Leadership with Vision & Innovation Through Action, Can Observe that

Learning from Our Cultural Heritage Helps Our Educational System Thrive!

Ann-Marie Clements, M.S. Ed.

Vancouver Island University

7 min Presentation

CIEL 4 Program

July 3rd, 2015

Nepotism? or is this WASTA? Connections or pull = “it’s not what you know, but who you know.”

Western countries = more hidden

Arabic & Asian countries = more apparent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIl_lVbDqTE (0:14 – 2:20 )

CEO attending PSU

Kuwait Civil ID

Buy & transfer a car

Kuwait Driver’s License

“Bean Counters” help make

things happen.

Mindset & Leadership Training Scanning my new cultural environment & learn to listen carefully

Gave 2 Mindset trainings to staff & continuing reinforced training

throughout the year.

“Top Down” to “Bottom Up” staff mentality shift

Used 1st of the 4 Forms of Inquiry - Storytelling about Asian & Western experiences (Canada, China, Italy &

U.S.A.)

- Goal for staff to want to explore new options in Ed. & shift moral values.

Used 2nd of the 4 Forms of Inquiry Appreciative

- Inserted the “Creative New Blood” assertiveness & transformational

change

- Used 4 Stages of Processes;

* Discovery – old technology, old teaching methods

* Dream – new technology, new teaching methods

* Design – new training, software & hardware

* Destiny – “Make it Happened” to keep staff motivated

Continued: 2nd of the 4 Forms of Inquiry

Appreciative- Pushed for staff to receive ICDL (Int’l Computer Driving License) training,

due to weaknesses with computer technology skills

- Lead Teachers to ask their teachers for input on researching software

- Gave MovieMaker & Kizoa slideshow program training from Elem. IT

personnel

- Reinforced learning by giving all staff homework on slideshow presentation

to show our department on last day of school

- New IT Manager & myself collectively worked to create New Tech

Classroom

- Hardware & software re-evaluated and updated or replaced.

- Asked for teachers input on murals for halls & outside walls

- Promoted my Teacher Assistants into new teaching positions.

- All classrooms painted with their classroom name colors (KG1 Blue –

pastel blue) to create a cleaner & visually stimulating new classroom

Asked the 3rd of the 4 Forms of Inquiry Critical or Problem-Solving

- Used 4 Standards on my teachers:

* Accuracy

* Effectiveness

* Coherence

* Improvability

- Used “Bottom-Up” management style to give responsibility to staff

- Initially attended all 3 groups (CDC, KG1 & KG2) meetings.

- VP attended CDC & KG2 group due to rapport with staff

- Problem KG1 Group, I attended the remainder of the year to focus on

change

- Walked into classrooms for unannounced observations in KG1

classrooms.

- Teachers shadow other classrooms during breaks to learn new strategies

- Teachers had to write out improvements to incorporate into their

classrooms

- Monitored progress of teachers & their assistants & instilled “visual rubric”.

Asked the 4th of the 4 Forms of Inquiry

Reflective- Initially asked staff what was good & bad about their school

- Staff initially had many more negatives than positive comments

- End of the year, staff was much more positive due to Mindset changes in

place

- Reiterated my storytelling of the schools I’ve experienced & taught around

the world, my & ILE readings & how we can learn from them to

change our school

- Taught Lead Teachers to ask 2 or more teachers to end each weekly group

meeting with discussing various teaching or behavioral techniques that

worked in their classrooms

- I asked for their input to show respect and to create more trust

TRUST Open liberal formal educational training @ Portland State University &

Washington State University

VP = daily manager of the staff

Principal = Innovator of Change

Firewomen = “Putting Out Fires” daily

New Yorker honesty & Democratic strategies

World Traveler whose open to new cultures, languages and religions

Low absences (2 days only) and no lateness = reliability &

consistency

Willingness to learn about the Kuwait Education system & Arabic

culture

Principles of Learning – Similarities

Between

Aboriginals & Kuwaiti’s Long history of their heritage and taught their offspring’s

Living with extended family members in large groups

Extended family names

Family respected, within social structure & individual ID

Wasta is used because of trust for their own people

Families are very private & protected

Women are protected from the outside influences.

Principles of Learning – Similarities

Between

Aboriginals & Kuwaiti’s Awareness of their religious philosophy is very

important

Explore their identify, patience & spiritually meditate

Acquiring their own historical education is important

Telling group stories about local, regional & political

issues

Provide leadership to their people

Environmentally can live off their land

Local food customs are important

Spirals of Learning

Scanning - What are my teachers & students learning?

Focusing – What needs to change?

Developing a Hunch – Lack of tangibles, tech &

leadership

New Professional Training – Teachers, Assistants, Staff &

Admin

Taking Action – Wasta to make sure improvements

occurred

Checking –Keep monitoring attitudes of staff and the

improvements in; technology, teaching & behavioral

methods used. Make sure it fits well with remainder of

the school & their different departments.

TRANSFER OF INFORMATION

WHAT DID I LEARN? Cherish our historical backgrounds both within our countries &

ancestral origins are important to realize the injustices of pollution, poverty & wars.

Get staff ready for change both psychologically & through appropriate training.

Learn about other educational “Best Practices” techniques from around the world & incorporate it within your program.

Nepotism is everywhere & should be used to advance your good causes

Educate administrators, parents, staff to create the best learning environment for our “clients” the students to improve their future.

Education is always changing, so we must continuously using the Spiral of Learning to; scan, focus, develop a hunch, obtain new professional trainings, take action & recheck.

Visionary & innovative leaders who understand school politics, cultures and their people will advance their school forward & make a significant difference for their staff and especially for their students & community.