The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is starting a new #prinleaderchat every Sunday at 9:00 pm EST. We will be starting this Sunday October 2. Our schedule is listed on this google spreadsheet https://goo.gl/SI9LVo.
Aloha! Welcome to the #PrinLeaderChat 'Ohana! Tonight 2018 Iowa @NASSP State Principal of the Year @ryandumkrieger discusses Teacher Input and Voice. Please introduce yourselves.
#PrinLeaderChat "Teacher Voice and Input" starts now! Take a few minutes to introduce yourself, say where you are from, and share the best advice you ever received from one of your staff members!
Intro: Denise Murai, Parent-Community Liaison @HahaioneES in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Best Advice from a Staff Member: It can take up to a few years to fully understand a school’s culture, how it works and what you can meaningfully contribute. #PrinLeaderChat
#PrinLeaderChat "Teacher Voice and Input" starts now! Take a few minutes to introduce yourself, say where you are from, and share the best advice you ever received from one of your staff members!
Jeff, Bentonville, Arkansas
Best Advice from Staff -
More Jeans Days > Less Jeans Day. In all seriousness, put kids first and serve well! #PrinLeaderChat
A1. Best way to lead is "from the back, not the front". We must empower our staff to share best practices, lead PD and model their passion for kids. Teachers went into teaching to make a difference - lets allow them to be the difference. #prinleaderchat
A1 Teachers and staff are often closer to the students then we are so they have a better idea of what is best for kids. Making a decision on your own as a principal is seldom a good idea. #prinleaderchat
A1: because it’s not the principal’s school, it’s everyone’s school. Also, by not seeking voice, the principal makes the assumption that he/she knows all, which we know is comical. Teachers are boots on ground and their lens must be listened to. #PrinLeaderChat
Hello, Iram here from Surrey, B.C. Canada
Best advice from staff: we are okay with change, just give us a heads up and sometimes you need to take it slow. #PrinLeaderChat
A1:A successful school is where everyone leads and grows together. Giving staff a voice and input into goals, professional development and instructional practices that work for their students is critical. #prinleaderchat
A1: Consider the depth of the shift possible when moving from supervising to connecting. The support of growing past trying to do it all by yourself & supporting other’s grow as leaders.
(Paraphrasing @casas_jimmy@Jeff_Zoul#StopRightNow39)
#PrinLeaderChat
A1: Teacher and staff voice and input are important because they allow for a "we will do this 'with' you", instead of "we will 'do' this to you" culture. #prinleaderchat
A1: Teacher and staff voice and input are important because they allow for a "we will do this 'with' you", instead of "we will do this 'to' you" culture. #prinleaderchat
A2 Monthly BLT meeting, weekly grade level and specials meetings, and a calendar with plenty of times to meet for individual discussions. #prinleaderchat
Q2: in the past I have used 10 min weekly meetings to engage staff in conversations. One question on the agenda and an open floor for their thoughts. The key is actually hearing what is said and then acting on it. #PrinLeaderChat
A2: Face to face conversations is most effective for me. Take time to listen. You can gather survey data all you want but meaningful conversation and follow up where teachers see their input turn into action means the most. #prinleaderchat
A2. Best way is face to face authentic conversations (1:1). We also use anonymous google forms and use padlet, videos to reflect on instructional shifts. Key is reflection. #prinleaderchat
A2 make an effort to get out of the office and participate in informal discussions in the staff room, while on supervision, in the parking lot...
#PrinLeaderChat
A2: I’m not always the best, when it gets busy and more busy, but I believe face to face dialogue proves most effective. I believe Chris leads well here with his 1 hour rule - only 1 hour in the office each day. @clegleiter#PrinLeaderChat
Face to Face is such a struggle. Time management makes that happen. That is tough! Meaningful opportunities for teacher input is best made in person! #PrinLeaderChat
@clegleiter Love the idea of using videos to reflect on instructional shifts. Add reflection and you’re setting up a great culture for partnerships with your teachers and staff. #PrinLeaderChat
A2: Open door policy. If you need to discuss a situation, feel free to stop in and know that you will be heard. Being present out in the building is also a great way to gather staff input. #prinleaderchat
We say that relationships are the foundation of a humanized classroom + the same is true in schools . Leaders should reorient their time to prioritize relationship building with their staff. It builds trust, value + makes the hard work doable together. #PrinLeaderChat
A2 These are notes of “thanks or encouragement” I try to write to staff throughout the year. Face to face is not always possible- so next best is handwritten note . #prinleaderchat
A3: I like to block my time. I start my morning in my office and then am out for an hour when kids start to arrive. Back in for an hour, and then out again. You get the idea. It doesn’t always work. Honestly a daily struggle! #PrinLeaderChat
Evaluations should be the only time that staff members see their administrators, so time needs to be made to check in + have non-evaluative conversations. This is the hard work, but it's where trust is built: on the ground, door-to-door, teacher-by-teacher. #PrinLeaderChat
A3 My calendar is posted on my office door for all to see (students, staff, families). If there is an open spot, anyone can sign up and take it. If the spot isn't taken then I'm out and about in the school. #prinleaderchat
A3: Our amazing leader, @PrincipalGoo walks our campus multiple times per day engaging w/ students, parents, teachers & staff. He has #NoOffice (really, it’s now a conference rm). #PrinLeaderChat
Great idea. I was just looking at postcards for staff today (we do it for kids). Our district leaders also do handwritten notes and we notice them! #sccsd#PrinLeaderChat
A3. I try to limit myself in office to 1 hour so that I can be at carline, in classrooms, at b-ball games and at lunch. I say “lead with my feet, not from my seat.” #prinleaderchat
Evaluations shouldn't be the only time that staff members see their administrators, so time needs to be made to check in + have non-evaluative conversations. This is the hard work, but it's where trust is built: on the ground, door-to-door, teacher-by-teacher. #PrinLeaderChat
A3: The three administrators in my building schedule times to be out in classrooms each week. We also share our calendars with the staff, so they know where they can find us if needed. This also allows them to schedule a meeting with us if needed. #prinleaderchat
A3. I try to limit myself in office to 1 hour so that I can be at carline, in classrooms, at b-ball games and at lunch. I say “lead with my feet, not from my seat.” #prinleaderchat
@clegleiter@ryandumkrieger Have also seen admins leave Post-It notes of “thanks or encouragement” on a teacher’s desk after a walkthrough or classroom visit. Powerful stuff! #PrinLeaderChat
In reply to
@clegleiter, @clegleiter, @ryandumkrieger
#PrinLeaderChat- Teachers are the direct link to learners—look at Hattie’s hotties: Teacher- Student relationships, Teacher Clarity and to Teacher collective efficacy. A teacher’s belief in a student is tantamount to success as is our belief in and support of teachers. @HIDOE808
A3: I do a 20 minute walk around every morning. I pop in classrooms with my AP, talk with teachers, visit PLCs. Sets the tone for the day. Repeat throughout the day. Visit teachers on their duty periods and send staff "anchors of appreciation" for taking risks! #prinleaderchat
A3: one thing I’ve tried to do this year is move my laptop and “work” out to the common space. Kids and teachers see me and I’m more approachable than when behind a door. When it’s quiet I can still get “work” done. Win win? #prinleaderchat
Totally agree. I'm in classrooms all the time and then follow up with conversation and positive notes. Build trust, be empathetic and be supportive.#prinleaderchat
I think taking an asset-based approach to evaluation can work better than a deficit-oriented model. This allows staff to feel valued for their contributions + makes growth-oriented feedback still feel like a win because there's a supported improvement opportunity. #PrinLeaderChat
In reply to
@DeniseMurai, @clegleiter, @ryandumkrieger
#PrinLeaderChat Thanks for joining in tonight! Let's leave it with a quote from the Dalai Lama: "When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new." Have a great week, learn something new, and be a model for others!
#PrinLeaderChat I’m going to PLC with my colleagues from other buildings. We meet weekly at Starbucks to avoid disruption. We try to make it a priority. We can all tell when we’ve missed a few weeks.
I try my best to be out welcoming my SS and T’s every morning, in hallways during passing times, cafeteria during lunches-interacting w/ students. Checking in and having conversations, asking SS and T’s how their day is/weekend was—adds to positive school culture. #prinleaderchat
It's a mindset: we believe that all of our students can + want to learn + I believe that teachers want to grow + learn. If they don't want to grow, we might need to look inward at ourselves + our systems + ask why not. #PrinLeaderChat
A3: A Principal’s office is where the learning is. Be visible, engaged and engaging in all aspects. Model courage, gratitude, forgiveness, compassion-in-action provide opportunities for everyone to attain moral purpose-risk hugging parents & keiki @ScarlettMLewis#PrinLeaderChat
