One of the critical aspects of transforming a school is innovative
leadership. The expectation that new and
innovative ideas will be accepted will result in a successful school. Why do some schools turn around while others
flounder? It is because some principals
and teachers continue to lead the same way they did last year. They expect
different results but they keep doing the same things that caused the school to
have difficulties. Successful principals and teachers see change as a good aspect
of their schools success. An effective leader must have a positive vision and
measurable outcomes that inspire students to be successful. There must be a
commitment to moving forward with new ideas and actions throughout the school
year. Today is the day to get started by making the school a welcoming place
where every student can thrive.
The principal,
staff and teachers in a school that’s progressing has very good communication
and cooperation among the entire professionals who are running the school. The
principal must refuse to let communication breakdown. When there is an
expectation that all communication has a purpose it motivates everyone to raise
the level of energy that is invested in student instruction. An improved school
will come from everyone knowing how to carry out the vision of the principal
and his/her team. Teachers in this
school should feel free to talk to each other and to develop some of their own
strategies to improve each student’s academic success. This includes discussing
the way that each teacher communicates their lessons to students. The teachers must also feel confident that the
principal understands them and takes time to teach students too. A principal who takes time to teach will have
a better sense of what students are learning in their classrooms.
The students must
understand that everyone at the school expects them to do well. There must be a strategy to totally abolish
the culture of low expectation. Students
must be applauded and recognized for their accomplishments in the
classroom. A whole school culture can
change if the students who maintain a “C” average are challenged and acknowledged
for raising their performance to a “B” average or higher. Success is evident in
a school when the principal and teachers make learning fun and engaging. The school not only celebrates the success of
its athletes but has a bigger celebration over students who excel in the
classroom. A school atmosphere can
change so that athletes want to become a scholar athlete. Better grades and academic performance will
get all students excited about coming to school.
There must be a level of compassion by the
principal, teachers and everyone on staff.
A school must be a welcoming place that is aware of the neighborhoods
and cultures that influence the students.
Schools administrators that ignore the child’s problems are ignoring
that they are affected by a number of struggles at home. The challenges that a student can face when
there is one parent in the home are tremendous.
Even if the student has two parents it does not guarantee that they will
focus their energy on the student’s academic success. The principal and
teachers must understand these challenges and work on some solutions that help
each student to position themselves to learn when they are in school. There are some very bright students whose
home situation is not good. It is better
to meet the challenge head on than to hope that it will go away.
It is important to
lead from the front and not from the back. What is meant by this statement? It
is better to have a plan that the school is following than to constantly
respond to conflict and problems that were never fixed. When the principals, staff and teachers lead
from the front schools become better.
The teachers are excited to come to school because they feel supported.
The students get the benefit of the teacher’s enthusiasm. The principals and teachers can be role models
of what good leadership looks like. They
also inspire students to become leaders at the school and in their
community.
Positive changes
can come from principals, staff and teachers who know how to get parents
involved in the daily life of the school.
Parents often do not know how they play a positive role because their
own parents were not involved in their school.
The school staff and several parents should come together to discuss how
other parents can be involved. These
meetings can be held in the school, at a community center or at a church. An effective parent involvement program
includes meeting the parents where they live.
It’s great when a principal can find a pre-existing group of parents
that meet and find a way to get on their agenda. This saves the parent’s time but the
principal can share important information with them. Persistence and a
significant improvement in the students success is the key to improving parent
involvement.
Finally an inspired principal and staff can
change a failing school by promoting career awareness to all at all K12 levels.
Too many students are drifting in schools where they have no idea what their
future could look like. I firmly believe
that career exploration should occur all year.
The K12 students need to explore careers to sustain their enthusiasm for
learning. When they hear from visitors they can visualize themselves working in
professions such as medicine, engineering, government, business and other
professions. The principals and teachers
are the catalyst that motivates students can educate students about some of to
pursue the top careers. It is time to
try something different at the all schools. It is time to take action and to
fight for successful schools.
Dr. Stephen Jones is an education expert who you should
consider for your school. He is the author
of the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide and
the Ultimate scholarship guide at http://www.DrStephenJones.net.
Contact him right away at 610-842-3843.
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