Teacher Leaders are Crucial to your PLC school

Presented by Susan Bell & Chris Watkins

2011 Powerful Learning Conference

Talking Points

Culture of your building?Building (v.) / Building(n.) CultureWhat are the responsibilities of a Principal?3 Big A’s and Committed SardinesTeacher to TeacherStrategies to develop Teacher LeadersMost Important wordsCan’t have one without the other

We BelieveEach Learner is unique, with special gifts and talents. When given the opportunity to use them, they can make their little corner of the world a better place.

We Believe Learning is a continuous opportunity that allows each of us to enrich our lives. This journey should be filled with enthusiasm, adventure, and time to reflect.

We BelieveTeaching should inspire tolerance, compassion and a sense of community.

We BelieveTeachers must first and foremost care about children, realizing that each day we experience the miracles that result from sharing our hearts, minds, knowledge, and enthusiasm, with a child.

At Claude Brown Intermediate ……

Building (verb)

& Building (noun)

CULTUREPlayTeamsMission StatementCelebrations Objectives outside classroom doorsRe-structuring SPED departmentPAC – Parent Advisory CouncilFamily Trivia NightScheduling – daily, SPED, testing, Elective

What kind of activities are you doing in your school to develop your culture?

Share your ideas with a neighbor

Leading the Way – Developing the next

generation of Leaders

principal’s responsibilityDeveloping People•Provide individualized support and consideration

•Offer intellectual stimulation•Modeling appropriate values and practices

The primary aim of developing your teacher leaders is Capacity Building …They need the knowledge and skills to do a job well AND the encouragement and support to persist in applying their knowledge and skills.

All the way back in 1986, Bandura wrote “People are motivated by what they are good at and mastery experiences are the most powerful forces of efficacy. Building capacity that leads to a sense of mastery is therefore highly motivational.

Principal’s responsibilitySetting direction

•Creating a shared vision•Fostering the acceptance of group goals•Creating High Performance expectations•Communicating the Direction

Principal’s responsibilityRe-designing your program

•Creating a collaborative culture

•Re-structuring your building/staff to support collaboration

•Building productive relationships with families & communities

•Connecting the school to the wider community

Principal’s ResponsibilityManaging the

instructional program

•Staffing the program•Providing Instructional support•Monitoring school activities•Buffering staff from distracters of their work•Aligning resources

How are some of the responsibilities, typically assigned to the principal, shared by other staff members in your school?

SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH A NEIGHBOR

Your Teacher Leaders are Committed Sardines

www.committedsardine.com

Creating & Finding YourCommitted Sardines

The 3 Big A’swww.committedsardine.com

Ask them to be part of a committee or to serve as a chairperson of a special event – it’s amazing how many teachers wait to be asked.

Allow – often times these are the teachers who come to you privately with great ideas they’d like to try.

Acknowledge their ideas in front of their peers.

•PD days•Gallery Walks•Educational Leadership magazine articles•Book Studies•Trophies and Recognitions•CSI •Tech savvy•Choosing committee work•Collaboration time

Teacher to Teacher

Leadership

C.S.I. Classroom Scene Investigation

Name of teacher ______________________________ Time _____________

Subject Area _____________________________

What did you see ? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What did you like?________________________________________________

What do you want to know more about from this classroom?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Any other comments? ____________________________________________

Most Important WordsCourtesy of www.TomPeters.com

4 most important words: What do you think?2 most important words: Thank you2 most important words: All yours3 most important words: Try it again4 most important words: How are we doing?1 most important word: Yes1 most important word: No2 most important words: Good try4 most important words: How was Mary’s recital1 most important word: Wow2 most important words: Let’s celebrate1 most important words: Excellent

Add your own:

Let’s Strategize!

BudgetingPLC Leadership Team – stable groupSMART goals – report as a teamData Day Restructure teamsTeacher awards, recognition, supportExpand the use of paraprofessionalsObserve, observe, observe

Can’t have one without the Other ….

Leadership ….”Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Albert Schweitzer