Tool: Building a school's
capacity to support teaching and learning
The
leader needs to be actively engaged in the improvement of classroom conditions
that enhance learning. Through ongoing conversation, the leader
encourages the use of a host of instructional materials and teaching strategies. Teachers who have instructional concerns or innovative ideas seek the
leader out. Clinical supervision is viewed as a complement to teacher
evaluation with emphasis on ongoing professional growth and development. To build capacity for support of teaching and learning, there must be
an emphasis on good teaching.
Purpose of this tool: The
purpose of this tool is to help you think about building capacity to support
teaching and learning in your school. Keep in mind that with every
staffing change, capacity shifts! For example beginning teachers bring
a freshness that can’t be equated in years.
How to use this tool: Begin
by collecting some data about the faculty. Survey the collective
number of years of experience, years of college, number of degrees in
designated academic subjects, cultural representations, designated talents,
etc. Create visual representations such as charts or graphs. That
gives you a rough idea of what you have to work with. Then ask, How am
I using these resources by using the inventory below. Use the results at your
next leadership retreat. Follow it up with a discussion at the next
faculty meeting. Elicit ideas for building capacity. Create
an action plan for mobilizing one of the group’s ideas.
How
am I using these resources?
A successful leader builds capacity by: |
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| Using
time and resources effectively by planning, organizing, scheduling, prioritizing
and delegating as appropriate |
|
| Assigning
staff members according to their strengths |
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| Demonstrating
skill as change master |
|
| Demonstrating
an understanding of motivating staff by stating clear expectations,
providing specific feedback and encouraging staff to try new initiatives
and expanding their repertoire of practices |
|
| Knowing
staff members’ strengths and weaknesses, matching needs to staff
development opportunities, mobilizing resources and district support
to help achieve academic goals and convincing staff members that
they are important instructional resources in the building. |
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PDF format for printing.... RTF version for revising
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