SIG Leadership TrainingNovember 15, 2012

COMMUNICATION

Why are we talking about communication?

Schools focused on school reform experience many types of communication processes with complicated networks in constant motion.

Commercial….. As leaders….. Are we communicating our

vision clearly? Concisely? Inclusively? Collaboratively? Pervasively?

AS LEADERS WE THINK WE ARE COMMUNICATING EVERY DAY…..

Yet, are we convinced our followers are listening or if they understand what we are envisioning as our purpose?

THERE ARE SEVERAL STRATEGIES LEADERS CAN USE TO “BREAK DOWN THESE WALLS!”

CASE STUDY…BROCKTON HIGH SCHOOLBOSTON, MA OVER 4000 STUDENTS

Lessons being learned

It isn’t the money that makes a difference

CULTURE eats strategy for lunch every day of the week

Transformed schools: high quality leaders, fidelity to implementation and focused vision

Highly effective teachers in every classroom

•Comprehensive 9 – 12•Enrollment: 4,218•Poverty Level: 72%•Minority population: 73%•50 different languages •50% speak another language in the home•Approximately 12% in Transitional Bilingual Ed.•Approximately 11% receive Special Educ. Services

Who are We???Our Demographics

57% Black - includes African American, Cape Verdean, Haitian, Jamaican, and others

26% White14% Hispanic2.5% Asian.5% Native

American

Meet our Students

The Problem

• Mass. implemented a high stakes test (MCAS)

• Three-quarters of our students would not be earning a diploma

• Culture of low expectations – “Students have a right to fail”

• Negative image in our city, in the state• Yet we were living in DENIAL!• Who is responsible? We had silos (My kids,

your kids, not OUR kids)• Success by chance; depended on who your

teacher was. Are you lucky?

(Actually there were many)

STATE MANDATES…WE FACED:STATE MANDATES…WE FACED:

MCAS 1998Failure

ELA – 44%(Sped – 78%)

MATH – 75%(Sped – 98%)

MCAS 1998Advanced+Profici

ent

ELA – 22%

MATH – 7%

SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE SCHOOLS OF PROMISE? WE AREN’T LIKE BROCKTON HIGH!

Brockton High Large enrollment Urban setting Needed to build leadership

capacity Needed to establish a shared

vision Needed to create a culture Needed to align

teacher/administrator selection, support, and evaluation

Needed to support decision making based on data systems!

Schools of Promise High

Small enrollment Rural setting Needed to build leadership

capacity Needed to establish a shared

vision Needed to create a culture Needed to align

teacher/administrator selection, support, and evaluation

Needed to support decision making based on data systems!

WE HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON..RIGHT?…WRONG!

Leaders: All shapes and sizes and different intentions

Leadership: CONTEXT MATTERS

Leadership Matters and it Matters A Lot! A study published in Education Next (2012)

has found that the effect of highly effective principals on student achievement is equivalent to 2-7 MONTHS OF ADDITIONAL LEARING EACH SCHOOL YEAR, WHILE INEFFECTIVE PRINCIPALS NEGATIVELY IMPACT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT BY A COMPARABLE AMOUNT!

THINK OF IT THIS WAY…. What would happen if all stakeholders…

students, parents, community supported the shared vision, committed themselves to the shared vision, and implemented the shared vision in every aspect of the school day…..?

EVERYONE….MEANING EVERYONE supported the RISC implementation, the GRADUATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM, the NEW LITERACY PROGRAM (in all subject areas….everyone!)

………………………..what would this mean to our kids?

Leadership Secrets

Leadership Secret #1—Most Accomplished Leaders Have a Cause/Noble Purpose Big and Bold Inclusive Why you do what you do Fixes something wrong More than a goal—it’s the journey Brings honor to self and others Provides direction Fuels passion Drives momentum Builds CULTURES Gives meaning to people’s lives

…..MORE LEADERSHIP SECRETS Leadership Secret #2—Most accomplished

Leaders Let Go Ego doesn’t determine the pathway No excuses You are better able to deal with CHANGE Innovation happens Leadership is shared

Leadership Secret #3—Most accomplished Leaders Make Certain that EVERYONE knows the strategy--- communication….in every way possible! All stakeholders “walk the talk” No finger pointing…we are in this together!

Leadership Secret #4—Most accomplished Leaders Make Certain that EVERYONE takes ownership—the superintendent to the principals to the teachers to the students! All means All

Leadership

Whom do you follow? Why?

Who is most likely to follow you? Why?

What is the connection to communication?

Sue Szach….. Top Ten Leadership Tips #10—Don’t make a decision while walking

around; it always comes back to bite you #9—You can’t eliminate feelings; the key is

managing them. “Why do you despise me so?”

#8—PLAN your “fierce conversations”…..

DIFFICULT, DISCIPLINARY, ADVERSARIAL, ETC….

Fierce Conversations Susan Scott

Fierce conversations are about moral courage, clear requests, and taking action!

3 Steps in a Fierce Conversation….. The Opening The dialogue The resolution

Step One: The Opening

Structure the conversation, set the boundaries in an OPENING “The purpose of today is…..”

“The procedure is…..” “ I will tell you everything I know about an incident and ask you to tell me what you know.”

Time frame: “and together we will come up with a solution” within the next 30 minutes. If we need more time, we will schedule another meeting.”

Step 2: The Dialogue and Step 3: The Resolution You extend the invitation to a

dialogue “Here’s what I’ve seen. I need

to hear your take on this.” (Back and forth)

Then listen (Can be difficult) USE and be prepared for

SILENCE Restate what the other person

says (so, I hear you saying….) Be CLEAR about why this

matters. When you give negative

feedback be prepared to get it back.

Know when NOT to listen. “Let me write down what you

said so that I get it exactly” and then repeat it back.

Make it clear the intent is to resolve the issue.

“So where are we now? What have we learned? How do we move forward?

End the fierce conversation with a plan

Memorialize the discussion in writing!

HOMEWORK…..

Think about a fierce conversation you need to have---the office bully, the obnoxious

colleague you have tolerated, perhaps even the teacher who hasn’t been on time since

school started…Give yourself a date by which you will have had the conversation, then…..

DO IT!

#7……DOWN TO #1

#7 Contracts and unions don’t mean CAN’T #6 “Because we have always done it this way” is

not a reason to continue down the same path. #5 Celebrate and publicize your successes, even

the small ones! #4 FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS #3 It takes a team to implement change #2 No excuses….life isn’t fair! #1 Making change takes tenacity, NOT

brilliance…if Brockton High School can do it…anyone can!

Dr. Susan Szachowicz, Brockton High School 470 Forest Avenue Brockton, MA 02301 508-580-733

SUSANSZACHOWICZ@bpsma.org

MCAS 1998Advanced+Proficient

ELA 22%Math 7%

MATH – 7 %

MCAS 2012Advanced+Proficient

ELA – 83.3%

Math –70.3 %

MCAS 2012Advanced+Proficient

ELA – 83.3%

Math –70.3 %

THEN NOW

ALL KIDS…AND WE MEAN ALL!

Cain’s Arcade……could he be in your school?