How to lead change. Lots of great ideas were brought up in this weeks activities. I can really see how certain programs worked out, and - more importantly - why others did not.
I have learned to take time, research your project, and talk to lots of people. Get feedback, research problems and solutions, and then talk to people some more. To be confident in leading, you have to have a grasp on every scenario imaginable of anything that may go wrong. It isn't that you don't believe in what your ideas are, but you will encounter every conceivable question and situation. How one handles this will show true colors.
This was a very enlightening week for me.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
CEDu 527 Week 4 - Top 10 lessons on school climate
Now that I am an '"excessed" teacher, I can only reflect on these topics, how I have handled them in the past, and how I need to use this knowledge to look forward. My principal has said over and over how he wants everybody back. He has done some gambling with school funds to keep specialists in place at least in .5 FTE positions. It is still very nerve-racking for all, as nothing will be finalized until the third Friday of the school year. While I understand his thinking and his strategy, it is still demoralizing that I am the one specialist excessed in the end. It leaves a door open for me, albeit a scary one. Few things in life have rattled me like this one has.
So from a fresh perspective, here are my lessons learned on school climate and morale:
10. School climate is a major factor in the success of all - teachers, students, support staff, and administration. That being said, in the future I will remember that actions speak louder than words. How one interacts with others will go much further than the 2 second compliment that is too soon forgotten.
9. Hidden agendas are a dangerous thing... try to avoid them. Looking back on my 10 year career at Burdick, I can see all of the agendas. Anyone playing politics among the staff is not in the profession for the true reasons. It is too bad that hind-sight is 20/20, but fore-sight is not.
8. Working hard and being accountable will not guarantee anything. Sometimes you have to play politics, too, no matter how many times you are told your skills are valuable to the school.
7. Always have a great friends and goals to keep spirits up - a job is not the only thing in the world. This may, at times, be your only source of positive support.
6. Exercise and eat the right foods - this adds to the positive support.
5. Laugh with your students, they will give you their trust.
4. Have high standards for your students, they will respect you. Know that it may take a while for them to realize this.
3. Do all of your copy work after the office closes - you will avoid lots of negative energy.
2. Take a fun field trip once a year.
And the #1 thing I learned about school climate:
As your students graduate and go on to bigger and better projects, the new ones bring new perspectives.
So from a fresh perspective, here are my lessons learned on school climate and morale:
10. School climate is a major factor in the success of all - teachers, students, support staff, and administration. That being said, in the future I will remember that actions speak louder than words. How one interacts with others will go much further than the 2 second compliment that is too soon forgotten.
9. Hidden agendas are a dangerous thing... try to avoid them. Looking back on my 10 year career at Burdick, I can see all of the agendas. Anyone playing politics among the staff is not in the profession for the true reasons. It is too bad that hind-sight is 20/20, but fore-sight is not.
8. Working hard and being accountable will not guarantee anything. Sometimes you have to play politics, too, no matter how many times you are told your skills are valuable to the school.
7. Always have a great friends and goals to keep spirits up - a job is not the only thing in the world. This may, at times, be your only source of positive support.
6. Exercise and eat the right foods - this adds to the positive support.
5. Laugh with your students, they will give you their trust.
4. Have high standards for your students, they will respect you. Know that it may take a while for them to realize this.
3. Do all of your copy work after the office closes - you will avoid lots of negative energy.
2. Take a fun field trip once a year.
And the #1 thing I learned about school climate:
As your students graduate and go on to bigger and better projects, the new ones bring new perspectives.
Monday, February 8, 2010
CEDu 527 week 3
Many interesting topics this week. I find the generational differences discussed in this weeks reading interesting and amusing.
Recently, I have become a new member of the "sandwich" generation - those who are raising a family and caring for aging parents. My mother-in -law is 80 years old, and recently widowed. Now, overall, she is pretty good. It is not really safe for her to shovel snow, or anything like that, but she can get around the house, stores and take care of more than the basics. Her eyes and ears work well, as does her mind.
Where is gets amusing is watching her take on the world, with digital this and that, and watching the kids take on the world - totally different. Then my husband (a baby-boomer, 15 years older than I) gets in the mix. He is very competent with all of the digital this and that, but sees it as a frill, where our kids see it as necessary life.
I always thought the "Greatest Generation" - those born during the depression and came of age during WWII-saw a remarkable amount of change during their life time, more than any other generation would. Now I second guess that, as you look at the changes that happen within short time spans.
Well, I'm going to stay in touch, and roll with the change. And enjoy the ride along the way!!
LL
Recently, I have become a new member of the "sandwich" generation - those who are raising a family and caring for aging parents. My mother-in -law is 80 years old, and recently widowed. Now, overall, she is pretty good. It is not really safe for her to shovel snow, or anything like that, but she can get around the house, stores and take care of more than the basics. Her eyes and ears work well, as does her mind.
Where is gets amusing is watching her take on the world, with digital this and that, and watching the kids take on the world - totally different. Then my husband (a baby-boomer, 15 years older than I) gets in the mix. He is very competent with all of the digital this and that, but sees it as a frill, where our kids see it as necessary life.
I always thought the "Greatest Generation" - those born during the depression and came of age during WWII-saw a remarkable amount of change during their life time, more than any other generation would. Now I second guess that, as you look at the changes that happen within short time spans.
Well, I'm going to stay in touch, and roll with the change. And enjoy the ride along the way!!
LL
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Burdick on Fox 6
Click here for Channel 6 coverage of Burdick and the new MPS budget mess.
The latest news is the gross amount of money being withheld from MPS - somewhere in the ballpark of $175,000,000. Now, I am all for accountability. I drive some in my building nuts with this! However, the amount of staff being cut is going to place an undue strain on those who are left, and there will be a dip in performance. With the amount of job cuts our school took, I do not even see how they are going to have the teacher work day structured within the constraints of the MTEA contract.
Take some time to read the responses to the segment - very......interesting...disturbing.....enlightening....
Here's to better tomorrows!
LL
The latest news is the gross amount of money being withheld from MPS - somewhere in the ballpark of $175,000,000. Now, I am all for accountability. I drive some in my building nuts with this! However, the amount of staff being cut is going to place an undue strain on those who are left, and there will be a dip in performance. With the amount of job cuts our school took, I do not even see how they are going to have the teacher work day structured within the constraints of the MTEA contract.
Take some time to read the responses to the segment - very......interesting...disturbing.....enlightening....
Here's to better tomorrows!
LL
Monday, February 1, 2010
CEDu 527 week 2
Interesting topics this week, communication and interviewing. Some of the points brought up raised some questions for me.
The text discussed the interviewing process, and how it is usually handled by an administrator. In our school, there is an interview team. There is also a process for interviewing, somewhat like the Robert's Rules of Order for managing meetings - not quite on that level, but there is a protocol. This at least keeps a little bit of a leash on the politics that may occur.
The next topic I found a little insulting. The text also discusses questions an administrator may want to ask in an interview. The text mentions that the administrator may have a different certification background than the person being interviewed, and may not be familiar with the best practices for that content area. Now, far be it from me to disrespect any teacher or administrator, but the fact of the matter is simple. For kids to get better at anything, they have to practice. I don't care if it is basketball or calculus. This is why we do homework..... practice and rehearse arts..... practice our sports teams. The method may differ, but the concept is the same.
UMMMMMMM, if you have an administration unfamiliar with basic practices in any area, it may be time for an administrator with better qualifications. It would be good for the department head to get this person familiar with the curriculum. And no, I do not think that this is asking too much. It is asking an administrator to be aware of what is going on in the multi-million dollar building he/she is being paid to administrate.
This brings up an excellent example of why administrative visibility is important. A good general knowledge of building practices will go a long way in leading your team of teachers, and visibility will show an interest.
That's all for now, folks!
LL
The text discussed the interviewing process, and how it is usually handled by an administrator. In our school, there is an interview team. There is also a process for interviewing, somewhat like the Robert's Rules of Order for managing meetings - not quite on that level, but there is a protocol. This at least keeps a little bit of a leash on the politics that may occur.
The next topic I found a little insulting. The text also discusses questions an administrator may want to ask in an interview. The text mentions that the administrator may have a different certification background than the person being interviewed, and may not be familiar with the best practices for that content area. Now, far be it from me to disrespect any teacher or administrator, but the fact of the matter is simple. For kids to get better at anything, they have to practice. I don't care if it is basketball or calculus. This is why we do homework..... practice and rehearse arts..... practice our sports teams. The method may differ, but the concept is the same.
UMMMMMMM, if you have an administration unfamiliar with basic practices in any area, it may be time for an administrator with better qualifications. It would be good for the department head to get this person familiar with the curriculum. And no, I do not think that this is asking too much. It is asking an administrator to be aware of what is going on in the multi-million dollar building he/she is being paid to administrate.
This brings up an excellent example of why administrative visibility is important. A good general knowledge of building practices will go a long way in leading your team of teachers, and visibility will show an interest.
That's all for now, folks!
LL
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