TNedchat is a way for educators in Tennessee to share thoughts, resources, and information. The weekly chat is moderated by Jessica Warner (@jessawarner) and Samantha Bates (@sjsbates).
A1: admins connect district initiatives to the work in the school. How does a decision/initiative fit within the culture of their community/school? Admins provide good feedback on that. #tnedchat
A1: Admin had the unique perspective of getting firsthand info in their schools, representing teachers, and gathering wider perspective/other relevant info. #TnEdChat
A1 schools do awesome projects and do excellent community work. Someone has to tell their story. There also needs to be someone to defend the students when the district labels them a certain way. #TNEDCHAT
A1) Admin knows the pulse of the school if the new policy will hinder or help their school. They should be able to speak up to have their voices heard. #TNEdChat
A1) Admin. know the pulse of the teachers and they can relay that to those in district offices. They need to be in the room where it happens. #TnEdChat
A1: admins are directly connected to the schools and what goes on inside them. They would understand the impact of decisions on their building. #TNEdChat
A1: We have leaders for a reason. Their voice is OUR voice. They represent the teachers and the students in their schools. They see more than anyone. I think they know what's needed. #TNEdChat
A1: Every school is different. Admins need to fight for the needs of their students, faculty and staff. It willl be different than the needs of another school in the district. Voice is powerful, and persuasive. #TnEdCHat
A1 Adm have a sense of the great things that are happening in their schools and where the growth edges are. Sharing at the district level helps identify goals and coordinates efforts to create a seamless K-12 experience for all Ss in the district. #TnEdChat
A1: Every school is different. Admins need to fight for the needs of their students, faculty and staff. It willl be different than the needs of another school in the district. Voice is powerful, and persuasive. #TnEdCHat
A2: we have “fireside chats” with our super for our staff at schools. We do a feedback form on every training and for each semesteron what training they need. Helps direct our support! #TnEdCHat
A2- our principal asks teachers their opinion before decisions are made and is very much present in our classrooms. He makes an effort to do his best for Ts and Ss alike. #TNedchat
A1: Admins know the school frontwards , backwards , inside, and out. Great leaders listen to those inside of their school and are therefore able to be a voice for all educational aspects of that school building. #TNEdChat
A2 Adm encourages a shared leadership model. Rotation for team leaders, committee chairs, and honoring the professional expertise of educators by directing PLCs. Mtgs with bldg adm and lunches with leadership as well. #TnEdChat
A2: We have a leadership team. 1 T rep per grade level meets with admin to discuss anything & everything. We work as middlemen between admin and Ts. All are welcome to the meetings, but we meet w/grade levels after to share info #tnedchat
A2 Adm encourages a shared leadership model. Rotation for team leaders, committee chairs, and honoring the professional expertise of educators by directing PLCs. Mtgs with bldg adm and lunches with leadership as well. #TnEdChat
A1: If we are striving for organizational health and quality decision making, it is critical that we include principals in our big-picture discussions. They report the culture and status of school more than any other stakeholder. #tnedchat
Clear communication and willingness to listen to leadership teams. Also, developing a culture that enables Ts to be comfortable with admins open door policy- always available to Listen to ideas. #TNedchat
A2 Our principal asks our opinions, is very present inside of our classrooms, and works with our students. He is then able to relay our needs. #TNEdChat
A2: Multiple options/avenues for input, independent decisions, culture that values process over outcome only, and opportunities to try new things w/out fear.
A2: We have a leadership team that handles housekeeping, discipline, and funding issues. We also have an instructional leadership team that focuses exclusively on instruction. We've found it very beneficial to separate the two. #tnedchat
A1 it’s important for Admin to have a voice so decisions reflect school/teacher needs. Its much easier to keep people on board when everyone’s view is shared. #TNEdChat
You should be...it's official, we have been working together for so long on this stuff we share one brain! Pretty sure you have it most of the time! LOL #tnedchat
There was some grumbling that upper levels of adm might not have a sense of what was going in classroom/dept/team. Groups of edus were invited in for informal chats over lunch and from those came a better understanding of what was happening across the PreK-12 spectrum. #TnEdChat
A2: Teachers are represented through grade levels representatives . Also, weekly meetings may be held on early dismissal days and teachers are able to communicate with admin and others about school events and more . #TnEdChat
A3 Definitely not enough. I am really being intentional in student choice within my classroom and have realized they don't have much of a voice (if any) on school-wide decisions. They are shocked when I give them a chance in my class! #TNEdChat
A3 One thing I have noticed about our new bldg adm is her willingness to listen to all students. She truly has an open door. If she wants more voices she will come and speak to classes directly like gathering feedback for future playground redesign. #TnEdChat
Yeah, leadership teams tend to get drawn into too many housekeeping discussions. Having another team that just focuses on instruction really keeps things on track. #tnedchat
Hey Julie! Sorry I missed @edcampGigCity. I was helping my kid win the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. 1st in Den. 1st in Pack. So it was worth it. =) #tnedchat
A3: Limited - we plan to have student voice but then most meetings occur when students are not present. We do complete student surveys and review student feedback. #Tnedchat
A3 Just realized we also survey students about their classes at the end of the year as well. I think I could use more formative feedback for tech though #tnedchat
A3: Student voice is very limited in school-wide decision making in our elementary schools. However, we do evaluate culture and safety with our students regularly through surveys and discussion. #tnedchat
There are a lot of teams and depts across the PreK-12 so currently every team of edu (dept, grade level) has met. That would make one lunch for each of us. I am not sure if there will be more this year. #TnEdChat
A4: Hearing the voice of all increases value in each other and builds a sense of community. Things don't seem "done to us" when we know there is a representative and sounding boards #tnedchat
A2 Ensuring all are comfortable sharing ideas and concerns is crucial. PLCs, vertical planning, leadership team all share input and voice. Overall, everyone needs to know their voice will be heard. Grounded trust and + culture encourage sharing! #TNEdChat
A4 because if everyone feels valued- they will see their importance and truly feel like part of the unit. That promotes progress, teamwork, confidence, etc. #TNedchat
A4 Voices carry opinions and information. Hearing everyone's voice is an opportunity to grow. It also builds community, enhances our ability to practice respect, and has the potential to engage us in meaningful dialogue. #TnEdChat
A4: Listening to various perspectives allows for more intentional decisions to be made. It also promotes buy in when you have a voice in the process. #Tnedchat
A4 Understanding someone else's prospective is powerful. It can bring new, better ideas to the table. Letting all have a sense of ownership in their school can/will change the culture! #TNEdChat
A4: Invaluable in teaching equality. I feel strongly about amplifying unheard voices, and teaching value/ importance of being heard and respecting others voices. #TNEdChat
A4 I view a school like an NFL franchise (sports mind). Lots of different players and personnel needed to build a cohesive and positive TEAM. Everyone has different roles, needs, and ideas, which are all important to help the TEAM grow and prosper. #tnedchat
A4: I just did a school-wide parent technology survey to get a sense of how parents feel about our communication, website, and online instruction tools. We also asked them to estimate the Ss screentime. It's yielded some pretty insightful results. #tnedchat
I also think there is value in teaching students how to give feedback beyond "this class sucks." They need to learn how to share intelligently. #tnedchat
A4 Understanding someone else's perspective is powerful. It can bring new, better ideas to the table. Letting all have a sense of ownership in their school can/will change the culture! #TNEdChathttps://t.co/XxyXSanV2w
We are not 1:1, other than a few classrooms. Many students have online homework. Those that do not have home access, have priority access in the classroom. #tnedchat
A4: importance is informed decisions! If you get feedback on how decisions will be received or implications (good or bad) prior to, implementation and communication or changes can be made earlier and better. #TnEdCHat
A4: If you don’t hear a voice, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It may mean it is complaining to someone else without your knowledge, or the person speaking doesn’t trust you to listen. Voices need validation, or they are stifled and can become blind spots. #tnedchat
A4 I think it’s vital to hear everyone’s voice because we’re at school more than home. We need to function as family. Each family member has a role and must be heard to function properly. #wearefamily#TNEdChat
A5 I have students who were afraid to speak in class, we used different tools like @RecapThat and @Flipgrid and they said it helped them be more comfortable #TnEdChat
A5. Tech can increase the reach and improve the summoning of feedback. If tech is solely used it can leave some voices silent, like stakeholders who don’t have access or are not informed of how to access feedback loop. #TnEdCHat
A4.2: BTW, I don't think that doing surveys is enough provide voice. It's one tool and very limited in scope. Voice comes from real conversation. In 2019, I think there is a lot reluctance to have genuine conversations with stakeholders. Any effort is a good start. #tnedchat
A5.1 #edtech helps share #StuVoice and the story of the great work being done in schools. S generated blogs, twitter feeds, and digital portfolios express understanding and engage the community in ongoing discussions/learning opportunities. #TnEdChat
A5: Technology sometimes gives the quiet student a voice they won't use in classroom discussions.The negative is that bad choices online can follow us for a long time. #tnedchat
A5: I think we just need to be responsible & teach our Ss to be the same. Obviously something like this #TNEdChat is a positive platform, but as we know, social media is often used as a negative place to amplify voice.
A5) There is good and bad to anonymity by using technology. Sometimes people just have an ax to grind and technology is a good way to vent. Although Tech is quick and easy to receive feedback. #TNEdChat
A5.2 #edtech also provides an opportunity for our quieter students to have a voice. @Padlet and @Flipgrid give students a chance to think, plan, and then practice speaking without the pressure of the spotlight thus adding their important views to the mix. #TnEdChat
A5: technology (social media) can provide avenues for sharing your voice, which can be positively negative depending on the purpose and intent. #Tnedchat
A5: On positive side it can allow quiet voices of reflection to be heard above the din. On negative side, it can allow coarse and demeaning thoughts a megaphone, sometimes without accountability #TnEdChat
Yes, I wish teachers focused more on showing students how to use social media for positives. So much potential to meet them on their platforms #tnedchat
A5: Such a double edged sword. Positive = opportunity/community. Negative = herd mentality/groupthink. We just have to help teach how to use it better. #TNEdChat
A5 My students started sharing their voice with me about class using @Flipgrid. They were able to say things honestly. Negative- Sometimes my 4th grade lovies don't make the best choices with tech! #TNEdChat
A5 - If used correctly, tech can enhance the ability to share and collaborate (re:#TNedchat). These chats help me connect, develop, and enhance my own thinking processes - even when lurking 😉.Negative - well .... negative energy is easy to generate behind a screen. #TnEdChat
A5) Positive = Creative tech tools are giving new ways for students to express their learning. Negative = Social Media. So many pitfalls for students, teachers and parents. #tnedchat
A5 There are many potential negatives but they're opportunities for us to prepare Ss. Interfacing w/ social media, screen time, reliable web resources, delayed gratification are all topics to discuss in class, w/ modeling & purposeful #edtech integration. #TnEdChat
A5: Positively when highlighting ideas, perspectives, and accomplishments of note for benefit of self and others; negatively when pushing individual agendas, griping, mudslinging, or vilifying others and their character for the purpose of damage/defamation of others. #tnedchat
A5 positive ways I have see are tech tools empowering students of ALL levels, especially students who struggle with traditional methods. Negative use of tech is when it’s used as a babysitter! #Tnedchat
A6: Wellll, I'm the type of person that makes my voice heard if I am passionate about something. I also feel blogging and twitter chats give me a consistent outlet to feel heard as well. #tnedchat
A6: My admin makes sure we know our voices matter. He has an open door (should be a revolving door for me) and always welcomes us. If I ever felt like I wasn't heard, I'd make sure I was. I'm a Marine and a New Yorker, it's hard to keep me quiet. #TNEdChat
A6: I feel like my voice is valued. I look for opportunities I share my voice as well as opportunities to listen to others’ voices. Experience in @pefchattanooga programs have helped prepare me to share my voice. @PEFldrshippgms@PEF_Policy#Tnedchat
A6: I think my voice matters most if I'm using to elevate a cause - student needs, educational philosophy, community involvement. Intentional use when that's the case through writing, speaking, and of course #TNEdChat!
A6 I feel like my voice is heard at the school level. Also believe ppl have to be willing to let people know concerns and ideas for them to be heard. Easy to complain to your neighbor or wish on a star but not tell the people who have influence. #tnedchat
A6 Such a loaded ?... It depends on the circumstance. I feel my voice is valued when its heard/listened to. Being intentional is something I'm working very hard on by using my voice to lift others, ideas, students, etc. #TNEdChat
A1: As the captain of a large ship w/many moving parts that only they are best aware of, it’s critical for decision makers to listen AND heed their voice...bc they are the ones most held responsible for the failures/successes. #TnEdCHat
A6: It matters when it speaks truth and has a basis in experience, well-reasoned justifications, and advocacy for what is right. I wish this were always the case. I’m learning more about how to be intentional about being heard by various influential stakeholders. #tnedchat
A6- I do make my voice heard, but strive to be tactful to all. I definitely am using twitter more to share my voice! Loving twitter chats for PD and sharing. #tnedchat
A6: I reflect through Twitter and blogging for my own personal and professional growth. For me. The moment I tailor my message (for others) to reach an audience is the moment the potential for inauthenticity increases. #tnedchat
A6: My voice matters to the people in my building. Just as theirs matters to me. Outside my building, I'm not sure. But those domains are outside my control and don't affect my day to day. I've gotten better at letting that go. #tnedchat
A6b: I've also learned to ask questions of others. Not everyone is as aggressive at speaking as I am, sometimes I need to amplify the voice of those around me more than me being heard #tnedchat
I taught at @OvertonMNPS a while ago and we had a school advisory committee made up of teachers and admin that met a few times a month. I thought it was worth while #tnedchat
A6b: I appreciate how @AAEdNetworks and @SCORE4Schools value the voice of educators and proactively seek ways to engage them in having their voices heard — and acted upon in significant ways. #tnedchat
