What Is The Teacher Leader’s Role Bringing Best Practices Bringing Best Practices to Our School to Our School Right Now Right Now
Jan 14, 2016
What Is The Teacher Leader’s Role
Bringing Best Practices to Our Bringing Best Practices to Our
School School Right NowRight Now
Teachers must answer: WHY I DO THIS WORK
Many involved in “school re-invention work” would argue that change is the most talked about and least acted upon concept in
education today.
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul
than the way in which it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela
HOPE is not a PLAN
IT’S ABOUT ACTION
What got us to where we are in education today,
will not get us to where we need to be!
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.”
-Shurnyu Suzuki
Scenario
• As “teacher leaders” selected by your peers, you are
to assume that you teach in a school that is “in decline.”• You must assign groups to assist you with the following
problem.• Study the following symptoms and write a plan that you
as a leaders with the support of your group can propose and help implement. You may decide that you cannot address some symptoms.
• Be sure to define the problems and those involved.
Symptom #1:
Lack of leadership – The principal is not providing focus and direction around addressing key priorities.
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Symptom #2:
More rules and harsher punishments – Schools in decline often experience more student behavior problems, sending them into a downward spiral of increasingly harsh disciplinary measures and loss of instructional time and trusting relationships.
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #3:
Lost Focus – The School lacks clear academic priorities. If everything seems to be a priority time nothing is a priority. This leads to wasted resources.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #4:
Poor Alignment – Classroom instruction is
not lined up with standards and assessment
is not aligned to instruction; students are blindsided.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #5:
Inadequate monitoring of progress
at the student, classroom and site level.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #6:
Ineffective staff development – Schools
that begin to decline are frequently the
recipients of one-shot in-service programs and staff development.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #7:
Lower staff expectations – Teachers increasingly give up on struggling student
and don’t hold themselves to high standards
of professional practice.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #8:
Undifferentiated assistance – students who are having difficulty are assigned to generic
supplementary programs with a lot of repetition and extended practice.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #9:
Rigid daily schedule – The inflexibility of
the daily schedule prevents students from getting timely and targeted help.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #10:
Hasty hiring – It is tempting for principals in declining schools to approach the hiring
process fatalistically.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #11:
Increased class size – Class sizes mushroom, making it difficult for even
the best teachers to be productive.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline
Symptom #12:
Overreliance on untrained helpers – Programs to help struggling students
are often staffed by volunteers, teacher aides, and unqualified personnel.
Daniel Duke, University of VA
What will your game plan will be?
Strategy:
CAUTION
There is no silver bullet!
Risk more than others think is possible, dream more than
others think is practical.
Teacher Leaders are
Committedand
Passionate