What Are You Doing ToCreate A Climate and Culture of Success at

Your School:Lessons Learned From

Schools to Watch

Presenter: Dr. Irvin Howard

irvinhoward@gmail.com

Factors Reported by Teachers as Leading to Successful Middle Grade Schools

Our entire faculty created and owned the school vision

Our leadership team shares a specific vision for our school regarding student learning.

Our faculty committed to every student being known.

Our leadership team had SMART goals for our school regarding student achievement:

SMART = Specific,Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely

Our leadership team collaborated as a Professional Learning Community (PLC).

Our teachers collaborated as a PLC sharing decision-making, students issues/needs, and leadership

Our leadership team was part of a trusted network of colleagues we could turn to for advice and support within the district.

Our faculty committed to relevancy, rigor and interdisciplinary planning and teaching

Our school had a climate and culture I wanted to work in and wanted students to learn in.

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Openly articulating the goal, relinquishing decision-making authority to teachers, and involve teachers before decisions are made (Barth). When teachers are included in the decision-making process ahead of time, they are more likely to implement change.

Successful schools require:

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Vision – Who Owns It?

The Vision for a school should be developed collaboratively and agreed upon by all who have responsibility for implementing, sustaining and growing it in the future. Without “buy-in” to the vision, there is no common direction, no sense of shared purpose for the school.

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Lessons Learned

Structure vs. InstructionMore Talk about Learning vs. TeachingCollaboration and CooperationPersistent in ImprovementNo one style of Leader

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Balance of power

Shared Purpose or Goal

Shared Responsibility

Respect

Partnering in the “nitty-gritty”

Five Requirements for Shared Leadership

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Absense of TrustFear of ConflictLack of CommitmentAvoidance of Accountability

Inattention to Results

5 Dysfunctions of a Team

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Partnerships do work when all participants share responsibility and accountability for the work.

Empowering teachers to work toward a common goal makes them aware of their responsibilities and the important role they play in the group.

Shared Responsibility

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Work together in complex, real-world situations

Conflict is seen as a necessary agent of positive change

Understanding that working collaboratively is smarter, not harder.

Partnering in the Nitty Gritty

Question: What is the biggest mistake in leading instructional improvement?

Ignoring the people in the shoolLack of clarity in why the change is being

madeHINT:Instructional improvement requires

moving from Authoritative Leadership to Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership

Defines learning in terms of skills and knowledge as results

Defines learning from “whole” student down to specific skills

Helps students to learn priority skills deeply

Integrates curriculum – reduces isolationCurriculum includes some student choice

Adopt Effective Instructional Practices

Teach skills in contextFocus on ProficienciesLook for evidence of good learningShare best practicesCheck for understanding DAILYGive embedded assessmentsConnect instruction to the community

Personalize Learning

Make each student feel uniqueConnect to “Their World”Recognize cultural differencesConsider students’ point of viewBe aware of different learning stylesDifferentiate instructionAttend to students with special needsIntervene EARLY

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Where have you been, where are you now, and where do you want to be. The journey begins now, or it doesn’t. You decide.

I. Howard

Focus