.
J. Aronson, J.
Zimmerman, and L. Carlos, “Improving Student Achievement by Extending School:
Is It Just a Matter of Time?” Retrieved on June 21, 2014, from WestEd: http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/po-98-02.pdf
Leading Learning Communities:
Standards for What Principals Should Know and Be Able To Do, (2002). National Association of
Elementary School Principals.
Master Schedule
Guiding Principles, Priorities, Milestones &
Metrics. (2013). Retrieved from
http://casn.berkeley.edu/resource_files/MS_Principles_Priorities_Milestones_Metrics_District.pdf
The Classical
Academy. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.classicalacademy.com/career/
Ubben,
G. C., Hughes, L. W., & Norris, C. J. (2016). The Principal: Creative
Leadership for Excellence in Schools. Boston: Pearson.
University of
Phoenix. (2016). Educational Impact: Community Support Comes from More than
Just Parents. Simmons, Warren. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, EDL/510
website.