One of the most insightful workshops I attended dealt with teachers proposing ideas concerning the integration of technology into their school culture, and collaborating closely with their school's administration. The workshop was led by Kristen Combs, a 7th grade teacher at Wakefield Middle School, and her principal, Jimmy Sposato.
The first piece they made when making a proposal to one's administrator is to go to the principal with a plan for how to carry out your proposal. It will provide your adminstration with needed information and will save them time in trying to determine how to implement the proposal. In this way, they will be more prepared to make a decision on whether to act on the proposal or not.
- Begin with a vision.
- Set goals.
- Make a plan.
- Get to work.
Wakefield Middle School's principal, Mr. Sposato, added his perspectives on this process.
Climate/Trust
- Trust is essential for successful collaboration
- Does your current climate encourage risk taking? Innovation? If not, ask why? If yes, go for it!
Leadership
- Principals are looking for leaders (we are great first followers)
- You do not have to be an expert but you need to be proficient.
- Principals will support about everything and effective teacher proposes (Your ideas are almost always better)
In conclusion, he stressed that technology was not a substitute for a lack of planning and that when implementing a new plan into a school culture, it is important that you:
- Be specific, be reasonable, be creative
- Ground your ideas in best practice principles! Make it about the learning
- Describe how will you bring others along
- Detail what you need from your principal
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