What Is The Teacher Leader’s Role

Bringing Best Practices to Our Bringing Best Practices to Our

School School Right NowRight Now

Teachers must answer: WHY I DO THIS WORK

Many involved in “school re-invention work” would argue that change is the most talked about and least acted upon concept in

education today.

There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul

than the way in which it treats its children.

Nelson Mandela

HOPE is not a PLAN

IT’S ABOUT ACTION

What got us to where we are in education today,

will not get us to where we need to be!

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.”

-Shurnyu Suzuki

Scenario

• As “teacher leaders” selected by your peers, you are

to assume that you teach in a school that is “in decline.”• You must assign groups to assist you with the following

problem.• Study the following symptoms and write a plan that you

as a leaders with the support of your group can propose and help implement. You may decide that you cannot address some symptoms.

• Be sure to define the problems and those involved.

Symptom #1:

Lack of leadership – The principal is not providing focus and direction around addressing key priorities.

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Symptom #2:

More rules and harsher punishments – Schools in decline often experience more student behavior problems, sending them into a downward spiral of increasingly harsh disciplinary measures and loss of instructional time and trusting relationships.

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #3:

Lost Focus – The School lacks clear academic priorities. If everything seems to be a priority time nothing is a priority. This leads to wasted resources.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #4:

Poor Alignment – Classroom instruction is

not lined up with standards and assessment

is not aligned to instruction; students are blindsided.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #5:

Inadequate monitoring of progress

at the student, classroom and site level.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #6:

Ineffective staff development – Schools

that begin to decline are frequently the

recipients of one-shot in-service programs and staff development.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #7:

Lower staff expectations – Teachers increasingly give up on struggling student

and don’t hold themselves to high standards

of professional practice.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #8:

Undifferentiated assistance – students who are having difficulty are assigned to generic

supplementary programs with a lot of repetition and extended practice.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #9:

Rigid daily schedule – The inflexibility of

the daily schedule prevents students from getting timely and targeted help.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #10:

Hasty hiring – It is tempting for principals in declining schools to approach the hiring

process fatalistically.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #11:

Increased class size – Class sizes mushroom, making it difficult for even

the best teachers to be productive.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

Twelve Symptoms of a School in Decline

Symptom #12:

Overreliance on untrained helpers – Programs to help struggling students

are often staffed by volunteers, teacher aides, and unqualified personnel.

Daniel Duke, University of VA

What will your game plan will be?

Strategy:

CAUTION

There is no silver bullet!

Risk more than others think is possible, dream more than

others think is practical.

Teacher Leaders are

Committedand

Passionate