This week kicked off the start of an exiting new year in my district. On Tuesday, we welcomed our newest colleagues with an introduction to the district and a connection to our ever-growing, ever-improving mentoring program. Each of these teachers had been carefully selected with through a two-tier interview process focusing on the tenets of our PLC and our strategic plan. Their nervous excitement was palpable as we began the day, and their enthusiasm and questions assured us we had made the right decisions. Now it was up to us to nurture that enthusiasm and support these teachers as they become integral members of our team.
On Wednesday we welcomed back our entire faculty and staff. We began the day with a welcome address from the Superintendent, School Committee, and Central Office Team. New faculty and staff at every level of the organization were introduced, appreciation for summer work of teachers and dedication and support of the custodial and support staff was given. The message was clear, the people sitting in front of us are the most important resource that the district has to support learning, to support our students, to empower all students in our district to excel. The direction was clear, we will focus on re-building and strengthening our PLC through our work with systems thinking, collaboration, and hard work. We will improve our assessment skills, develop quality curriculum and implement with fidelity, enhance our communication, empower our students to own their learning, and integrate technology into pedagogy and as a tool to support all areas of our work. We were reminded again of Fullan, this will be an "undeniably difficult, but definitely doable" journey and we would support each other along the way.
On Thursday and Friday, we began the work together as a collaborative PLC. I was privileged to lead the learning for several teams; however, I was not alone in my work. Teachers and administrators from across the district showed tremendous leadership as they led teams of teachers in professional development activities designed around the focus areas noted above. Our promise to the teachers moving forward: more opportunities for teacher to teacher sharing and learning, more opportunities for teacher leadership, and more opportunities to celebrate and support the amazing work that is going on in the district.
What does next week bring? The reason we are educators. On Monday, we welcome our students back from their summer vacation.
On Wednesday we welcomed back our entire faculty and staff. We began the day with a welcome address from the Superintendent, School Committee, and Central Office Team. New faculty and staff at every level of the organization were introduced, appreciation for summer work of teachers and dedication and support of the custodial and support staff was given. The message was clear, the people sitting in front of us are the most important resource that the district has to support learning, to support our students, to empower all students in our district to excel. The direction was clear, we will focus on re-building and strengthening our PLC through our work with systems thinking, collaboration, and hard work. We will improve our assessment skills, develop quality curriculum and implement with fidelity, enhance our communication, empower our students to own their learning, and integrate technology into pedagogy and as a tool to support all areas of our work. We were reminded again of Fullan, this will be an "undeniably difficult, but definitely doable" journey and we would support each other along the way.
On Thursday and Friday, we began the work together as a collaborative PLC. I was privileged to lead the learning for several teams; however, I was not alone in my work. Teachers and administrators from across the district showed tremendous leadership as they led teams of teachers in professional development activities designed around the focus areas noted above. Our promise to the teachers moving forward: more opportunities for teacher to teacher sharing and learning, more opportunities for teacher leadership, and more opportunities to celebrate and support the amazing work that is going on in the district.
What does next week bring? The reason we are educators. On Monday, we welcome our students back from their summer vacation.
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