For introductions – be prepared to share the following . . .

Tell one new learning that occurred this summer that inspired you to make a change (or consider making a change) in some practice or aspect of your work for this school year.

Leadership Odyssey

South Lane School DistrictAd Council2001-2009

2001-2002

Schools of the FutureIf you were king/queen for a day what would you change in our school system?Looking ahead five years . . .

Ten Trends Juggling

2002-2003

Budget Cuts

$$$$$$$

2003-2004

First draft of Shared Beliefs and Vision

Children Come First

Decision Making Is Student Centered

Children Learn Best When They Want to Be at School

Shared Beliefs and Vision What We Are About in South Lane School District

Academic ExcellenceThere is urgency about the push for academic excellence and there is value added for each year of instruction.Students are encouraged to dream and excel and are held responsible for doing their best.All students learn to read fluently and become mathematically literate. Reading and mathematical competence open doors to productive futures.Students are exposed to a broad and varied curriculum in addition to instruction in core content areas.

Learning EnvironmentSchools and classrooms provide caring and respectful learning environmentsAn emphasis is placed on connectedness; students need relationships with trusted adults.School is enjoyable.Students have their basic needs met and feel safe and secure in order to learn best.Students are provided with the necessary resources to be successful learners.

Quality InstructionOutstanding and well-trained teachers are at the core of providing quality instruction.All staff are a positive influence for students.Quality teachers are dedicated, motivated, creative, knowledgeable, flexible and empathetic.Formative and summative assessments are used to monitor and adjust curriculum for each student.

CitizenshipImbedded in instruction is a focus on developing the character of each student. Learning activities provide opportunities for students to build positive citizenship traits including, but not limited to:Personal responsibilityBuilding self-esteemInstilling integrityInteracting cooperativelyLearning how to get along

Transforming Schools focused on how schools become a place where all members of the staff are learning, growing, and working to increase student achievement. The book uses a fictional school to take readers through a six step process of continuous improvement.

1. Identify core beliefs

2. Create a shared vision

3. Use data to determine gaps

4. Identify innovation to close the gaps

5. Develop and implement an action plan

6. Endorse collective accountability

Whatever It Takes taught us how to develop systems of interventions when despite our best efforts kids aren’t learning. Pyramids of Interventions were described from an elementary, middle and high school.

2004-2005

2004-2005

GeocacheRefined Shared Beliefs and VisionIntroduced Instructional StrategiesReading Next, Reading First Literacy Leadership Self Evaluation – CLI21 Areas of Leadership Responsibility

Administrator Self Assessment Tools** Spent several sessions together studying both of these models and then

used the tools to assess our strengths and weaknesses as individual administrators and as a team

InputAffirmationRelationshipChange agentOptimizerIdeals/beliefsMonitors/evaluatesFlexibilitySituational AwarenessIntellectual StimulationKnowledge of C, I & ACultureOrderFocusCommunicationOutreachContingent Rewards

(21 Areas of Leadership Responsibility – Waters, 2003)

School CultureCraft Leaders – Thinkers and PractitionersChildren’s Literature Instructional ModelsCurriculaOptions for Organizing Time & SpaceAssessment/Content StandardsSpecial InterventionsKnowledge and Research

(Children’s Literacy Initiative Blueprint for Leadership)

2005-2006

Literacy Leadership PlansDistrict Literacy Plan20+ Books on LiteracyBuehl, Billmeyer, WilhelmAlternated Literacy focus with MathematicsSummer ’06 – all staff chose one of 20 books on literacy

2005-2006Leadership Literacy Plans

1. My personal philosophy about literacy is2. Two self-reflection analyses3. Ways I am currently supporting literacy4. 5 year review of assessment data5. Identify the instructional needs for staff members6. My personal goals for supporting literacy7. Specific action steps needed to attain goals8. Support I need from district administration9. Staff development and training opportunities10. Ways I plan to monitor my progress on my plan

2005-06 Ad Council Book List

ElementaryAuthor Title DateDiamon & Gutlohn Vocabulary Handbook 2006Sousa How the Brain Learns to Read 2005Stead Reality Checks: Teaching Rdg. Comp 2006Thompkins 50 Literacy Strategies: Step by Step 2004Goudvis & Harvey Strategies that WorkMoss Exploring the Literature of Fact 2003Kenney Literacy Strategies for Improving Mathematics Instruction2005Caulkins Living Between the Lines 1990Strickland What's After Assessment? 2005

Elem/SecondaryAuthor Title DateMarzano Building Background Knowledge 2004Daniels & Steineke Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles 2004Robb Teaching Reading in SS, Sci, & Math 2003Pike & Mumper Making Nonfiction and other Informational Texts Come Alive2004Billmeyer & Barton Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 1998Harvey Nonfiction Matters

SecondaryAuthor Title DateWilhelm Improving Comp with Think-Aloud Strat 2001Gallagher Deeper Reading 2004Tovani I Read It, But I Don't Get It 2000Wilhelm & Reading Don't Fix No ChevysMurray Teaching Mathematics Vocabulary in Context2004Beers When Kids Can't Read: What Teachers Can Do2003

2006-2007

Change Leadership, by Tony Wagner

Provides a framework full of pointed questions educators should ask themselves when working on system improvements.

System Improvement requires:1. Answering the “why

change” questions first.2. Building the systems

capacity for improvement.3. Improving instruction.

7 Disciplines for Strengthening Instruction

1. Urgency for instructional improvement using real data2. Shared vision of good teaching3. Meetings about the work4. A shared vision of student results5. Effective supervision6. Professional development7. Diagnostic data with accountable collaboration

2006-2007

Coaching Commitment Teams

Goal: To support and coach colleagues to implement practices that focus on instructional leadership and less on managerial tasks.Teams: At least one each - district administrator, elementary principal, secondary principal, and administrative intern (teacher leader).Each team identified their focus for the year and the teams regularly report their status in whole group ad council meetings.

2006-2007

Classroom Learning Walk ToolDeveloped from the work of a Coaching Commitment TeamVarious versions have developedDistrict and School-wide focus for Learning WalksPower is in the discussions post-learning walk

Summer 2007

2007-2008

2007-2008, continued . . .

A Mission of the HeartLeadership for LearningSnapshots of LearningGenerational PovertyHomeworkForming a College Going CommunityThree Signs of a Miserable Job

Summer 2007

2008-2009

“What’s Worth Fighting For?”