Innovation at the School Level
I had the opportunity this past week to get a preview of the forthcoming release of the new vision for Jeffco Public Schools where my children attend school. New Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass shared a glimpse into the vision --- one that's transformational and innovative. His recent blog post was about the need to innovate at the Micro Level --- the classroom -- where individual students experience learning. https://advancejeffco.blog/2017/09/29/micro-innovation/
How do we create a culture of innovation within our schools sites to foster innovation at the classroom level? School leaders must establish an environment that values and rewards innovation. We must challenge the status quo, create a culture of creativity (for adult and student learners), and develop a workplace that's nimble and adaptable to change.
How do get there? First, the school leader must model innovation. Steve Jobs once said "innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Principals must act on opportunities quickly and decisively. Simply put, do not wait, lead. Innovative leaders make decisions that reflect where they want to go as a school, not where they are today. A forward thinking mindset from the leader sets the tone for the entire building.
Good leaders know that failure is a part of the process to change. Asking teachers to transform learning and student task is going to take patience, time, and ideation. Provide your staff praise for creative-problem solving as they fail forward to create student-centered learning opportunities driven by student agency (voice, choice, advocacy).
I would encourage the use of the design thinking process as you develop options and solutions. The biggest obstacle to transforming the learning experience is going to be adult mindset. Encourage your team to bring solutions to every challenge they identify. Frequently check in with your team to collaborate and problem solve together. Their observations will help you and your team navigate change. This will allow you to remain innovative and flexible as you embark on this necessary journey.
Where leaders go awry sometimes is they insulate and isolate themselves. Remember, you are not alone, whether you are a teacher or a school leader. They type of innovation Jeffco is embarking on is going to take a collaborative effort to be successful. Parents, teachers, school administrators, district staff, district leaders, and most importantly students will need to work together to innovate and change the learning experience at the classroom level.
To be truly innovative, you must invest in your people. Be sure you are providing your staff the necessary capacity building to provide the foundation for transformation within their classrooms. As I listened to parents and school leaders discuss learning within the new Jeffco vision the need for capacity development was clear. Providing your team first with the WHY behind learning the need to transform learning experience (why are we embarking on this change) followed by the WHAT (what does the transformation of student task and learning experience look like) and HOW (how are we going to transform student task and the learning experience) will clear some of the gray as to the rationale behind such a transformational shift. From my experience, if people have a clear understanding of what a change will look like (so they can visualize it) and they have clear and concise supports to implement the change with their voice heard throughout the process -- the more likely the change happens and succeeds.
Ultimately, innovation at the school level that precipitates change at the micro or classroom level requires you have to come together as a team and support one another through a clear shared vision and concise action plan that puts that needs of your students first. One is too small a number to achieve greatness. Individually, we are many, together are so much more. The time is now to come together to make the the transformational change that moves students beyond college and career readiness, but to being Future Ready and not just prepared for something, but for anything.
How do we create a culture of innovation within our schools sites to foster innovation at the classroom level? School leaders must establish an environment that values and rewards innovation. We must challenge the status quo, create a culture of creativity (for adult and student learners), and develop a workplace that's nimble and adaptable to change.
How do get there? First, the school leader must model innovation. Steve Jobs once said "innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Principals must act on opportunities quickly and decisively. Simply put, do not wait, lead. Innovative leaders make decisions that reflect where they want to go as a school, not where they are today. A forward thinking mindset from the leader sets the tone for the entire building.
Good leaders know that failure is a part of the process to change. Asking teachers to transform learning and student task is going to take patience, time, and ideation. Provide your staff praise for creative-problem solving as they fail forward to create student-centered learning opportunities driven by student agency (voice, choice, advocacy).
I would encourage the use of the design thinking process as you develop options and solutions. The biggest obstacle to transforming the learning experience is going to be adult mindset. Encourage your team to bring solutions to every challenge they identify. Frequently check in with your team to collaborate and problem solve together. Their observations will help you and your team navigate change. This will allow you to remain innovative and flexible as you embark on this necessary journey.
Where leaders go awry sometimes is they insulate and isolate themselves. Remember, you are not alone, whether you are a teacher or a school leader. They type of innovation Jeffco is embarking on is going to take a collaborative effort to be successful. Parents, teachers, school administrators, district staff, district leaders, and most importantly students will need to work together to innovate and change the learning experience at the classroom level.
To be truly innovative, you must invest in your people. Be sure you are providing your staff the necessary capacity building to provide the foundation for transformation within their classrooms. As I listened to parents and school leaders discuss learning within the new Jeffco vision the need for capacity development was clear. Providing your team first with the WHY behind learning the need to transform learning experience (why are we embarking on this change) followed by the WHAT (what does the transformation of student task and learning experience look like) and HOW (how are we going to transform student task and the learning experience) will clear some of the gray as to the rationale behind such a transformational shift. From my experience, if people have a clear understanding of what a change will look like (so they can visualize it) and they have clear and concise supports to implement the change with their voice heard throughout the process -- the more likely the change happens and succeeds.
Ultimately, innovation at the school level that precipitates change at the micro or classroom level requires you have to come together as a team and support one another through a clear shared vision and concise action plan that puts that needs of your students first. One is too small a number to achieve greatness. Individually, we are many, together are so much more. The time is now to come together to make the the transformational change that moves students beyond college and career readiness, but to being Future Ready and not just prepared for something, but for anything.
Nice post, CJ- What systems are in place to open up to these changes? Which structures and systems, also, might be barriers to change?
ReplyDeleteAs you state here, providing a common vision and understanding the why is so critical to get everyone on that bus and get it moving forward. But can we root out what structures and systems might be holding us back?? I think that is also necessary for progress.
I wrote two blog posts this week that expose some of the barriers that might exist.
1. fixed mindsets and attitudes like - if our scores are great, why should I change a darn thing!
2. Implementing programs without integrating them into the larger learning that might be already going on... where there is potential to do so. But if you are more focused on implementing, then you won't even consider alternate modes of use.
Shifting out of fixed mindsets is not easy work, but models and structures set up to do so can help to accomplish that within the larger system. What other structures might be inhibiting this change in Jeffco and how can we overcome these at the micro, AND macro levels?
Thanks for your thoughtful posts.
Leslie Maniotes, PhD
Hi Leslie,
DeleteMy reflection is as an Educator and as a dad who attended a meeting last week as the chair of the Accountability Committee at the school 3 of my children attend. Answering your first and second question (what systems are in place, what might be barriers) in specific too a school system that I am presently not working in would be challenging. I'd rather not speculate.
Here's what I know about visions. They need to be moved to action. To do so you need to make innovation a priority, strategize strategic success (win small to win big), communicate a new reality, inspire your team, embrace the vision, be loud and proud (speak about new changes), spread the words, own it and live it, drive the train and don't just watch the parade go by, and don't delegate everything (have to model desired practice).
If you want something you never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done. Yes, you need clear systems and structures to facilitate change. You also need to build relationships and empower your people.
Agree, you need a plan that identifies the purpose and focus for change, that contains methods to monitor successful implementation and sustainability. Communicate, do meaningful work, work with key stakeholders, and commit fully to learning.