tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post795246839809131115..comments2024-03-29T07:39:48.764-04:00Comments on A Principal's Reflections: Autonomy Breeds ChangeEric Sheningerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-39856740565600900692015-10-19T11:46:00.107-04:002015-10-19T11:46:00.107-04:00It sure does improve relationships :)It sure does improve relationships :)Eric Sheningerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-67581817222540943402015-10-13T19:14:44.203-04:002015-10-13T19:14:44.203-04:00This is my first time reading your blog, and I'...This is my first time reading your blog, and I'm glad I stumbled across it in Twitter. I think this is such a great initiative -- I would love t have time like this at my school. Right now, I do most of the "innovation-type" work you describe during non-work hours, with the result that I'm not able to explore as deeply as I would like. I also think the portfolio aspect is a huge value-add -- giving teachers the chance to showcase their areas of interest and depth of knowledge, which can so often go unnoticed and unacknowledged without this kind of structure. I bet that over the long term, it improves the working relationships in your school community. Thanks for sharing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14208403812470919260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-4460353220998945812015-07-10T10:32:47.380-04:002015-07-10T10:32:47.380-04:00The guidelines were fairly simple to really promot...The guidelines were fairly simple to really promote innovative practices. Each portfolio had to show evidence os specific learning outcomes that were achieved that were supported with evidence. Bottom line - show me how you used the time you were given to improve professional practice. All of this was aligned to standard 5 of our observation/evaluation tool: 5-a. Teachers analyze student learning. Teachers think systematically and critically about student learning in their classrooms and schools: Why learning happens and what can be done to improve achievement. Teachers collect and analyze student performance data to improve school and classroom effectiveness. They adapt their practice based on research and data to best meet the needs of students.Eric Sheningerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-7581748202453145342015-07-09T20:18:47.669-04:002015-07-09T20:18:47.669-04:00Can you share how you articulated to teachers how ...Can you share how you articulated to teachers how to compile their learning portfolios? What guidelines/expectations did you share upfront? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-90577425232775423262014-09-02T09:09:24.349-04:002014-09-02T09:09:24.349-04:00Eric,
I like the fact that "trust" has b...Eric,<br />I like the fact that "trust" has been assumed. As mentioned in your comments below, some will not quite make it for so reason or another and they will require additional support and it sounds like you now have many mentors & examples available to provide this.<br /><br />Do you have opportunities during PD days throughout the year for teachers to share with each other (in small groups) where they are at? Having a different perspective on something helps us reflect and be inspired by what other are doing or have done.<br /><br />Thanks once again for your thoughts.Donovan HALLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849579770304399381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-20148207800933201212014-02-07T14:13:47.201-05:002014-02-07T14:13:47.201-05:00Thomas - Not necessarily negative feedback, but a ...Thomas - Not necessarily negative feedback, but a lack of focus. Most teachers greatly appreciate the time and the results as well as their work speaks for itself. Others have yet to seize the opportunity that they asked for. My response was to align this with our new evaluation tool (McREL).Eric Sheningerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-17505727769253901782014-02-07T08:16:09.762-05:002014-02-07T08:16:09.762-05:00Thank you for the great ideas. It sounds like man...Thank you for the great ideas. It sounds like many teachers embraced their collaborative time and used it wisely. Did you get any negative feedback from teachers? If so, what was your response? Thanks.Thomas Hottingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12483102083150815033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-32102479052263874422013-12-18T19:24:23.479-05:002013-12-18T19:24:23.479-05:00Besides making it clear that those things can'...Besides making it clear that those things can't be done during PGP time we trust our teachers to use the allotted time to follow their learning passions. The year end portfolios are a great barometer of how the time was spent.Eric Sheningerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-89880379002189602622013-12-18T17:27:05.841-05:002013-12-18T17:27:05.841-05:00This is an incredible idea! I love the PGP to allo...This is an incredible idea! I love the PGP to allow teachers to look into their own interest that relate to your mission. I hear teachers saying all the time "I've always wanted to... but I never have the time" or "I'd really love to... if I had more time". Since you no longer require them to turn in a log from each PGP, how do you make sure each PGP is spent doing what they should and not grading, planning, etc.? Do you just use their end of year portfolios to gauge how meaningful their time was from the whole year? I love this idea... thanks for sharing! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-58519287976345284702013-10-18T10:15:53.234-04:002013-10-18T10:15:53.234-04:00Definitely sustainable and we will not go back. W...Definitely sustainable and we will not go back. We reduced duties and now have less people doing them (i.e. lunch duty). Have eliminated some hall duties completely as our culture now does not require it.Eric Sheningerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-87092079747868956622013-10-18T08:56:42.237-04:002013-10-18T08:56:42.237-04:00Interested in the 'duties' your administra...Interested in the 'duties' your administrative team cut, and if these are sustainable in the long term? Are you finding the need to put them back on the teachers to maintain a coherent classroom environment?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-43754752553457755782013-09-16T20:30:29.602-04:002013-09-16T20:30:29.602-04:00This is brilliant. I am going to share this with m...This is brilliant. I am going to share this with my district leaders as we look at ways to improve our secondary (middle and high school) programs. Thank you for sharing!Anne Reardonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05988341801824492863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-30499127190133334312013-09-02T10:01:21.925-04:002013-09-02T10:01:21.925-04:00Thanks for the post and for how you value the prof...Thanks for the post and for how you value the professional integrity of your teachers. I found myself dreaming up what I would study, given the time. Thanks for posting what your teachers did-- I am following up on some of the books I didn't know. codyjohkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10302043255471721388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-72424587764114117502013-06-02T10:28:13.656-04:002013-06-02T10:28:13.656-04:00This sounds great! Any chance of taking it further...This sounds great! Any chance of taking it further and implementing a program that increases autonomy for students?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-54076957038827022172013-05-30T14:34:47.761-04:002013-05-30T14:34:47.761-04:00No need yet... I'll keep an eye on your posts ...No need yet... I'll keep an eye on your posts and may hit you up again down the road if/when I need more "supporting info." Thanks and keep up the awesome work!Seanjayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08312825847258030135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-36441769197513007492013-05-30T14:04:26.630-04:002013-05-30T14:04:26.630-04:00I don't at this point, but would be more than ...I don't at this point, but would be more than happy to get you in touch with one of my teachers via email so you could get their perspective. Eric Sheningerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-17419927901826896552013-05-30T13:58:33.464-04:002013-05-30T13:58:33.464-04:00Awesome as usual, Eric! Any chance there's a b...Awesome as usual, Eric! Any chance there's a blog or piece from one of your teacher's perspectives about the process? Not necessarily their deliverables, but their reflection about being a part of this initiative? Seanjayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08312825847258030135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-49454683564487917072013-05-30T09:30:32.264-04:002013-05-30T09:30:32.264-04:00If there is anything I can do to help Ming let me ...If there is anything I can do to help Ming let me know.<br />Eric Sheningerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-62420487370185580172013-05-30T09:26:19.753-04:002013-05-30T09:26:19.753-04:00thank you Eric, for sharing your insights and how ...thank you Eric, for sharing your insights and how you have turned an idea into reality. As an aspring school leader, I appreciate you demonstrating trust & respect in your relationships with your staff, and empower them to 'teach/learn' on their own terms. Our challenge now, in my province anyway, is to negotiate those logistics (set by the ministry, board, and federation) to allow these job-embedded time slots for teacher-regulated PDs. A good challenge to have, though~<br />Cheers!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933363863815706253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-48880135962389720072013-05-01T20:53:26.377-04:002013-05-01T20:53:26.377-04:00I like your model of leadership. I am working on m...I like your model of leadership. I am working on my Master's to become an instructional leader and I have been following this blog since I began. It has given me a ton of great ideas for when I become an administrator one day!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06116563361398421507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-10051594219434945092013-04-18T16:20:57.067-04:002013-04-18T16:20:57.067-04:00I want to work for you so bad... Thanks for being...I want to work for you so bad... Thanks for being an inspiration for a small-school science teacher all the way on the other side of the country. I'll be sharing this post with my administration. You've articulate my thoughts way better than I could have.Mr. Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04464768902648925711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-7911607104516010392013-04-17T16:52:16.595-04:002013-04-17T16:52:16.595-04:00Eric,
I'm SO glad you tried this this year. I&...Eric,<br />I'm SO glad you tried this this year. I'm sure the teachers feel fortunate as well! It makes me wonder... What if WE had the same deal?? Ahhhh... I love to dream! I will, however, be doing my part to keep this movement going by passing this on to my administration. I believe we could do so much for the students if this time was built in... Thank you for posting and for such a comprehensive explanation!Joy Kirrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08883167887036480979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-30168863496824629022013-04-14T10:18:41.901-04:002013-04-14T10:18:41.901-04:00Giving them the time was relatively simple. Our s...Giving them the time was relatively simple. Our school runs on a traditional 8 period day. Each period is 48 minutes in length. All staff teach 5 classes and have a prep, lunch, and non-instructional duty (cafeteria, hall, in-school suspension, etc.). We cut all teacher duties in half giving them 2-3 PGP periods a week (depending on the semester) as described above. We (admin) have now picked up the slack in terms of covering the duties. Hope this helps.Eric Sheningerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733305358794643322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-25162034162455051912013-04-13T23:02:21.175-04:002013-04-13T23:02:21.175-04:00That is fantastic Eric - great to see what teacher...That is fantastic Eric - great to see what teachers were able to spend time on - teachers appreciate the autonomy - could you please let me know how you were able to give them the time you described - some examples?<br />Thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931834670826653533.post-90060664774058944562013-04-13T11:55:40.543-04:002013-04-13T11:55:40.543-04:00Great stuff. Genius hour for educators! Don'...Great stuff. Genius hour for educators! Don't know what genius hour is? Check out www.geniushour.comJackknifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12052284693643078087noreply@blogger.com