TEACHER LEADERSHIP AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.

• Patrick Erwin: Principal• Dr. Susie Askew:

Assistant Principal• Logic Amen: Assistant

Principal• Rosemarie Burke:

Assistant Principal

• T.J. Purdy: Instructional Coach, Admin Intern

• Cheryl Bockus: English / Language Arts

• Heather Conklin: Art• Travis Davio: Social Studies

DO NOW

On your worksheet: •WHY teacher-leadership?• How would you define teacher leadership?•Why do you think teacher leadership matters?

LEARNING TARGET

Participants will evaluate the strengths and challenges of teacher leadership within their own contexts.

LINCOLN "OHHH" TO LINCOLN "WOAH!"Lincoln of the PAST

• Poor instruction• Absence of capacity• No structured opportunities for collaboration• No opportunities for peer observation• Less teacher voice in school mission and vision• Isolated practitioners (independent contractors)

Lincoln of the PRESENT / FUTURE• Lincoln Center (small schools evolution)• Equity / Harvard groups• Professional Development Leadership Team• Inquiry Groups• Seminar• Studios• Book Studies• Building cultural competency• External partnerships

MISSION STATEMENTSchool mission statement:We are a diverse community of scholars dedicated to personal and academic excellence. We strive for the development of strong character and intellectual engagement for all students, ensuring success beyond Lincoln High School. We Will:- Develop Personal Responsibility- Act With Integrity- Value Each Other- Embrace Challenge- Take Risks- Cultivate Success- Be Agents of Change in Our Community- Lead

MISSION STATEMENTCommon Agreements:1. We will use AVID strategies with fidelity.2. We will actively participate in our weekly inquiry groups.3. We will act with integrity and in collaboration.4. We will effectively and intentionally implement student

engagement strategies that align with the 5-D student engagement framework.

5. We will use the 10 Common Principles from the Coalition of Essential Schools to guide and inform our practice.

6. We will utilize weekly seminar lessons and actively support seminar students.

7. We will use standards-based grading.

TRUSTING TEACHERS WITH STUDENT SUCCESS

FRAMEWORK BY FARRIS-BERG, ET AL1. Shared purpose with a focus on student needs2. Participate in collaboration and leadership for the good

of the school, not just one classroom3. Encourage colleagues to be active, ongoing learners4. Address school wide issues (social issues, behavior) as

part of student learning5. Encourage teacher improvement using peer mentoring

and coaching.

TRUSTING TEACHERS WITH STUDENT SUCCESSFRAMEWORK BY FARRIS-

BERG, ET AL

1. Shared purpose with a focus on student needs> Staff cultureSchool mission / vision> Hiring/creating pedagogical nerds > Give access to resources & opportunities> Open to feedback on areas of need

2. Participate in collaboration and leadership for the good of the school, not just one classroom> PDLT> Seminar> Leadership coaching: equity group, Tools group, Harvard group

3. Encourage colleagues to be active, ongoing learners> PDLT> Book studies> Inquiry groups> Conferences / workshops> Problems of Practice Leadership Group: classroom, department, school

4. Address school wide issues (social issues, behavior) as part of student learning> manner, attendance, clothing.> Email feedback from teacher-leaders regarding systems and sustainability.

5. Encourage teacher improvement using peer mentoring and coaching.> Studios: math, science, ELA, social studies.> New teacher mentoring (new 2015-16).

TEACHER NERDS

EMERGING FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHER LEADERSHIP

Books and Scholarly Articles

Peer Coaching and

Collaboration

MentoringConferences

Informal Conversations and Collegiality

Intellectual Capacity

Ideas andInnovation

REFLECTIVE PAUSE… (#2 ON WORKSHEET)

What are the strengths and challenges in your own context?

HARVARD URBAN SCHOOL LEADERS CONFERENCE

•Big 3 Group Action Steps:

1. Gradebooks.2. Seminar.3. Inquiry Groups.

http://www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe/programs/principals-center

Themes:> Knowing self.> ELL.> Inclusion.> Media relations.> "Demography does NOT equal destiny"> Efficacy.> Mission, vision, culture.

WHAT TEACHER LEADERSHIP HAS MEANT FOR ME....

• “What has allowed / empowered you to be a teacher-leader?”• Lincoln culture & experience...

EVIDENCE / DOCUMENTATION 1From: NATHAN GIBBS-BOWLING Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2015 9:49 AMTo: PATRICK ERWINSubject: A Brief Note of Thanks

 Dear Pat,

I am sitting here at my dining room table covered in papers, looking back on my plans for from last year… I am thinking about how I can get better, especially at AP Human Geography. But, as I am looking back on last year’s slides and lesson plans, I feel compelled to shoot out a bit of thanks.

 

Last year was my ninth year of teaching and easily my best and most enjoyable year in the profession (even more than the Milken year) and I have you to thank for most of that. I have great data (33 kids passed the AP Gov exam at LHS--that number still blows me away) and I feel like my professional growth has accelerated the last few years. I feel like I and the people I work with are getting better. I feel like students are more excited about learning. I am excited about how we integrated the new hires last year and I think the team at Lincoln is looking even stronger for this school year.

 

I mentioned this to you at the end of the school year, but I have been thinking more and more about it this summer. I want to say thanks for treating us like adults… like experts… like professionals. You trust us pedagogically and provide us with opportunities for creation and collaboration on our terms. Personally, you’re the only person in my life who hasn’t tried to change who I am: my parents have, my teachers did, my wife certainly has. People are always telling me I am too loud, too black, not black enough, too passionate, my expectations are too high, too… too… too…. But you don’t do that--you never have once. You just offer your support and whatever additional resources you can find and then encourage me do more for the students. And I see you do that constantly for people of the staff: Saturday Schools, release time for collaboration, encouraging reluctant leaders to step up. You hire good people and support them, rather than dictate to them.

 

I hear a lot of grumbling from friends in other schools and districts about their admin and their micro-managing and top down leadership. I am really grateful to be a part of Abe Nation and appreciative of your brand of leadership.

 

Thanks for being our Commander-in-Chief of Abe Nation. There’s no one else I’d rather work for.

 Nate Bowling: Proud Abe

EVIDENCE / DOCUMENTATION 2From: PATRICK ERWIN Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2015 12:16 PMTo: LINCOLN STAFFSubject: Leadership

 

If you are interested in developing your leadership skills, we will be starting a leadership group with a focus on issues of equity. This is not a “planning to be a principal group” (although it could be for you) but one with a focus on developing your skills as a teacher leader. Everyone will have a problem of practice they will focus on and there will also be opportunities to take on projects if you desire. We will be doing some reading and that can also be personalized to your interest or growth area. Please e-mail me directly if you are interested in this opportunity.

 

The plan at this time is to meet after school on Fridays from 2:15-3:00.

 

Patrick Erwin

EVIDENCE / DOCUMENTATION 3Hello all, 

If you are receiving this, I am asking for your assistance. This is my 12th year at Lincoln and I am proud of who we are and where we are, but as you know we can always be better. I am also really tired as I type this and know that the work is exhausting. I also know that I need to keep my best people if we are to grow and get better. So, I decided to get a sampling of some of my best folks (not all of my stars are on here, so please do not discuss whether or not others received this e-mail) to improve my thinking on where we are and where we need to go. To that end I would like your thoughts on the following questions:

 

How do you define success/happiness/satisfaction in your job? Is it leadership? Personal and professional growth? Give me your thoughts and some specific examples.

How can I/we better support you so you feel fulfilled and happy here at Lincoln as describe by you in question 1?

As we move forward we know that standing still will only leave us and our kids behind. People will continue to opt for SOTA, SAMI, IDEA, charters, etc… What ideas do you have to continue our evolution as the new Great American High School that will keep us moving forward? Could be partnership with schools in China, having exchange students here en masse in a dorm across the street, partnerships, etc…

Finally, I do not know how long I will be here, nor do I know how long any of you will be here. I have no plans to leave soon, but it is important that we think about transitions in order to keep going in the right direction. How do we best communicate what our school is about in order to keep everyone committed to the mission, the bigger picture of what we are about, and what we mean for our community?

 

Finally, if you have any brilliant ideas, advice, etc…, share away. I will be gathering your feedback and putting my thoughts together and you should be hearing something soon.

 

Patrick Erwin

•Mindsets: • Staff Culture

• Strategies: • Hiring teacher nerds

• Structures: • PDLT• Inquiry Groups• Conferences• Book Studies

QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION

CLOSING / APPLICATION(#3 ON WORKSHEET)

Exit Slip: •What is your main take-away from this workshop?•What would you like to do differently because of this workshop?

SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS.• Bond, N. (2015). The Power of Teacher Leaders.• Berry, B. Byrd, A. & Weieder, A. (2013). Teacherpreneurs. • Farris-Berg, K. & Dirkswager, E. (2013). Trusting Teachers with School Success.• Farr, S. (2010). Teaching As Leadership.

2014-15 BOOK STUDY LIST• Stutz, P & Michaels, B. (2013). The Tools.•Duhigg, C. (2013). The Power of Habit. • Coates, T (2015). Between The World and Me.• Rodriguez, R. (1983). The Hunger of Memory. • Emdin, C. (2010). Urban Science Education for the Hip Hop Generation. • Carroll, P. (2011). Win Forever.

• Anderson, E. (2000). Code of the Street.•Hobbs, J. (2015). The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace.• Coates, T. (2009). The Beautiful Struggle.•Moore, W. (2011). The Other Wes Moore.• Lipsky, D. (2004). Absolutely American.