SHARED LEADERSHIP PROPOSAL



|CENTRAL NEW BRUNSWICK ACADEMY |

|SHARED LEADERSHIP PROPOSAL |

|Building Leadership Capacity in High School Teachers |

|Yvonne Caverhill |

|yvonne.caverhill@nbed.nb.ca |

|EDUC 6133 |

|7/21/2011 |

OUR SCHOOL

Central New Brunswick Academy is a rural school located in New Bandon, New Brunswick. The school opened its doors in September 2010 for 270 students in grades 6 – 12, 20 teachers and 2 administrators. Schools in Doaktown and Boiestown were closed and students were transferred to this new school, built halfway between the two communities. CNBA is described as a “technologically-rich” school. All classrooms are equipped with Smartboards and FM systems. Every student at CNBA has a netbook computer for their use both at school and at home.

Teachers were placed, based on their teaching assignment, into 1 of 2 teams: Middle School or High School. It has been necessary for the principal, vice-principal, guidance counselor and resource teacher to be members of both teams. Team meetings were rare and usually lead by an administrator.

High school students are scheduled into 5 periods of instruction each day. A 30 minute block of time after lunch has been established as “enhancement period” for high school students. Ten enhancement pools of 15 multi-aged students usually work on homework, attend meetings or get extra help from teachers. Sometimes, special events based on student interest are organized.

PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR 2011-2012

GOALS:

1. To establish two Professional Learning Communities at CNBA that will focus on improving student achievement

2. To strengthen the leadership skills of all high school teachers at CNBA during high school team meetings and PLC meetings

3. To build healthy professional relationships among high school teachers at CNBA

IMPLEMENTATION:

During our first year of existence, building a school climate, for and with, our students became our primary focus. Our year at CNBA became a year of “firsts”. Our “first” assembly, “first” dance, and “first” graduation were stressful and successful. Our time was consumed with the amalgamating of two communities, two schools and two sets of traditions. The theme adopted by the communities for the year was “Two Schools – One Spirit”. As we enter our second year, this proposal will hopefully address the need for shared leadership in our school. A new principal has been appointed (former vice-principal) and is interested in redistributing power and authority in the school with a skilled teacher-leader group. Although this proposal is focused on the high school teachers of the school, it would be possible to have the middle school teachers follow a similar plan.

High School Team Development

The High School Team of 10-12 teachers will meet after school once every 2 - 3 weeks. Teachers will rotate the responsibility of presenter and/or facilitator. Teachers who are willing and skilled in specific areas will begin the rotation. Teachers who are more resistant to change will be asked to lead the activity/discussion later in the year so that they can see what is clearly expected of them. It is hoped that teachers will see that the role of administrators will be participatory. The administrators will allow other teachers to lead the discussions and add input when necessary.

During the first 20 minutes (this may need to be extended at times) of each High School Team Meeting, teachers will participate in skill development activities that will build leadership capacity. These 20 minute sessions will be planned by the teacher that is presenting/facilitating with support from the principal and Yvonne Caverhill. The resources provided in the EDUC 6133 binder will be most beneficial. After 7 weeks of skill development, the team will be divided into 2 Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s). Teachers will be asked to identify areas where PLC’s would be beneficial to student achievement. Suggestions will be entertained from administration but the final decision will require a consensus of the high school team. High School Team meetings will continue on a triweekly basis and skill development will continue.

PLC Development

PLC’s will also meet triweekly. Some resistance to PLC meetings after school is expected. PLC meetings will take place during “enhancement” period so that teachers can meet during the school day. Since all teachers will be expected to be a part of 1 of the PLC’s, students will be redistributed on meeting days for interest based activities to teachers in the other PLC. The principal, vice-principal, resource teacher and guidance counselor can help with the supervision of students during this time as well. The entire high school team will be responsible for planning the student interest days.

The PLC’s will be encouraged to rotate the roles of leader/facilitator, process observer, recorder/timekeeper, PLC member and coach/teacher. PLC’s will give teachers an opportunity to practice the skills that they are learning in the team meetings. Each PLC will be expected to report to the entire high school team at its next meeting. The high school team may provide input or offer support for the PLC’s initiatives. For some meetings, a suggested focus will be offered. However, depending on the functioning of the PLC, these should be altered.

Each PLC will be expected to explore research on their chosen topic. It will propose how to address the needs of the topic in an innovative way. It will collect appropriate data from students, parents and/or staff. It will report its progress to the high school team no later than May 2012. Each PLC will also be expected to provide to the high school team a rationale for continuing/discontinuing the PLC by June 2012.

Suggestions for possible PLC’s:

(Admin generated) A PLC might study the benefits of technology use on student achievement. This team will be expected to study research, collect data from students, parents and staff, and report their findings and suggestions for the future to the high school team.

(Teacher generated) A PLC might look at ways to improve “Enhancement Period” in our school. This team will be expected to study research, collect data from students and staff, investigate “enhancement period” in other schools, and report their findings and suggestions for the future to the high school team.

RESOURCES

The binder resources from Saint Thomas University’s EDUC 6133 Shared Leadership Course will be utilized when creating the skill building sessions at each high school team meeting. The textbook from the course “Building Leadership Capacity In Schools” by Linda Lambert will be used as well. CNBA Teaching Staff and District 18 Staff will be approached to provide assistance in developing the necessary leadership skills.

PROJECT TIMELINE FOR 2011-2012 HIGH SCHOOL TEAM/PLC’S

|WHEN (Week of…) |WHAT |WHO |PRESENTER/ FACILITATOR |

|Aug 29 – Sept 1, 2011 |PD Session: Shared Leadership |All Teaching Staff |Principal B. Long & |

| |The role of the principal will be identified; teachers will be |– Grades 6 – 12 |Teacher, |

| |encouraged to become part of the process. Some resistance can be| |Y. Caverhill |

| |expected at this initial stage of information, but most teachers | | |

| |will likely show a level of interest. | | |

|Sept 5 – 9, 2011 |Teachers will be informally interviewed regarding their feelings |High School Team |Principal, B. Long & |

| |towards shared leadership. This will allow administration to | |Vice-Principal (TBA) |

| |“feel out” interest and/or resistance. | | |

|Sept 12 – 16, 2011 |The benefits of PLC’s will be reintroduced to teachers. Teacher |High School Team |Teacher, |

|Team Meeting #1 |input will be sought for potential PLC’s that can be formed. | |J. Graham |

|Sept 26 – 30, 2011 |Teachers will participate in a team formation activity which will|High School Team |Teacher, |

|Team Meeting #2 |lead to the development of the two PLC’s. | |S. Carson |

|Oct 3 – 7, 2011 |Teachers will participate in a team building exercise “The Change|High School Team |Teacher, Y. |

|Team Meeting #3 |Wave.” Upon completion, teachers will be asked to reflect on | |Caverhill |

| |their feelings during the process. | | |

|Oct 10 – 14, 2011 |Teachers will participate in a team building exercise discussing |High School Team |Teacher, A. Donovan |

|Team Meeting #4 |Mental Models in Education. Teachers will work with their PLC | | |

| |group. | | |

|Oct 17 – 21, 2011 |PLC Meeting #1 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|Oct 24 – 28, 2011 |Suggested Focus: Trust Building – It is hoped that most PLC |PLC #2 | |

| |members will be comfortable with their team members after this | | |

| |session. | | |

|Oct 31 – Nov 4, 2011 |Teachers will participate in an activity to help establish Norms |High School Team |Teacher, L. Munn |

|Team Meeting #5 |and Protocols in their respective PLC’s. | | |

|Nov 7 – 11, 2011 |PLC Meeting #2 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|Nov 14 – 18, 2011 |Suggested Focus: Setting Goals with consensus |PLC #2 | |

|Nov 21 -25, 2011 |Teachers will participate in an activity to aid in Conflict |High School Team |Teacher, J. Hunter |

|Team Meeting #6 |Resolution | | |

|Nov 28 – Dec 2, 2011 |PLC Meeting #3 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|Dec 5 – 9, 2011 |Focus to be determined by PLC |PLC #2 | |

|Dec 12 – 16, 2011 |Teachers will participate in a reflection activity that allows |High School Team |Teacher, D. Hutchinson |

|Team Meeting #7 |for celebration and congratulations. | | |

|Jan 9 – 13, 2012 |PLC Meeting #4 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|Jan 16 -20, 2012 |Focus to be determined by PLC |PLC #2 | |

|Jan 23 – 27, 2012 |This is exam week for students. Teachers will be focusing on |High School Team |Guidance Counsellor, J.|

|Team Meeting #8 |student results and making plans for interventions. | |Mills |

|Jan 30 – Feb 3, 2012 |PLC Meeting #5 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|Feb 6 – 10, 2012 |Suggested Focus: Team Problems Audit |PLC #2 | |

|Feb 13 – 17, 2012 |Teachers will participate in the “Survival” simulation game that |High School Team |Teacher, J. Spencer |

|Team Meeting #9 |enhances consensus building skills. | | |

|Feb 20 – 24, 2012 |PLC Meeting #6 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|Feb 27 – Mar 2, 2012 |Focus to be determined by PLC |PLC #2 | |

|Mar 12 – 16, 2012 |Teachers will participate in an activity to address personality |High School Team |Teacher, C. Legere |

|Team Meeting #10 |types. The activity will hopefully help team members understand | | |

| |differences in opinion. | | |

|Mar 19 – 23, 2012 |PLC Meeting #7 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|Mar 26 – 30, 2012 |Focus to be determined by PLC |PLC #2 | |

|Apr 2 – 6, 2012 |Teachers will participate in an activity that addresses the use |High School Team |Learning Specialist |

|Team Meeting #11 |of T.T.F.M. (Tell them from me). This program allows students | |from District 18 and/or|

| |to anonomously answer questions about their school. Teachers | |principal |

| |will be shown how to create good questions for the program. | | |

|Apr 9 – 13, 2012 |PLC Meeting #8 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|Apr 16 – 20, 2012 |Suggested Focus: Collection of Data |PLC #2 | |

|Apr 23 – 27, 2012 |Teachers will participate in an activity that addresses decision |High School Team |Teacher, New Teacher |

|Team Meeting #12 |making skills. | |(TBA) |

|Apr 30 – May 4, 2012 |PLC Meeting #9 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|May 7 – 11, 2012 |Focus to be determined by PLC |PLC #2 | |

|May 14 – 18, 2012 |Teachers will participate in a discussion on the topic “Teachers |High School Team |Vice – Principal (TBA) |

|Team Meeting #13 |as Constructivist Leaders”. | | |

|May 21 – 25, 2012 |PLC Meeting #10 |PLC #1 |PLC to determine |

|May 28-June 1, 2012 |Suggested Focus: The future of our PLC |PLC #2 | |

|June 4 – 8, 2012 |Teachers will participate in a reflection activity that allows |High School Team |Principal, B. Long |

|Team Meeting #14 |for celebration and congratulations. | | |

|June 11 – 15, 2012 |Teachers will be asked to complete a “Leadership Capacity School |High School Team |Teacher, Y. Caverhill |

| |Survey” to assess our progess after year 1 of this project. | | |

CONCLUSION

It is expected that the two PLC’s will most likely continue into the 2012-2013 school year. This year, 2011-2012, we will experience early use of shared leadership and teachers will probably want and need more time to work together before seeing a routine use of shared leadership, hopefully in 2012 – 2013.

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