Unit+2-Day+1-The+Principal+as+Strategic+Thinker

Hope the old saying "Third Times A Charm", because this is the third time trying to post this message. While reading all the exceptional posting. I found myself agreeing with all of you, because you all made compelling agruments even when reading conflictiong points of view. I left today's class feeling energized and excited about all we've learned and shared over the last three days, and at the same time a little bit overwhelmed. It's good to be a bit frazzled, because good things (and results) come from hard work. It takes a vision, a plan, and a team to win. We each can't do it alone and we must remember to make the TIME, to STEP BACK and VIEW the BIG PICTURE (BP)! Too often we get wrapped up in the day to day commotion and we lose focus of the BP, and I mean all of us (students, teachers, coaches, and administration), so all of us need to remember to take a deep breath, focus on the BP, and realize wew are going to succeed. Thanks, Mike S. (This BETTER POST!)

Another great day at NISL! There were so many take away points regarding the information on strategic thinking and planning as well as analyzing school visions. I like the idea of keeping a schools vision in measurable terms. It provides the entire school with a real focus. It also lends itself to accountability for staff and to all stakeholders. When vision statements contain some of the standard rhetoric it lacks sincerity and does not serve as a guiding tool. I am excited to work with staff to assess our current vision statement and to asses the need for change. Bob Cayer

No doubt there is a lot of information to process. I was self reflecting on the topics discussed and realize how sometimes I am trapped on the routine and running from task to task that sometimes I don't give myself the time to think strategically and to look at the big picture. The discussion leads us to be more concious on our role as educational leaders and increase our one's expectations in such role. The Farmer's video was so refreshing and reasserts the idea that we can all learn something from anyone, in this case a potato farmer. Wanda

As a reviewed what we covered today, I realize that applying strategic thinking is extremely valuable but definitley has a learning curve. I have several goals this year and I plan to use the stragetic thinking process. Our vision statement need work too. Andrea O'Brien

I came to the conclusion that for me, as a classroom teacher, creating a vision statement for my classroom is important in addition to each individual student. I only have three students with autism, as of now, and I think this is something that would be doable and help me stay focused on what I want to accomplish for each child, especially because they are so individualized and unique in their own way.Ashley Berek

I too, felt a bit overwhelmed and dizzy, like Cheryl. Today, however, I truly enjoyed working collaboratively with with my colleagues and listening to their perspectives relative to steps needed in the strategic planning scenarios. Moreover, I also found incredible value in the reflection piece, led by Chuck, which provided me with an opportunity to reflect on my own work with the goal of improvement. Sometimes in the past, I have resisted the need to self reflect as I felt uncomfortable with the process. The template that Chuck provided, is a non-threatening exercise in professional learning that I intend to use. Jim White

Today was very content-rich--a lot to digest and then apply to the case study at the end of the day. This exercise, in particular, brought the responsibility component of a school leader to the surface, specifically making sound decisions is a multi-faceted process. Ethel's comment about where each of us are on the "learning curve" was so relevant. I left feeling very "green" in many ways, realizing that I have so much to learn. ( I do have a wonderful mentor, Pat Mariano) On another note, I am really trying to internalize Kris's suggestion of "stepping back" and asking good questions. I tend to be a doer, a roll up my sleeves kind of person who at times may be labeled an "enabler." It is so important that we empower the owner of the problem to be part of the solution. Thank you for bringing me to another new page in the life of an administrator. ;~) Mary S.

Please add your reflections from today's session here. Also, check out the General Resources page to see a blog post from a Pennsylvania principal. The topic is NISL Unit 2 Day 1: The principal as strategic thinker.

I just wanted to include an article that you might be interested in reading that came to me from District Administration on K12 Schools needing to include media education. I am attaching the article here. Today's discussion of vision illustrated how difficult it is to establish a vision for the school collaboratively that is able to get everyone involved and focused on the task at hand. The principal as an instructional leader must work with staff collaboratively to gain everyone's buy-in. I feel the vision statement is important to drive what is happening in the school. However, I also know that each person needs to be valued and feel they are a part of what is driving the force of the vision. Leadership is complicated with many facets that need to be examined before critical decisions are made....Joanne L.

I was thinking about the "vision" conversation today, especially the Callent Middle School. On Monday I think we all agreed that proficiency wasn't enough... yet we find ourselves writing vision statements related to AYP and proficiency. I think we are in the most difficult time for school leaders where we have to meet the accountability challenge while still leading with a vision of what we want education to be for this generation of learners. Even more challenging for me personally, how do I incorporate this knowledge into a vision for the office of assessment and accountability? Lynn

Today’s content left me feeling a bit dizzy…in the sense that there is so much to consider when taking on such a large task. The tools we’re being given will be extremely helpful, and I plan to post that conceptual framework in my office where it can serve as a constant reminder to, like Ethel said, step back and think about the big picture. Cheryl

We were given so much valuable information today! I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, but one thing that can be out into place immediately is to create a clear vision statement as a school and post it everywhere. We should have it posted in every classroom just like content and language objectives, as well as on all notices as given in an example today. Our teachers, students, and support staff should know not only where they are going today, but where we want them to be in the future. I am also going to work on being the strategic thinker as opposed to completing tasks to move to the next task. Jamie Blanchette

I thought today's discussions were great. I think the concept of strategic thinking can be valuable from not only an administrative perspective but from a classroom perspective as well. As a teacher there is always a feeling that you need to be "quick on your feet" when dealing with a variety of situations. This makes me want to step back and be more thoughtful about certain things ... even if the kids want an instant answer. It would be a good practice for everyone. Additionally, how can we teach our students to be strategic thinkers in their own right? Amy

I thought today's discussion was valuable...those strategy steps can be applied to any vision. I have been circling through some thoughts in my head the past few months, and I have a way of structuring the ideas now. It is challenging to come up with a clear vision for a school....I think it may be habit to always fall back on proficiency and AYP, I also think it may be our way of articulating grade level success form year to year. College ready needs to become the new norm. Bridget

Ok, I’ll say it…..Vision Statements are the bane of my existence! I say this not because I don’t see the value in them (quite the contrary), but because I have a difficult time individualizing such an enormous, yet obvious institutional goal. Don’t //all// schools want to produce/graduate students with the knowledge and skills to succeed without remediation? Don’t we //all// want students who are able to think creatively, be excellent problem solvers and be great analyzers/strategic thinkers? Shouldn’t that be the goal of all schools, not just in Lawrence, but in the United States? I believe that all educational institutes and educators desire the same outcome (vision) for all students, but we should be focusing more on the “how are we going to get there?” then the “where are we going?” Maria

//Well said Maria! Thought provoking!// //Christopher Cody//

Like others, I think I left today with more questions than answers, but I certainly see the value in that. The dichotomy of the high expectations we all have against the interference we all face in our daily school lives is imposing. Today helped me see that the day-to-day, often mundane things we all have to do can be of greater value when everything is done through the lens of your school's vision. I definitely struggle with maintaining the momentum of that in the face of the daily challenges - the 'eyes on the prize' mentality is something I need to be better at. -Ted

I understand the difference between management and leadership, and the importance of an organization having a good vision. I am struggling with including assumptions, interests, objectives, capabilities, threats and risks into the vision. I will need to think about this a lot more before I put it consistently into practice. I know there is benefit in the thoroughness - but right now it seems complex. Ellen Sibley

I feel you, Maria! There should indeed be more of an emphasis on the how. In the end, most schools are going to strive for the same goal. However, the community, diversity among our student body, resources, etc., will cause the method (the ways) in which we achieve that goal different. Candice

I can relate to how Maria is feeling. A question that has been running through my mind is this: Why isn't there ONE vision for the Lawrence Public Schools? With so much jumping between schools on the students' part, wouldn't it be the right thing to do....align all of the schools to the same vision..among other things. Then we couold get better student "buy-in" and perhaps results. I am enjoying the learning that I am experiencing from the reflection pieces to the new vocab! -BarriAnn