tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post2255672924694546590..comments2024-02-04T02:13:50.444-08:00Comments on The Learning Nation: The Pink PLCbirklearnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07368990673349142540noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-55583959736007380432011-09-26T16:55:45.555-07:002011-09-26T16:55:45.555-07:00Great post, Cale. I sense that you have a very kee...Great post, Cale. I sense that you have a very keen sense of what works best for your school's collaborative culture. There is no fail-proof formula to be plugged into every situation. I've evolved as well in my approaches to the process. The basic principles of successful PLCs remain entrenched in our school, but the tinkering is continuous.C. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238470679980046964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-84435697249635467422011-09-24T05:40:35.599-07:002011-09-24T05:40:35.599-07:00Cale,
As a PLC guy through and through, I've...Cale, <br /><br />As a PLC guy through and through, I've got to tell you that this is the best bit on the leadership tensions that principals of PLCs feel that I've ever read.<br /><br />More importantly, I've got to tell you that you're getting this right for the most part!<br /><br />I think the only changes that I'd suggest to your plan for approaching PLCs is to have your school develop very clear, actionable vision statements kind of like these:<br /><br />http://bit.ly/eis1c5<br /><br />And then ask your learning teams to focus their innovative work around one or two of the vision statements that your school has written together.<br /><br />By doing so, you firm up the loose-tight-ness of what you are doing. You are enabling your learning teams to explore and to set their own direction, but their direction fits within a framework of what your school community believes that good teaching and learning really looks like in action.<br /><br />Is structured and targeted innovation.<br /><br />Does that make sense?<br /><br />Most importantly, your teachers and teams should always be able to connect their work back to student learning. If they can't show you that they are tracking how their choices are impacting the most important result schools should care about---student learning---they're working in the wrong direction. <br /><br />Good stuff, Pal. I'm proud of the work you're doing.<br /><br />BillBill Ferriterhttp://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radicalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-60275251119311872572011-09-20T18:59:28.633-07:002011-09-20T18:59:28.633-07:00I often think the role of the leader is to lead re...I often think the role of the leader is to lead results, not methods, and what I see you doing is allowing your team to shape their own experieince. To pick up on Johnny's metaphor, why do they even have to use a bus? You as the leader set the destination and they decide on the method of transportation...the destination is the 'common' piece - the piece that pulls it all together, but the depts. are able to direct their methods - the way in which they get there... assuming they don't take too long ;-)<br /><br />Awesome post Cale...simply one of the most thoughtful posts I've read in a while!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-1038300982006469162011-09-20T07:56:37.005-07:002011-09-20T07:56:37.005-07:00Cale
Another fine post! You hit on a bit of tensi...Cale<br />Another fine post! You hit on a bit of tension that I have been feeling these days as well. As a someone who believes in the in practice of PLC's and all its elements (SMART Goals, student achievement, team norms, etc), lately I've been looking to motivate and empower the staff with something "more". To follow on your metaphor - not only do I not want drive, push or pull the bus - I'm looking to have them "choose their own bus."<br />We are trying some of what you talk about this year at our school (Building Experts). Just yesterday I was meeting with someone to discuss how these teams will "function". The temptation was to over prescribe (drive the bus) and provide the road map. At the end of the day, I am not sure how successful this will be (I'll trust the research - Dan Pink and others). But I am willing to take a some chances.<br /><br />I really appreciate your post and take some comfort in knowing that you are also having some similar thoughts when it comes to PLC's. <br /><br />Thanks againJ Bevacqua @jvbevacquahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310639769232238058noreply@blogger.com