2015 Capstone Project
Teacher Leader Certification Academy
Leadership Institute of Riverside County
Professional learning communities tend to serve two broad purposes: (1) improving the skills and knowledge of educators through collaborative study, expertise exchange, and professional dialogue, and (2) improving the educational aspirations, achievement, and attainment of students through stronger leadership and teaching. I hope to lead my team into discussing teacher work, discussing student work and data, as well as discussing professional literature.
Teachers have for too long been relegated to the classroom with little or no interaction with their peers. Days, weeks , months, years passed with no collaborative planning or sharing of strategies. The expertise of each teacher was never shared with others. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) challenge the practice of isolation. PLCs foster collaboration and the sharing of best practices. By joining together, teachers have the potential to affect great changes in their students and the school. High‐performing schools embrace collaboration and make it part of their culture. It is essential that this professional practice become part of the way we do business.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is key. It is critical that you develop a safe environment for your team members. If you have a team member who leaves the meeting and discusses student data, a particular team member or that member’s data, that team member will shut down. As a facilitator, you will need to address any breaches in confidentiality or your team will be hampered for the remainder of the year.
Connections to the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership (Kouzes & Posner)
Model the Way
11. Follows through on promises and commitments he/she makes.
Each day I should demonstrate that I am committed to the principles that I espouse to my grade level team. I should act in ways that are consistent with the principles that I support in order to build trust and confidence. I will always ensure that each day I strive to make sure that I am consistent in my words and my deeds to build reliance, trustworthiness and confidence in my abilities as a team leader.
Inspire a Shared Vision
22. Paints the "big picture" of what we aspire to accomplish.
By painting the big picture, and taking it down to the group at an individual level, I want to assist my coworkers so that they can see how they help accomplish the organizational aspirations. One thing we can do is to make our SMART goals based upon our vision of the future. Visualization is an important tool to develop as well. I hope to create the story of our organization in the future. Share the story and ask each team member how they see themselves helping to visualize a picture of how team members see themselves in the future and share visions with each other.
Challenge the Process
8. Challenges people to try out new and innovative ways to do their work.
Working with others to define problems and identifying their root causes are very important before trying out new and innovative ways to do work. Then always work with others to act as sounding boards, in order to get a clearer focus on the problem itself. We will work to discuss the vision and how the solution relates to the vision. I will help my team to analyze the situation to see if there is a better solution, one tied more closely to our team vision. I will get more in the habit of asking for help when solving problems and strive to have my team members do the same.
Enable Others to Act
4. Develops cooperative relationships among the people he/she works with.
By building emotional connections with team members, the emotional connection should help to develop and maintain relationships. This is important because it enhances trust. Unexpected reinforcing connections can be very powerful. I plan on sitting with my team members at breaktime each day to ask what matters most to them and to ask what I can do to support the future dream. I will try to make more personal connections and drop a note of encouragement or bring in food for all to share. I may ask a team member to plan some small celebration with me to encourage her involvement. Sometimes what we say isn't what we meant to say. Ask someone who works with you on a daily basis to observe what you say and how you say it. Could your communication be misinterpreted in any way?
Encourage the Heart
20. Publicly recognizes people who exemplify commitment to shared values.
When you see a team member acting out a shared value, compliment the person on the spot. Add why the value is important to the team. Share what your employees have done with other leaders. Word will get around that you’ve been out on the praise trail again. Remember to say thank you in the moment and in public. Recognition doesn't need a special time.
Connection to the Teacher Leader Certification Academy
This is the result of a research-based, Professional Learning Community (PLC) driven vision for increasing student achievement by facilitating professional learning, leading a team of teachers, and holding teachers accountable for that professional learning.
Vision Statement
Professional learning communities provide opportunities for professional staff to look deeply into the teaching and learning process and to learn how to become more effective in their work with students. Teacher learning should come first in such communities, with the firm belief that students cannot raise their level of achievement until teachers become more effective in their own practice. The term Professional Learning Community defines itself. Teacher learning is more complex, deeper, and more fruitful in a social setting, where the participants can interact, test their ideas, challenge their inferences and interpretations, and process new information with each other.
Capstone Powerpoint Presentation
Teachers have for too long been relegated to the classroom with little or no interaction with their peers. Days, weeks , months, years passed with no collaborative planning or sharing of strategies. The expertise of each teacher was never shared with others. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) challenge the practice of isolation. PLCs foster collaboration and the sharing of best practices. By joining together, teachers have the potential to affect great changes in their students and the school. High‐performing schools embrace collaboration and make it part of their culture. It is essential that this professional practice become part of the way we do business.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is key. It is critical that you develop a safe environment for your team members. If you have a team member who leaves the meeting and discusses student data, a particular team member or that member’s data, that team member will shut down. As a facilitator, you will need to address any breaches in confidentiality or your team will be hampered for the remainder of the year.
Connections to the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership (Kouzes & Posner)
Model the Way
11. Follows through on promises and commitments he/she makes.
Each day I should demonstrate that I am committed to the principles that I espouse to my grade level team. I should act in ways that are consistent with the principles that I support in order to build trust and confidence. I will always ensure that each day I strive to make sure that I am consistent in my words and my deeds to build reliance, trustworthiness and confidence in my abilities as a team leader.
Inspire a Shared Vision
22. Paints the "big picture" of what we aspire to accomplish.
By painting the big picture, and taking it down to the group at an individual level, I want to assist my coworkers so that they can see how they help accomplish the organizational aspirations. One thing we can do is to make our SMART goals based upon our vision of the future. Visualization is an important tool to develop as well. I hope to create the story of our organization in the future. Share the story and ask each team member how they see themselves helping to visualize a picture of how team members see themselves in the future and share visions with each other.
Challenge the Process
8. Challenges people to try out new and innovative ways to do their work.
Working with others to define problems and identifying their root causes are very important before trying out new and innovative ways to do work. Then always work with others to act as sounding boards, in order to get a clearer focus on the problem itself. We will work to discuss the vision and how the solution relates to the vision. I will help my team to analyze the situation to see if there is a better solution, one tied more closely to our team vision. I will get more in the habit of asking for help when solving problems and strive to have my team members do the same.
Enable Others to Act
4. Develops cooperative relationships among the people he/she works with.
By building emotional connections with team members, the emotional connection should help to develop and maintain relationships. This is important because it enhances trust. Unexpected reinforcing connections can be very powerful. I plan on sitting with my team members at breaktime each day to ask what matters most to them and to ask what I can do to support the future dream. I will try to make more personal connections and drop a note of encouragement or bring in food for all to share. I may ask a team member to plan some small celebration with me to encourage her involvement. Sometimes what we say isn't what we meant to say. Ask someone who works with you on a daily basis to observe what you say and how you say it. Could your communication be misinterpreted in any way?
Encourage the Heart
20. Publicly recognizes people who exemplify commitment to shared values.
When you see a team member acting out a shared value, compliment the person on the spot. Add why the value is important to the team. Share what your employees have done with other leaders. Word will get around that you’ve been out on the praise trail again. Remember to say thank you in the moment and in public. Recognition doesn't need a special time.
Connection to the Teacher Leader Certification Academy
This is the result of a research-based, Professional Learning Community (PLC) driven vision for increasing student achievement by facilitating professional learning, leading a team of teachers, and holding teachers accountable for that professional learning.
Vision Statement
Professional learning communities provide opportunities for professional staff to look deeply into the teaching and learning process and to learn how to become more effective in their work with students. Teacher learning should come first in such communities, with the firm belief that students cannot raise their level of achievement until teachers become more effective in their own practice. The term Professional Learning Community defines itself. Teacher learning is more complex, deeper, and more fruitful in a social setting, where the participants can interact, test their ideas, challenge their inferences and interpretations, and process new information with each other.
Capstone Powerpoint Presentation
|
|