Educational Origami

Well, we are back in Memphis, we went out to the Rum Boogie  Blues club last night, which was great.

This trip has been thought provoking and has challenged many preconceptions I had.

Yes, I did meet a couple (and only a couple) of “red neck” teachers, but the majority of the teachers I met were profoundly foucsed on doing the best for their students. They were a hugely enthusiastic and passionate group. They cared!

When we were doing group work, and this was after four days that left us as facilitators exhausted, they were on task. They were focused. They were passionate. They got it. They understood where we were heading, the value of contextual learning ratrher than teaching for the test; rather than delivering content.

They entered the scenario development with enthusiasm, spoke publicily to their peers with confidence and participated fully. This group of teachers were the most motivated and on task group I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

Some other observations:

The importance of leadership. Matt, the district superintendent attended all 5 days of the workshop. Not some of the workshops, not the opening and closing keynotes, not visited for 5 minutes and left. He ATTENDED and PARTICIPATED. The Principals of the schools attended the entire program. Their support staff were told… “unless the school is burning down do not disturb me”. This had a profound effect. This is role modeling. This is leading by example.

I did go and work with the elementary school staff for 3 or 4 sessions. The elementary principal is very new to this position, and in my first session he sat at the back of the classroom we were in, behind a teachers desk, behind a laptop and observed. The tone of this session and the message he portrayed were poor. His lack of engagement weakened the process. Later in the week he was engaged in activities, he faciliated learning, coached staff and worked one to one with his staff. He removed the barrier and the tone of the session was bright and fun.

Leaders can not sit on the edge, they have to be engaged and involved, but not to the extent of micro-managing. I suspect for this young principal he will fluctuate between these extremes from aloof and remote (to the point of seeming arrogant) to so involved that he is smothering and  micro-managing; before he reaches a balance that works for him and his staff. I hope for him that this journey is one he learns from because the lessons are going to come thick and fast; the learning curve will be steep.