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Reflect, Focus, and Grow
Michael Iannini, Founder, MiddleLeader.com
Dear <<First Name>>,
For years I have tried to impress on schools that they don’t need to fly in consultants for professional development, nor send staff to far off conferences. Great professional development can be as simple as a team:
- Agreeing on a question to explore that is influencing current teaching and learning practices.
- Identifying and involving stakeholders that can influence the team’s ability to explore that question.
- Acquire or develop learning resources related to the question to inform team members.
- Engage in regular dialog about the question, agree on actions that can further understanding and evaluate the results of those actions.
The role of the consultant or facilitator is still important, just like a teacher in the classroom, consultants and facilitators help to structure the learning and can assess the attainment of skills and dispositions. But, professional growth comes through applying the learning, and that is the bulk of the process. This process unfortunately is not as easy as the 4 steps I outlined above, because this process gets undermined by limitations related to time, resource acquisition, and senior leadership involvement.
If you are passionate about professionally developing yourself and others, the two most important pillars of all great leaders, then watch my presentation to the ACAMIS Technology Conference on Virtualizing PD and read this month’s featured article on Capacity Building Strategies.
November is a time to reflect, focus on where our energy and attention can have the greatest impact on improving teaching and learning, and then collaborate with others to realize the gains from focusing that energy and attention.
Have a great month filled with reflection and growth,
Michael
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Virtualizing Great PD
What would you rather have for $10,000.00 USD, a consultant come to your school for a week or that same consultant working with school over the c ourse of the whole year, virtually? Watch this 30 minute video to learn how to plan great virtual professional development.
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Capacity-Building Strategies
To develop a middle leader’s capacity, schools have several strategies they can use. Renee Rehfeldt, one of the most experienced PD Coordinators I have met and worked with, defined the four strategies I list below to categorize the numerous PD offerings available to staff...Read more.
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UPCOMING PD OPPORTUNITIES
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Growth Mindsets: How to lead and sustain a culture of growth in your school
Facilitated by James Anderson
Nov 13 - Feb 4 (Online)
Equip your team with a deep understanding and the knowledge necessary to identify and challenge limiting beliefs in themselves, their colleagues, and students.
MIDDLE LEADER MASTER CLASSES: Delegation and Giving Performance Feedback
Facilitated by Michael Iannini
YCIS Hong Kong | Nov 30, 2020 & Jan 11, 2021
Middle leaders, when empowered, will be the most effective tool in ensuring transformative and sustained change.
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