Archive for February, 2010

Why is Change in Schools so Difficult?

Friday, February 19th, 2010

This week from The Backbone Institute:

Why is Change in Schools so Difficult?

Thanks to John in NYC for his email. He wrote:

Would like to know more of your perspectives on schools and why you think improvement, growth, and change are so challenging in so many of them.

[Susan Marshall’s comments are editorial, based on experience with school systems. She is not a licensed educator.]

Curriculum outdated. Tend to change it using new ideas from Ph.D. studies, new classroom ideas, which get tested, then rolled out or shelved.

Similar to updating technology

Legacy systems, new software applications don’t “talk” well

Add lots more diversity in school systems

· Cultures

· Languages

How to teach? Native language or English?

What gets lost in translation?

Great debate re: America as melting pot

Change difficult because we don’t listen well when we believe we’re right

Discourse best when:

· Civil

· Creates new understanding, new ways of thinking

· Leads to shared vision

Inclusion – primary task of leadership

What needs to happen among faculty, school leaders to create environment where

· Kids are challenged to learn

· Feel safe to learn

Challenge: How to develop confidence to listen to alternative viewpoints, share knowledge and new ideas, engage in true collaboration?

Who to benchmark? Where to look for things that are working well?

· Tend to seek like entities

· Why not dissimilar others?

· Tend to isolate ourselves within our professions – creates bureaucracies

Brunei – create entirely new way of doing things

· New learning

· How is our instruction landing?

· What will happen as a result?

· Create spirit of inquiry and curiosity

Next time from The Backbone Institute: What has more apps than an iPhone?

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Leadership in Education

Friday, February 12th, 2010

This week from The Backbone Institute:

Leadership in Education

Last week we mentioned new work in Brunei. Similar to work we did in NYC when Mayor Bloomberg took over the schools.

Started a new Leadership Academy at Uplift charter schools in Dallas in January.

Will start another for a charter school system in South Texas in July.

What’s broken?

Not enough strong leaders to change old broken systems, bust up old bureaucracies.

Too many kids not getting the education they need.

Curriculum in many schools is dated. Trying to update it is similar to upgrading technology working with legacy systems and introducing new technologies and systems. They don’t talk well to each other.

Curriculum that is updated in bits and pieces doesn’t hang together. No integration.

Meanwhile, kids less disciplined.

Teachers = caretakers as much as educators.

What School Leaders Can Do

· Understand responsibilities. Kids watch adults!

· Make decisions, draw boundaries, be consistent, be respectful of each other.

· Manage conflict.

What Parents Can Do

· Get involved. Meet school leaders and teachers.

· Understand curriculum.

· Work hard with children – do not drop and run!

Looking for an opportunity to be a leader in community or schools?

Education needs leaders!

If you have interest, get involved.

Sign up, jump in, give us your best.

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A Call for Leaders

Friday, February 5th, 2010

This week from The Backbone Institute:

A Call for Leaders

Special announcement: Susan Marshall going to Brunei in March!

We need leaders!

Susan teaches an MBA Leadership class. The Brunei work is about leadership in school systems.

Some common notions/misunderstandings about Leadership – why people are reluctant to assume leadership role.

· It’s about making people happy. No. It’s about results.

· It takes special abilities. No. It takes purposeful action.

· It’s bigger than most people. It’s yours if you choose to develop yourself.

· Young people are not eager to pursue leadership roles.

o Too much time required – no life balance

o Don’t want the hassles

o Other ways to make a difference

It’s good to know what you want and what you are willing to do to get it.

The Backbone Institute weekly feature:

CALL UP YOUR CHARACTER!

You can be a leader!

Here’s how to prepare yourself: Remember competence builds confidence that enables you to take the risk of becoming a leader.

Learn the industry you’re in — healthcare, engineering, automotive, retail, hospitality, entertainment, manufacturing, etc.

Get to know your customers.

Learn about your competitors. Google alerts.

Stay current with technology.

Study people.

Watch who gets things done in your organization.

Pay attention to what engages and motivates people.

Watch what shuts people down.

Understand yourself. Know what you want. Jeff Immelt, CEO of GE: “Leadership is an intense journey within. It starts with a constituency of one.”

Know your strengths.

Ask for feedback.

Surround yourself with people who do what you don’t.

Keep a journal or log.

Watch leadership exchanges.

What works?

What doesn’t?

What can you learn?

Leadership is a contact sport! If you want to be a leader, go for it!

If not, be a good follower. Tell your leaders what you need. Speak up when things aren’t right.

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