Education Week - November 23, 2022 - 19

WEBINAR
WEBINAR
6. Share leadership
There's a lot of activities in
middle school-from band to
choir to sports. A principal can get
stretched pretty thin juggling all
of those on top of their required
duties. It's good to remember that
there are other capable, competent
adults in the school who are often
willing to step up if asked.
Shared or distributed leadership
is really important to ensuring
principals stay on top of what matters
most, but it also helps teachers
and other staff members strengthen
their expertise and gain valuable
leadership experience.
" I try very hard to be a leader of
leaders, " Houf said.
7.
Help students get a
perspective
Everything (and anything) can
seem like the end of the world for a
middle school student. A bad grade.
The end of a friendship. Not making
a sports team.
One of the middle school principal's
biggest jobs is to help students
see that that's not the case.
They'll bounce back; everything
will be OK.
School leaders can help students
develop those skills-on dealing
with adversity, regulating emotions,
making good decisions-by focusing
deeply on social-emotional
learning.
Kanawyer relied heavily on the
CharacterStrong SEL program,
which helps students develop selfawareness
and build relationships.
Woodgate embedded those lessons
into the school's once-a-week " flex
period, " where teachers centered
lessons on desired character traits
such as respect and perseverance.
" We want them to be kind, "
Kanawyer said. " We want them to
be empathetic. We want them to
persevere. We are going to teach
those things. "
8.
Be flexible-and ready
to change plans
You'll wear lots of different hats:
Principal, counselor, disciplinarian,
confidante, you name it.
Sometimes within the same hour-
sometimes with the same student.
" They want to belong, " Houf
said of the students. " They want
to be supported. They want to be
cared for. It's definitely more challenging.
Some are quicker to lash
out and be frustrated. "
Be ready to tackle all of those different
roles.
9. Build meaningful
relationships
Students can spot a fake a mile
away, so find genuine ways to get to
know them and let them know that
you're there for them.
When Kanawyer was a middle
school principal, he greeted students
at the door and used the daily
morning announcements to set a
positive tone, reminding students
that they " had a building full of
people here who love and care
about you. Let us know if you need
anything. "
" Start each day positively, and
reaffirm kids, " said Kanawyer, who
mixed celebrations and shout-outs
in the greetings. " I know it sounds
cheesy. "
You may not always get the response
you want, but keep at it.
" Sometimes I have a big hug
from a kid, sometimes I get just an
eyebrow, a shrug, " said Houf. " But
again ... every kiddo needs something
different, and that's OK. "
The entire team-from teachers
to counselors to custodians-
should be involved in building
meaningful relationships with
students.
" Let them know we care about
you, and we are there for your success, "
Kanawyer said. " Show them
in the way you interact with them,
the way you talk with them, your
mannerisms-everything. "
10. Balance understanding
with consequences
It's an emotional ride, and
students are undergoing a lot of
changes.
While school leaders must be
empathetic and understanding,
they must also ensure that
students know there are consequences
for their actions.
It's tricky balance: The drill sergeant
versus the principal who lets
students get away with everything.
Both extremes are bad places to be.
Jackson, the Georgia principal, has
found ways to strike the balance. His
school has a rewards program for
students and weekly and monthly
recognition for academic and behavioral
improvement.
But sports teams and clubs have
behavioral clauses, and students can
lose the right to play or participate
in those activities if they violate the
rules.
Instead of always calling parents
when students misbehave, Jackson
contacts the clubs or the adult in
charge of that school activity.
Still, Jackson and other middle
level principals said, students also
must have the chance to learn and
grow from their mistakes.
" We know they are still in the
trial and error phase, " Jackson
said. " We use it as a tool to help redirect
behavior versus just putting
them out or cutting them off ... We
are not here to take away students'
opportunities for growth, but to
teach them. "
No Time to Waste: Individualized
Instruction Will Drive Change
A simple return to pre-pandemic 'normal' isn't enough to
address exacerbated achievement gaps. But, by enabling educators to
quickly diagnose high-leverage skill gaps and address them, we have the
power to overcome and narrow learning gaps and create leapfrog
moments for today's students.
Come join a conversation with former district leaders, innovators, and
advocates to take a focused look at how schools can best mobilize the
tutoring infrastructure they've put in place in recent years and build a
sustainable model for personalized instruction and intervention moving
forward. The path from struggling to getting back on track just may be
shorter than we think.
https://edw.link/IndividualizedInstruction
WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 7
TIME
2-3 PM ET
EDUCATION WEEK | November 23, 2022 | www.edweek.org | 19
Leading Systemic Redesign:
Strategies from the Field
Leading Systemic Redesign:
Strategies from the Field
The time is now to act and redesign the public school
The time is now to act and redesign the public school
system by intentionally fostering a relationship -based culture that is
whole-learner focused, no learner marginalized, and future driven.
system by intentionally fostering a relationships-based culture that is
whole-learner focused, no learner marginalized, and future driven.
Learn from innovative educational leaders who are leading this charge as
they discuss:
Learn from innovative educational leaders who are leading this charge as
they discuss:
Prioritizing culture over strategy as a driver of transformation
Utiliz
Engaging the community o build a culture of collab ration
Engaging the community to build a culture of collaboration
https://edw.link/SystemicRedesign
https://edw.link/SystemicRedesign
WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 1
WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 1
TIME
2-3 PM ET
TIME
2-3 PM ET
WEBINAR
Content
Content
provided by
provided by
distinct staffing and evidence-b sed instruc ion models
Prioritizing culture over strategy as a driver of transformation
Utilizing distinct staffing and evidence-based instruction models
Building rigorous academic programs that incorporate workforce skills
Integrating social, emotional, and cognitive growth into all aspects
Building rigorous academic programs that incorporate workforce skills
Integrating social, emotional, and cognitive growth into all aspects
of a district's improvement efforts, including professional learning
of a district's improvement efforts, including professional learning
Content
provided by
https://www.edw.link/SystemicRedesign https://www.edw.link/IndividualizedInstruction http://www.edweek.org
Education Week - November 23, 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Education Week - November 23, 2022
