Read Chapter 1 in Glickman- SuperVision and Instructional Leadership
Read the Preface and Chapter 1 (up through p. 11) in Ginsberg-Transformative Professional Learning
Prep Ginsberg-Excited to Learn, using the book study protocol discussed in class.
Read from a variety of sources, articles, blogs, etc. and be prepared to share with colleagues.
Reflective prompt:
- Glickman (p. 13) states, " Educators are the primary stewards of the democratic spirit. The total of our efforts is far greater than the particulars of our job."
- Ginsberg reminds us that motivated teachers have motivated learners and that the whoe activity of education is ethical and political in nature (p.5).
- What type of society do we desire?
- What type of educational environment should supervision promote in order to move us toward the society we desire?
Question: As a teacher and emerging leader, what are your core values?
I believe that communication and a growth mindset is critical as we work with staff and teachers to better our instructional practices. We must have trust and positive relationships in order to improve our practices. We must be open, honest, and full of heart when we speak about our kids and their growth. ALL kids can learn at high levels and deserve the access to a free and appropriate education. We must believe in our kids and our own instruction. We must continually go on a quest to improve upon our current state or current knowledge base---teachers MUST BE LIFELONG LEARNERS!
ReplyDeleteFeedback must be specific, concise, and meaningful---we must follow up our feedback with advice or strategies that will benefit or better the practices of those we are evaluating.
I believe that all teachers are leaders and if they do not believe that than we must instill that belief in them.
Great post! Education is all about growth and adapting to meet the needs of our students, their families, and our future. The pace of change is relentless but we must keep working to make a difference.
DeleteMy building principal actually prefers the term "feedforward" instead of feedback. Something to consider since our objective is to keep moving ahead.
DeleteLove that Jason---I have stored that in my brain :)
DeleteI have shared before that my core value is love. Every day I go to because I love teaching. I love working with children. I love education. I had to write a mission statement today at PD and while it is still a rough draft it is....My mission is to teach and lead with love so that children will know they are loved and supported and have a safe place to grow because all children are capable of success.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher and emerging leader, I have learned that if I enter all situations remembering that its about what's best for children then solutions are easier to find.
I also talked about love. I do find it interesting how people interpret and show love in so many different ways. The classic, “ill take away your pain” vs tough love. Great post.
DeleteIt always comes back to...What is best for students? Well said Krista!
DeleteAs we all enter this next realm we will need to remember to love our teachers and other adults as well - even when they may not be doing something that makes sense at the time. As a leader our positivity and positivity is important.
DeleteThis week I am reminded of this too. We are all passionate about kids, we wouldn't be doing this work if not. And we all have our own way of expressing this.
DeleteAs a teacher and emerging leader, what are your core values?
ReplyDeleteService: “Charity is the pure love of Christ” I believe that service minded leaders don’t serve from a place of “I have everything figured out, so let me help you” rather a place of love and appreciation.
Hard Work: “Lift where you stand”. I believe that success and fulfillment can only be achieved through honest and committed work. I also believe that work and working together creates the experiences needed to build and maintain lasting relationships.
Respect: “Respect is given, not earned” I believe it is my duty to treat people with dignity and respect, no matter the circumstance or my personal opinions. Maintaining a level of compassion, understanding, and positivity, establishes a willingness and invitation to building capacity in those around you.
To me, core values are much more than ideals, intentions, or beliefs. Core values are defining components of who we are and they determine how we act, and interact with the world around us. No matter the circumstance, the people around, or the end goal in mind, my actions and engagement are driven by interconnected and sometimes conflicting values.
I concur "core values are defining components of who we are". When we are true to our values it will be evident to those who we are working with. When beliefs are intricately woven into our very being and we are transparent with our intentions it will strengthen relationships with those who we have the privilege to be engaged with.
DeleteI agree with you on service minded leaders. We have to lead from a place of service-helping other with love, grace where needed, and appreciation.
DeleteNate- of course I love "lift where you stand" That's awesome!
DeleteAnd l love that you said, serving really should come from a place of love and appreciation, not "I've got it all figured out, so let me help you.." (although I do love that kind of help sometimes) It feels so much better to be on the receiving end when it does come from love and appreciation!
"Lift where you stand"----this absolutely rings true to me. Thank you for enriching our hearts with your heart, Nate. I appreciate your outlook on education and how service minded you are as a leader.
ReplyDeleteMy core values center around the philosophy of Servant Leadership. I believe the role of a leader in education is to serve the students, staff, families and community. When you are truly serving others, building genuine relationships and creating effective systems is natural because the needs of others always comes first. Servant Leadership means you will do whatever is necessary to make sure others succeed. The question, “How can I help my staff, students and teachers develop and grow in their abilities?” continually guides your decisions. As a true Servant Leader, credit for that success is always reflected back to those you are serving. It is a selfless view of leadership that I have come to realize mirrors the core values in which I was raised and how my husband and I have chosen to raise our own children.
ReplyDeletepass the credit and take the arrows :)
DeleteSari I truly appreciate your statement, "When you are truly serving others, building genuine relationships and creating effective systems is natural because the needs of others always comes first. Servant Leadership means you will do whatever is necessary to make sure others succeed." I also believe that when we as educators, students, and leaders are serving others then we selflessly look first at the needs of others. Looking to meet the needs of another first will keep success for all in the forefront of our minds are we emerge into a land of teacher shortage, overcrowding, and at times limited resources.
DeleteSari-I couldn't agree with you more! What really resonated with me was your comment about "credit for that success is always reflected back to those that you are serving." Beautifully said, and very true! Leaders are like stage managers...we make things happen from behind the scenes, but don't need the spotlight to do so! : )
DeleteAs a leader in training, I value what Glickman termed as, “Leadership is shared with teachers”. I opt to take the position of an equal stake holder in service to kids. In the context of “a desirable society”, I think the shared responsibility concept is a big deal. In order to develop shared responsibility, members of society need to be capable to serve the society in a beneficial capacity. In order to serve in capacity, they must have skills and education, compassion and emotional health. So now to bring this thought full circle; I value educational leadership, being an equal stake holder, therefore, leading by example by practicing collective responsibility to serve students in order to build their capacity to access their full potential to be a beneficial contributor in society as a result of an outstanding, comprehensive education, including skill based, compassionate, emotionally intelligent instruction.
ReplyDeletePaul I agree with you that we are equal stake holders. Working in secondary I see this as even more true. In the secondary, we have larger and larger groups. We need others around us that we can increase their capacity to lead groups from with in. We are not and cannot be in charge of everything, though we do need to be the lead learner and example setter.
Delete“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
ReplyDeleteHaim G Ginot
As a leader it is up to me to promote a positive school/system climate and to keep my mood is positive. My core values are instrumental in this work.
Moral Authority
I truly believe that leadership is a partnership and that to engage all stakeholders in the shared vision creates interdependency and a sense of belonging. When I made the transfer from school building to central office I quickly understood the damage of the word "THEY". In my current role-still central office- yet a much smaller system, we are working hard for all of leadership to embrace the WE-ness and collectively make decisions for the health and success of our system.
It has not been easy for some. It is a difficult change to take ownership for decisions staff may not understand. It is easy to say sorry and place ownership on an outside entity, yet a leader takes the collective responsibility and stands strong with OUR and WE.
ALL means ALL
ALL means ALL demands accountability and continual monitoring. Differentiating within a classroom is key and language such as "those kids" must be changed to OUR kids. I have experienced- through observation- the belief that RTI happens outside the classroom and that "those" kids are taken away to learn. This creates ALL means some and allows the system to fail. We must have a collective responsibility for ALL to mean EVERY single child.
Reciprocal Accountability
In order to expect my team to provide all students with equity and to believe in growth mindset I have the responsibility to provide the professional development and continual support to build each person's capacity to live up to that expectation. We are spending a lot of time focusing on understanding that we are giving permission to fail forward. Take risks for our kids.... make mistakes.....as long as we continue to move forward.
KIDS first
We have spent a lot of time making adults comfortable in education. I believe everything we do needs to be looked through the lens of "Ïs is best for kids?" The focus in not on teaching, the focus is on learning. This shift is key for success in the twenty-first century. Dialogue needs to be collegial and child focused and based on the cycle of inquiry, collaboration and reflection. I will be walking though classrooms this year looking at student behaviors, engagement and evidence of learning. Our kids deserve it.
Brittane,
DeleteIt is insightful of you to address the "hidden Curriculum" of making things convenient for adults. This very concept came up in our PD day yesterday in the form of a question : "Are we willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of student improvement? Staff started to squirm in their chairs a bit at this question. However, I think many were receptive to considering, and perhaps taking some initiative, to taking a step toward this concept. The Admin lens provides an opportunity to create an impetuous for staff to change their perception of the work.
Q: As a teacher and emerging leader what are your core values?
ReplyDeleteI am first and foremost a student centered teacher and leader. When I think about what I value most, I value making a difference in a child’s life. Student achievement is far beyond the assessments used to measure proficiency in the Common Core State Standards. Of course I work every day to ensure students achieve at high levels, but I believe in educating the whole child. I believe in cultivating a strong sense of self that allows students to think critically and solve problems. I want to empower students to not only achieve, but be confident in who they are, ready to make positive choices. To accomplish this, I believe education comes down to fostering and maintaining positive relationships, being a servant leader, and possessing a thirst for continual learning.
Relationships are everything. Education does not happen in isolation. It is a dynamic processes that requires collective ownership and collaboration. I strive to be open, honest, and encouraging when communicating with others. Empowered and supported students start with an empowered and supported team. Servant leadership does not stop with supporting staff, it is a framework for how you live. Every day I look at the lovely sticky note in my car and read…“How can I serve others today?”. When leaders come along side and support the community to achieve a shared mission, amazing things can happen. Finally. I love how exhilarating it feels to think that as each day passes you are developing a richer understanding of the world. I hope to instill a Growth Mindset and foster a lifelong learning environment. As we continue to evolve, we continue to improve the system. In the ever changing realm of education, we are never “done”.
Life long learning environment and Growth mindset---absolutely.
DeleteI feel like I could go on and on about this topic and still not cover it all. Perhaps that means I really need to sit down and establish and consolidate my values. I think about it a lot but have not really solidified how I feel, if I am honest. So, bear with me. I will be brief.
ReplyDeleteAbove all else, I'm about relationships. I believe that leadership starts with an intentional focus on building meaningful, authentic relationships with those you intend to lead.
I believe that there is good in everyone. I also believe that with the right kind of support and care, each child and adult can learn at high levels and can also be a leader.
I believe that to be a good leader, I must be reflective, humble, focused, kind, authentic, firm and work super-duper hard.
Finally, I believe that to be a good leader, you must have a strong, clearly communicated vision. Without it, there is very little direction, nothing to measure decisions against or to align initiatives.
YES!! I believe a good leader must be ... "reflective, humble, focused, kind and authentic". These are also wonderful traits of good person!
DeleteAlyssa we are in the same boat. I don't quite know how to focus in on what I value enough to put it into a sentence or paragraph for that matter. You did a good job. Thank you for being transparent.
DeleteI think that it is tough for us to identify values because as educators we all value much of the same things. Because they are built into what we do and naturally believe we think that we have to come up with some catch all value system. I don't think that is the case. I believe what we value is what we value and that those values should be transferred on and in to society.
DeleteCottle Core Values
ReplyDelete*To empower others to become lifelong learners, to excel as independent and critical thinkers in a diverse and ever changing society.
*To approach each day with an optimistic and positive attitude... It's great day and life is good!
*Work hard... Stay humble.
*Encourage and support... Appreciate and acknowledge.
*Create equitable access for ALL.
*Provide opportunities for endless possibilities.
*Ensure every day counts for every learner!
Humble..love that reminder! Remembering to approach each day with a positive attitude is critical, just like kids we need a clean slate each day. Your statements are supportive, encouraging, and what I think most educators hope to do daily.
DeleteI believe in the old adages, "It takes a village to raise a child and many hands make light work", but I am having a hard time at this point putting into a cohesive sentence or paragraph what my "CORE" values are. My Core believes that EVERY INDIVIDUAL child should feel that they exist and belong in the classroom, building, and community in which they reside. That they are equal to the person on the left, right, behind and in front of them. That if they don't have a resource they will not be put on the spot for not having it but instead, given it so that they are on the same playing field. My core believes every child should feel safe physically and emotionally from the moment they cross the threshold. Every child should know without a shadow of a doubt that every adult in the building is there for their benefit to help him or her be successful and to reach his or her full potential. My core says parents shouldn't be judged by their past, bank account balance, contribution to society or the amount of marriages but instead, included as a player on the team with the expectation that we will win for your child and mine because in the end they're all my children and I may go down with this ship but, in doing so, I will die trying to save everyone around me first because I would do it for my biological family and I will do it for you.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the practical actions? I don't know.
I agree with you...it does take a village and as leaders in building we are going to have to work hard through love and service to model the change we want to see happen. I spend two days in Kids at Hope training last week where we were reminded that as administrators, it is essential to work with our teachers so that every child feels important and has connections to the adults around them...well said!
DeleteSpoken with true conviction. I love it! Your beliefs remind me of those teachers in my past who have made a lasting impact on my life. I always felt at ease in their presence because they didn't care about the sisters that they taught before me or activities I was or was not involved in. They took the time to make me feel unique and learn about me as a person rather than one of their many students. Unfortunately, though, it seems as if these types of teachers were few and far between.
DeleteAs a school leader I hope to establish a learning environment that influences not only our students, staff, and parents but the community as well. This goal will be influenced by my core values, starting with my belief in maintaining a positive attitude and treating everyone with respect. I believe in No Excuses. Every student in our school, regardless of nationality, race, religion, or gender has the capacity to learn and do great things. This makes all of us accountable for their success and growth and will raise our own standard of performance. I am also committed to integrity and the learning and well-being of each student and staff member. If we model doing great things when no one else is looking, imagine the lasting impact this will have on our school culture. Finally, I believe in teamwork and relationships. We can achieve greatness by challenging and working alongside each other, helping to exceed our own expectations and ability levels along the way.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what is going on, but I cannot seem to post. So I will go ahead and bring my posting to class.
ReplyDeletemaybe if I post it as a reply?
DeleteIf “educators are the primary stewards of the democratic spirit; the total of our efforts is far greater than the particulars of our job" is true then I don’t believe we (as a collective group of educators) are doing enough to improve democracy in our nation. When we examine what Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in his two volumes of Democracy in America (1835 and 1840) compare them to today, we see that not a whole lot has changed. Here is what he said:
DeleteThere is, indeed, a most dangerous passage in the history of a democratic people. When the taste for physical gratifications among them has grown more rapidly than their education and their experience of free institutions, the time will come when men are carried away and lose all self-restraint at the sight of the new possessions they are about to obtain. In their intense and exclusive anxiety to make a fortune, they lose sight of the close connection that exists between the private fortune of each and the prosperity of all. It is not necessary to do violence to such a people in order to strip them of the rights they enjoy; they themselves willingly loosen their hold. The discharge of political duties appears to them to be a troublesome impediment which diverts them from their occupations and business. If they are required to elect representatives, to support the government by personal service, to meet on public business, they think they have no time, they cannot waste their precious hours in useless engagements; such idle amusements are unsuited to serious men who are engaged with the important interests of life. These people think they are following the principle of self-interest, but the idea they entertain of that principle is a very crude one; and the better to look after what they call their own business, they neglect their chief business, which is to remain their own masters.
Today’s education system is build for economic growth, not democracy. Our consumer driven society has resulted in consumer driven education. We sell out for the latest and greatest program or equipment and sell today’s student on the idea that they have to go make money and become slaves to the system that raised them. Are the tests getting the results we need? What we want? Are the louder voices of testing isn’t working winning simply because they are louder? If not, then were is the silent data saying that the testing and systems change is working?
Cont....
DeleteMichael Hynes is the superintendent of the Patchogue-Medford School District in New York. He knows that attempting to gauge teacher value via the state’s $2.7 million, nonsensical, secretive value-added modeling (VAM) scheme is foolish. Below is his August 28, 2015, letter to a teacher in the Patchogue-Medford district.
Here is what Hynes writes:
August 28, 2015
Dear Ms. —,
The purpose of this letter is to let you know that I DO NOT CARE what your state growth score is. Let me be clear… I DO NOT CARE. It does not define you. Please know that I understand that nobody likes to be reduced to a number.
The fact is, you are much more than a number, not only to me, but most important to the children and parents you serve. Keep your head up and your eye on what is most important… your students and your teaching craft. The Patchogue-Medford School district fully supports you as an educator, regardless of what this meaningless, invalid and inhumane score states. Let me know what you need and it is my sincere hope you have a great year.
With Warmest Regards,
Michael J. Hynes, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
And the letter is copied to the teacher’s personnel file.
It is time to stand up for democracy and while we continue to play the consumer game, we educate our students on the flaws of the system in hopes that over time we can break the pattern. Our teachers should be encouraged to beat the test while encouraging democratic advancement. However, if we use Tocqueville as the person who originally pointed this out to us then we have not made much progress in more than 170 years.
I guess I would sum up my core value as passion; a passion to adapt and overcome. It starts with leaders that aren’t afraid to go against the grain while still allowing progress to be made.
People perform better in jobs and careers when they feel good about they work they're doing and when their work enhances their feelings of who they are as individuals. Therefore, it is imperative that leaders in any field dedicate themselves to the empowerment of others. Over the past two years, I have spent hours reflecting on the kind of leadership I want to own, to live up to. Achievement, empathy, family, kindness, passion...those all play a huge part in my vision as leader. However, one value consistently rises to the top of all the values I hold dear, and in actuality, it ties them all together...SERVICE. I am happiest-as a teacher, mother, wife, leader, friend, and so on, when I serve others. One of the great paradoxes in leadership is that in order to lead, one must first serve. As a leader in our building, I believe that is what drives me to do the work we do. I build relationships through the desire to serve. I seek out solutions, resources, and opportunities to empower others through the desire to serve. I run my decisions through my "values filter" in order to align them with my core value of service. I believe in the amazing capacity human kind has for learning. As a leader in our building, I make it a point to make people feel that they matter to me, that nothing during our interaction is more important than what their need is at that very moment. As Goethe once said, "Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least."
ReplyDeleteElissa I love how you put this. I love serving others and it is my default setting. Moving forward we all get better when we can build others capacity to do more from with in.
DeleteElissa- I have experienced that from you... I love when I get the chance to talk to you, because you do make me feel important... that is such a great skill! As I was reading your ideas on service one thought I had is how serving others has really helped me at different times in my life... I'm thinking on a personal level- but how when I have suffered from feeling less than ideal- how when I have gotten outside of myself and quit thinking about myself and served other people in anyway I could... how that helped me out of rather difficult times... I am wondering how to help build capacity in that area, maybe its just by example... but I maybe by opportunities presented to them? okay, just rambling my thoughts out now... great post!
DeleteYou just made my night Lauralee! Perhaps year. : ) Thank you for sharing that with me. I must say, I feel the same about you. You may not realize it, but your kind, calm, and genuine personality reminds me of some of the best leaders I've had the privilege of working with. You make people feel comfortable and safe-and when we feel that way, we're willing to take more risks to grow and change. I loved it when you said that service to others is about stepping out of yourself. So true! When we take out our preconceived ideas and biases, our thinking is much clearer-leading to better listening, better ideas, and better solutions that are truly centered on the needs of that person! Thanks Lauralee! Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!
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ReplyDeleteComing from the Special Ed side of things my I really believe that all means all. We are here for ALL students! I have experienced far to many times were staff will simply push problems that don't have anything to do with special education or a students needs down to the special education department when it could have and should have been made by them. Additional, I have seen many time where new materials were purchased with the proper numbers of texts, but then neglected to account that it was also going to be used in the special education department as well. If we want all students to be able to do something then we also need to make sure that we appropriately equip all students and teachers with the materials needed to be successful.
ReplyDeleteA second core value for me is, what would I want for my own kids. I use this lens to help me make many decisions. When I come to hard decisions, I put my own kids in place of the student we are talking about and move from there based on what I would want for them. Wanting only be the best for my kids I think that this helps me focus and make choices that are good.
Finally, we are a team. As a staff we need to work together to impact all of our students and their individual needs. The team includes everyone from the bus driver that picks students up to our food service crew, to the custodial staff, our front office staff our classified staff and finally our teaching staff. We all have a part to play in the lives of our students. When we are working together for all of our students with a shared responsibility of doing what is right for all students and treating them like we would want our own kids treated it makes moving forward as a team easier. It doesn't mean all is going to be perfect, but if we have a common reference point it is more likely.
Interesting- I really wasn't aware that happens- it is sad to think some students might be left out of having something as basic as the curriculum they need. Thanks for sharing that- I will keep that in mind.
DeleteI like how you explained about making decisions based on what you'd want for your own children. That is something I do as well, it seems very automatic for me- maybe that is part of being parents! :)
Vern I completely agree. Our psych has tried to reiterate these same sentiments. ALL Students are gen-ed students, and some student receive additional services through special ed. Its such a powerful, and empowering way, to think about how we view our students. All DOES mean all.
DeleteCore Values:
ReplyDeleteI believe positive relationships are vital to being a great leader. Leaders also need to have integrity, in all we do. Great leaders are inspiring, they live and work in a way that I want to emulate- usually because they’ve got great skills and character. Great leaders aren’t perfect and don’t pretend to be… they are honest about what they can or can’t do. I believe that a great leader gives hope to the people they work with, staff, students and families. As a teacher and mom I believe that these values are ones I try to live up to, especially the positive relationship piece, if that is not there, I don’t feel like there is much chance to lead effectively.
Integrity and positive relationships -- Imagine what education would be like if every school leader exercised these characteristics. Considering all of the high expectations placed upon administrators today it seems as if relationship-building is becoming less of a priority. Strong relationships reveal character and allow leaders to be genuine.
DeleteAs an educator, I feel that it is my moral obligation to foster and instill hope, motivation, and inspiration for all students. I believe that all students can succeed, no exceptions! Making connections and building relationships with each student as well as their families is critical for student success. Team Work! I became a teacher to encourage, nurture, and guide students to reach their potential. I did this by setting high expectations and providing scaffolding and support so that each student will achieve.
ReplyDeleteTo be an effective leader, I must establish a positive, supportive, encouraging, trustworthy culture of leading by learning. My communication needs to be transparent, concise, often, and genuine. I will foster learning as a life-long journey that we will do together. Leading is serving; therefore, I will recognize teacher strengths and encourage them to share their knowledge with others. Building teacher capacity through feedback and learning, strengthens the culture and learning environment for everyone.