Taking the next step from Good to Great

Our latest administrative team read at Waukesha North High School,  Activate: A Leader's Guide to People / Practices /Processes had some interesting take aways and reaffirmed some of the great work taking place in the School District of Waukesha.  Here are some of my top highlights and take-aways from this book:

• High performing schools have data teams and or professional learning communities that follow a consistent cycle of inquiry into how students are progressing on learning goals and how staff are performing with their teaching techniques

• Fear of change is powerful and debilitating, taking down competent leaders with ease

• Hattie, "The biggest effect on student learning occurs when teachers become the learners of their own teaching and when students become their own teachers."

• Simply, there are two kinds of leaders, those who want to get things done and others who don't want to make mistakes

• High performing organizations go the extra mile to create cultures where people are prepared for and expect change

• The key role for a school leader is communicating clearly that learning and achievement outcomes of students are priority in any list of outcomes

Other Reflections:

We must continue to do the tough work on behalf of students. Cultivating a culture where change is expected and embraced takes time, effort and energy.  Creating a sense of urgency in which a culture of continuous improvement and a commitment to think outside of the box is critical.  When I reflect on some of the innovative practices, ideas, and innovation that I have seen first hand at Waukesha North High School, I am excited for the future my profession.

Our challenge as a school, is how can we take the spirit of innovation and transform the organization into a true Professional Learning Community, in which a PLC is not something that we "do" for 30 minutes, 2 times a week.  Rather, it's a mindset in how we best serve students and respond to data with specific adult actions that will ultimately raise student achievement.