Leadership and the Common Core

SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE ELEMENT OF CHANGE

NOVEMBER 20TH, 2013

The Approach for our Webinar

For administrators, time is a valuable commodity

The presentation of this webinar will be sensitive to your time

It will focus on the unique challenges of implementing the Common Core in non-public schools

We’ll also revisit the key elements of being a leader in a “culture of change” when dealing with the Common Core

Three Operative Concepts

1. The Understanding of the Common Core in the Non-Public Sector and its challenges.

2. Dealing with the Resistance to Change

3. How to Improve Effective Leadership in a “Culture of Change”

The Understanding of the Common Core in the Non-Public Sector

and Its Challenges

Common Core and the Non- Public School

Some realities that make non-public faith based schools different:

• Non-public schools are not obliged to participate

• Their independence provides the luxury

enjoyed for years to select their own

academic path

• Non-public schools are not regulated either

by State or local governments

Understandings

The Common Core is a set of standards that’s goal is to ensure that students have the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in their learning.

The Common Core is a national movement initiated by state governors—agreeing on a single set of standards.

The initiative was begun by the National Governors' Association and the Chief State School Officers.

Understandings

Input for the development of the standards was a collegial effort involving teachers, parents, and school administrators along with state leaders from across the country.

The Common Core State Standards...

∙ are consistent across the states

∙ are aligned to the expectations in colleges and careers

∙ ensure equity for students no matter where they live

Challenges

Will this be another educational program being pushed by the government that will fall by the wayside?

Why should the non-public school take on a public school initiative?

Will the Common Core will take away the freedom in the classroom – too much interference?

Challenges

Will this be another educational program being pushed by the government that will fall by the wayside?

Why should the non-public school take on a public school initiative?

Will the Common Core will take away the freedom in the classroom – too much interference?

Challenges

Hasn’t our present system of operations been doing quite well before all of this?

Will we lose our identity as a non-public school and it will compromise our mission?

Will too much change confuse the students, the parents and make the teachers uneasy?

Fact: The Common Core State

Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics that states voluntarily adopt across the country. There was no federal government mandate or initiation of the Common Core

Fact: The standards promote

equity by ensuring all students, no matter where they live, are well prepared with the skills and knowledge necessary to collaborate and compete with their peers in the United States and abroad.

Fact: These standards will

establish what students need to learn, but they will not dictate how teachers should teach. Instead, schools and teachers will decide how best to help students reach the standards.

Fact: The Standards are not a

curriculum. They are a clear set of shared goals and expectations for what knowledge and skills will help our students succeed.

Local teachers, principals, superintendents and others will decide how the standards are to be met. Teachers will continue to devise lesson plans and tailor instruction to the individual needs of the students in their classrooms.

Common Core and Reality

The educational community as a whole will use the Common Core as the basics of assessing a student’s performance—the non-public student should not be excluded

Colleges and other educational agencies now have a common set of criteria

Non-public school students will be competing in the same educational arena; we need to make sure they are prepared and are in the loop.

Realities

All educational materials, textbooks, standardized testing, and digital materials will be using the Common Core as its basis—the non-public student needs to be prepared. We cannot isolate them.

The Common Core initiative is a major shift in instruction and learning, accents rigor and critical thinking.

Common Core and Non-Public School Values We take the richness of the non-public schools’ values and

traditions and align them with the Common Core Standards. This alignment serves to enrich and support the long standing values.

We then converge those values with the Common Core standards

The Common Core Standards are not obstacles, but complements the long standing traditions of the non-public school

Decisive Leadership

Effective Leadership

Some Key Elements in Implementing the Common Core

Proactive vs. Reactive

Open Minded

Open to Change

Delegator

Initiator

Communicator

Proactive vs. Reactive

• Work to master the environment you are in

• Proactive stance paves the road to new thinking and

innovation

• Reactive stance always on the defensive putting out fires

Be Open Minded

Consider all options when making decisions to introduce the Common Core

Strong leaders evaluate input from all interested parties– get input from all “publics”

Always work for the betterment of the whole regardless of where the ideas originate

Be Open to Change

Take into account all points of view

Be willing to change a policy, program or cultural tradition that is out-dated

Remember: Change leads to opportunities

Delegator

An effective leader realizes that he/she cannot do it all

A good leader is in tune with the strengths and talents of those around him/her

Use those talents and abilities to strengthen the entire community

Initiator

Leader needs to be the motivator/initiator

Leader is the key element in the planning and implementing new ideas

Initiator must be willing to take risks

Communicator

Effective communication means first knowing how to listen

Ask many questions– and know the issues

Consider all options

Keep team working on the right project with the right attitude

Communicate effectively the mission, vision and expectations for the good of the entire school community.

The Principal: Leader in a Culture of Change

Principal is expected to know educational theory and promote teaching techniques that benefit and challenge students.

Attention to learning styles is becoming more crucial because of the challenge to educate all children at high levels of performance

Principal continuously clarifies the school’s vision and evaluates the extent to which its programs are balanced, goal-oriented and integrated

CCSS Position Statements

The Common Core and the Catholic School: A Statement by the Superintendents of the Catholic Dioceses in Illinois

The Common Core and California Catholic Schools: A Statement by the Superintendents of Catholic Schools in California