My definition of leadership has certainly been reinforced during this class. I understand better than ever that being a leader, both administrative and teacher, involves being a courageous change maker. Not only are leaders instrumental in spearheading change, but they must be politically savvy and knowledgeable enough to facilitate the change process successfully. The Change Game was a fantastic way to re-enact how education initiatives are played out. I mustered up even more respect for the delicate balance that leaders have to maintain.
Our textbook expresses the about "improving education from within". I very much agree that this notion should be a large part of the solution plan, although there are other factors that contribute to the success and failure of education. My contribution is to participate in needed change, be a team player, and lend my strengths where needed.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
565- Week 5
This week, my team continued to play the change game thinking that we had to get everyone on board before moving on to the next activity. I learned that sometimes you have to leave people behind to move forward. Those people will have to either get with the program or be left behind. Progress doesn't mean that everyone will agree. Some people are just going to be resistant to change until they accept that there is no way around it. If most people are ready to move forward, it is important to continue.
With the school district I work in struggling to improve it's failing status, coupled with the budget crisis raging forward in Wisconsin's education system, I find myself faced with constant change. Playing the game has helped me to gain a new perspective regarding how I see myself fitting into this change process. I've been able to identify the varying stages that I've gone through, as well as, the stages others in my school and district waiver between. Currently, I am totally in the practice stage. I understand how much change is needed to improve education for the children in my community. Some of this change is has been forced upon us by DPI, and some has been initiated by my school based on our in-house needs assessment. Regardless of how the change has been initiated, I am committed to thinking of ways to shift the paradigm.
With the school district I work in struggling to improve it's failing status, coupled with the budget crisis raging forward in Wisconsin's education system, I find myself faced with constant change. Playing the game has helped me to gain a new perspective regarding how I see myself fitting into this change process. I've been able to identify the varying stages that I've gone through, as well as, the stages others in my school and district waiver between. Currently, I am totally in the practice stage. I understand how much change is needed to improve education for the children in my community. Some of this change is has been forced upon us by DPI, and some has been initiated by my school based on our in-house needs assessment. Regardless of how the change has been initiated, I am committed to thinking of ways to shift the paradigm.
Friday, March 4, 2011
565- Week 4
I found the change game to be quite frustrating. I have never had much tolerance for the politics of education. I don't appreciate the bottom line being dollars and cents rather than what's best for children and those who teach them. I am interested in how this game is totally played out. I understand the complexity of the process a little better after playing on Monday, but it was disheartening to finish our first year making, what seemed to me to be, little progress. The feeling of just spinning our wheels was a little too close to home. Reading about the change process in education has helped to give me a new perspective on the change game. Considering the phases helps me to envision a better systematic approach. It took us almost the whole year to realize how valuable collecting data and talking to the stakeholders is as a starting point.
With the budget and education crisis we are in at this time, I have found the School Change Toolkit to be helpful for analyzing new developments as they present themselves. Actually, the more I
learn about the systematic organization of education, as well as, the process and power of strategic planning, the more freightened I become for our children and our community. I found the following thought to be particularly hard-hitting. "...too much change at once, especially too much unexpected change with consequences people don't fully understand, can result in failure." (School Change Toolkit) Change is definitely needed in my district, and with education in America as a whole. However, education in Wisconsin is being forced to change too quickly. Being driven by the lack of money, I don't see how many of the changes are beneficial for our children. One of the thrills of teaching, for me, has been the "on top of the world" feeling I get having the opportunity to impact the lives in my classroom and school. With the current and impending trauma to the district's budgent, I fight the temptation to feel deflated and helpless. I appreciate the leadership training we are receiving. I pray that I will be able to use it to the fullest as we fight this battle to save our future.
With the budget and education crisis we are in at this time, I have found the School Change Toolkit to be helpful for analyzing new developments as they present themselves. Actually, the more I
learn about the systematic organization of education, as well as, the process and power of strategic planning, the more freightened I become for our children and our community. I found the following thought to be particularly hard-hitting. "...too much change at once, especially too much unexpected change with consequences people don't fully understand, can result in failure." (School Change Toolkit) Change is definitely needed in my district, and with education in America as a whole. However, education in Wisconsin is being forced to change too quickly. Being driven by the lack of money, I don't see how many of the changes are beneficial for our children. One of the thrills of teaching, for me, has been the "on top of the world" feeling I get having the opportunity to impact the lives in my classroom and school. With the current and impending trauma to the district's budgent, I fight the temptation to feel deflated and helpless. I appreciate the leadership training we are receiving. I pray that I will be able to use it to the fullest as we fight this battle to save our future.
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