How can school leaders create a culture of innovation, inspiration, and change? How can they help teachers see themselves as change agents – as vehicles, not receptacles; as speedboats, not anchored aircraft carriers? And how can teachers do this for themselves?
First, instead of bogging down every meeting with data
discussions or tedious logistics related to the week’s coming events, or
allowing a complaint-garden to bloom, school leaders can use email and social
media to convey that important information to teachers and use the meeting time
instead as a way for teachers to connect on real levels: set up discussion
protocols for teachers to share their teaching ideas, solve problems together,
or brainstorm ways to collaborate. We are always talking about having too
little time; school leaders can help us make our time together more productive
by being purposeful and innovative.
In addition, school leaders can implement an initiative like
Genius Hour for teachers: supported time to work on a passion project, modeled
after Google’s approach. Most teachers would feel empowered by this autonomy
and trust. It is a creative leader who finds time for teachers to do something
that inspires them simply for the reason that self-directed learning is key to
engagement in the overall structure of school. Isn’t this what we always say
about students and classrooms? It applies to teachers, too.
Ask teachers what they want and need for professional
development. All the collective wisdom about PD points to the importance of
teacher voice in selecting their own training and support methods. Help
teachers identify goals within their profession and move them toward those
goals. In other words, differentiate professional development the way we talk
of differentiating classroom instruction so that every participant’s needs are
met. In my building, we have been pushing for unconference-style PD where
teachers arrive at the meeting with something they want to learn, and other
teachers provide the instruction.
Establish a culture of innovation. Ask staff members to contribute ideas for improving the school environment, whether it’s school culture, scheduling, snacks, collaboration, the facility – and encourage collaboration among staff members to solve these problems. Once the educators and support personnel in the building feel the support and interest from their school leaders, they will be more likely to be inventive in their own problem-solving within their classrooms and building environments.
Establish a culture of innovation. Ask staff members to contribute ideas for improving the school environment, whether it’s school culture, scheduling, snacks, collaboration, the facility – and encourage collaboration among staff members to solve these problems. Once the educators and support personnel in the building feel the support and interest from their school leaders, they will be more likely to be inventive in their own problem-solving within their classrooms and building environments.
In short, creating the space for teacher agency is a key to empowering teachers and re-engaging those who have abdicated their enthusiasm. Effective managers can and do change school culture.
