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The overarching theme that I took from today was flexibility within educational systems that allow for greater success. In my trio with Jim and Ray, we mentioned how Singapore is flexible in its approach to teaching and learning, but not at all flexible in terms of expectations of student achievement(the example of the teacher coming in on Saturday was particularly salient). We have long worked in a culture that has been inflexible in approach, and by default flexible and variable in results. The blame has been cast all around, from top-heavy administrations to unions to government policies that didn't have an educator's voice, but regardless of where the blame lies (likely everywhere) our country is suffering because of our inability to adapt while others constantly look ahead, even when they're already #1. -Ted Lombardi

The readings and activities on the Principal's Challenge forced me to reflect on my own practice. I thought to myself, "If no time to be an instructional leader is one of the number one hinderances to effective principalship, then how can I change my management of time to have more time to devote to instructional leadership?" I will be thinking about that in the next three weeks leading to the opening of school. Candice

Our learning session today provided me with the opportunity to develop my own "benchmark" by researching successful practices that can be implemented at my own school. This opportunity will provide me with a desired outcome, as we continue throughout the year in our NISL cohort, to enhance my knowledge and understanding of best practices and how they can be implemented successfully at my school to enrich student outcomes. Christopher Cody

Today's lesson reinforced the importance of searching the world for the Best Instructional Practices (Singapore), holding all (students, teachers, staff, and the community) to high educational standards, and following through (the vision) by strategic planning. Another important aspect is to have everyone on the same page or buy in like Judy Codding did in Pasadena, by empowering her staff to make the ultimate decision. What did you all think in regards to Singapore giving their teachers the opportunity to take a leave of absence (up to a year in a half) to work in businesses which are related to what they teach? Wow!Thanks, Mike Sirmaian

Today helped me to reflect upon the changing society we are preparing our students for.Singapore saw a failing educational system,and strategized to change it for their needs. Their educational system addresses the needs of their population. Also, we need to consider the needs of the students, above and beyond the needs of the adults in their world. This is a challenge as seen on the Pasadena video. She had to make the difficult choices that she knew were best for the students. Bridget Dowling

Today's topic on Singapore was very inspirational. If they can do it...why can't we? I would have loved to have seen a video that could have taken us into the classrooms and schools.. to create the visual picture. The entire system is so well thought out and willing to make those changes and address risks. I think we have a long road ahead but I do believe it is doable. ABerek

The Pasadena principal inspired me to be a more strategic thinker. Her task to turn around that particular high school was enormous, but by choosing one goal and staying focused on that one goal she was able to succeed. I admired the way she included her entire community from parents to students to businesses as well as teachers and other school administration to assist her in achieving her goal....... JShea

//Yes and also note she chose a goal that would be particularly influential to higher expectations and student achievement and preparedness for college. This type of goal has "leverage!"// Chuck C

The Pasadena video showed us all what is possible when we think strategically: The impossible can become possible. By carefully considering every option before making a change, the principal was able to sway the naysayers before they had a chance to react. By including them in her plan [to adopt the math program], she turned enemies into allies and was able to begin the turnaround process....MCalobrisi

I liked the 'Strategic Thinking' - or thinking outside the box and not being afraid of the challenges you may face along the way to your goal of change, (as we sometimes are......because we're human). In business they say, "if you want to grow, you must feel uncomfortable." Perhaps, as future leaders, we should start getting uncomfortable. ~VB

Today's topics were enlightening as they allowed us to begin to see how to define the challenges facing not only school leaders, but students, faculties, families, communities, and ostensibly nations. In addition, through the video interviews, readings, and discussions one can easily identify some strategies that can work if applied thoughtfully and strategically. Identifying the scope of the problem, as Judy Codding did at a Pasadena High School, is a good first step that all of us can learn, and model to begin to apply the type of educational triage that is urgently needed in our nation. What is a bit disconcerting in the shadow of the Singapore Case study is why does a Judy Codding have to do it alone. Why aren't these practices not more commonly applied? Why did she have to restructure her school and inflict casualties in the form of dedicated human beings who just so happened to be technical education teachers? Why is that the talents of said teachers could not have become part of a mathematics revolution that allowed students to apply these new math mastered skills and concepts in a "real world" model? Just some thoughts.Jim White

I think we've been able to internalize the urgency of the problem in front of us, and understand the amount of work that is required to begin to implement this kind of change. Now that NISL has been around for a while, and has helped begin that work in other places, I'm wondering how all of this looks in other districts. We've seen the New Brunswick video and read about Singapore, and learned about Codding's school. Are there other districts that are in various stages of change that we can learn from as well? Cheryl M.

//Cheryl, I think there are lots of schools that are immersed in the type of change we are beginning to discuss. [|The Van Meter Public Schools in Iowa] use social media with parents, students and staff to get their message out and teach PBL. [|This school] in Philadelphia is a phenomenal model of what schools can be. The entire state of Maine provides every student with a laptop, and the Burlington Public Schools in MA are dramatically changing the focus of teaching and learning with an emphasis on the skills Tony Wagner wrote about in Redefining Rigor. The schools are out there, you just have to know where to look. Eric//

Rob Marino- When the question was posed "How are we going to take what we are doing here" and apply it to where we work, I found it very helpful to know that we are not expected to begin to "take action" right away. The importance of thinking strategically is something that I will defintely take away from Unit 1.

Both the Singapore case and Pasadena's Judy Codding were instrumental in forming a vision of rational and successful processes leading to positive outcomes for their students. Though the challenge felt daunting at the end of day 1, todays we session concluded with a beginning understanding of how this transition can be accomplished. Dawna Koretsky

﻿The Singapore case made me question why educational change in this country is so slow. Is it because our culture is heavily anchored to the idea of "tradition?" How can a country that has influenced other countries to socially, financially and politically advance be reluctant to advance educationally? We as educators understand the sense of urgency, but will it ever be recognized and supported nationally by non-educators? Kerry C

The discussion of Singapore and "Maximizing the potential of people" made me rethink how the new school year will look in my classroom. I already have a poster planned (adapted from Rigor Redefined) that will be right next to my small whiteboard, which just happens to be a blackboard in this age of technology and paperless teaching! It will read: *Ask Good Questions * Have Meaningful Discussions * Work as a Team (each person participates and all ideas are valued) * THINK, BE FLEXIBLE, CHANGE *Never Stop Trying * Be Clear and to the Point with Your Writing and Speaking * Be Creative. This will be my point that I will be repeating over and over and over until my 3rd & 4th grade Resource room students will be saying it with me this year and hopefully for the rest of their lives. -JBlanchette

I found today’s examinations and discussions about the Singapore Experience and Pasadena High School both impressive and inspirational. I believe that it can and will happen in Lawrence. We must remember that this cultural change will not happen overnight. It will happen with strategic planning, patience, and commitment. Ray

After reading the Singapore Experience, I felt that the point I came away with was the need to adapt more quickly in our development of plans for curriculum change. We have done a lot of work in Lawrence and have provided our teachers with good professional development. Good strategies have been incorporated into our teaching. However, we need to work on the creativity piece and getting our students to be problem solvers and critical thinkers.....Joanne L.

I feel that the discussions we have had over the past two days have open my eyes and helped move me towards a direction that otherwise I may not have considered. I believe that we can move our school system to great heights by working collaboratively and setting HIGH EXPECTATIONS. I promise to bore everyone with my "judge free zone" attitude. I am excited to work towards becoming a strategic thinker.--BarriAnn