Instructional Leadership in Action

“Let your curiosity be greater than your fear.”

- Pema Chodron

“Our unconscious bias whispers, ‘We already have an anti-racist school.’ Our student data shouts, ‘You are not there yet!’ We must embrace the idea that we are all novices in the pursuit of creating a sustainable, equitable school system. It will be a lifelong endeavor.”

 -Central Washington Equity Leadership Network participant

As the year-end approaches, we're sharing stories of the growth we observed in our partners — even as they grappled with intense day-to-day demands on their time and energy. This post is the second in a series of three stories.

This past year demanded growth, from technical skills to mindsets, from virtually everyone in education. As the year-end approaches, we're sharing stories of the growth we observed in our partners. We're particularly excited to spotlight the shifts and new choices that may appear small, but signaled breakthroughs.

What does centering students look like in action? What characteristics should a leader look for as evidence of equity and learning-centered practice?

In this excerpt from a recent webinar, Jose Rivera, assistant superintendent of Grandview School District, Wash., shares how he engages with issues of race in his district, especially as it relates to coaching programs. 

We don't yet know what far-reaching impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students. 

What we do know is that classrooms need to be as equitable as possible — and support rigorous learning — now.

But what does that look like, especially with ongoing and sometimes abrupt shifts in teaching and learning environments?

After embarking on creating a "framework" that centers the experience of students, the CEL team learned that the adults at school really need to listen hard.

What does listening hard look like in action? What characteristics should a leader who's embraced deep listening to students look for as evidence in their practice?

In this short video, Jenn McDermott, director of innovative initiatives, reflects on the times when these questions surfaced during the creation of the Student Experience Story Guide, and how she responded to the challenges moment-to-moment. 

Dear partners and colleagues,

This January has opened as an intense continuation of a year like no other in our collective memory. “Relentless, exhausting and humbling” is how many of you have described 2020.

But when I consider your leadership this past year, very different words come to mind: AWE and ADMIRATION. 

Early on, regardless of how you personally felt, you pulled resources together on behalf of your students. Overnight you became internet providers, nutrition programs and full-time social service centers for your communities — all while keeping your day jobs as initiators of courageous conversations and leaders for student learning.

Brandon White is the chief academic officer at South Bend Community Schools in Indiana. When working with school leaders, his approach is that "we as educators must be involved in learning ourselves."

Lisa Rooney, director of framework development and support, spoke to Brandon recently. He shared what his leadership vision is — and how the Four Dimensions of School Leadership^TM (4D^TM) helps bring that vision to life in the students' learning experiences.

Lindsey Samec is an elementary school principal at Mounds View Public Schools in Minnesota. Like so many other school leaders across the country, she's had a lot to think about and manage this past year for her students to be able to learn and grow.

Michele Mason, director of instructional leadership, spoke to Lindsey recently. We wanted to know how the Four Dimensions of School Leadership^TM (4D^TM) was helping her lead.

“My favorite day of school was when it was my birthday because everybody said hello to me, and I wish that happened every day.” 

— a Seattle-area student, when asked to reflect on their best school experiences

For years, CEL has had frameworks around practice, knowledge, leadership and mindsets for adults. But we’ve never had a student-facing framework. When we revamped the Four Dimensions of School Leadership^TM to center student experiences in school, we knew we needed to bring students more directly into our work.

Jenn McDermott, director of innovative initiatives at CEL, spearheaded the effort to do just that. Jenn and CEL colleagues invited K-12 students from three Seattle-area school districts — then later on, students from across the country — to collaborate.

And the team learned that the adults at school really need to listen hard — because what adults focus on to make a better school experience? It’s not the same as what students say they want and need.