Assignment 1 Blogpost:
How would you, if superintendent, develop or update a school district vision and mission?
Through reading Community, discussion in class, and listening to Dr. Joe Sanfelippo it is important to get the ideas, thoughts, and feelings from the community. In our classroom discussion of Community, discussion was had on how community engagement needs to coincide with board goals. The themes of the community along with the expectations in an ideal district align with board goals. Involving the values of the community within board expectations and goals will help with community support of the school system. Doing this assists with finding a way to listen and give others a voice. When those who are not use to or accustom to being heard it provides all with the change to lead.
Listening to stakeholders along with weaving and strengthening the fabric of community is a collective effort and starts from a shift in our mindset about our connectedness. Connection with the community is essential. Communities are built from assets and gifts of the citizens, not from needs or deficiencies. Focusing on the assets and gifts, and working to have the district mirror these will bring community members and community support into the school district. It is necessary as a superintendent to find a way as the leader to listen and give people voice.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of board and community goals aligning. In reality, I have seen this not happen in the past. Advocating for your school in a positive way is huge. Not every person values education as much of the next. My current board as done some major things for advocacy like writing articles in the local paper from the board members, promoting our website by keeping it up date and holding sessions for the community to gather. Not all stakeholders have the same vision as the board, but the members do a nice job of trying to inform the community for the reason of their decisions.
Cory
Hello Ryan:
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued that you saw the community in terms of the ideal district developing goals. I viewed the Block's goals as providing multiple strategies based on the recognition that no school district or community exists as ideal. The text presented multiple researchers views of how to develop community that allows the school administrator and opportunity to identify the most likely strategy to use in their community.
The text reminds all of us that each individual has value to the community and the leader's responsibility to develop a team helps with school reform and continuous growth.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteYour comment, "It is necessary as a superintendent to find a way as the leader to listen and give people voice." is a comment that has stuck with me since reading your post. I agree that as an educational leader in the role of a superintendent, it is critical to balance ones own personal vision, and philosophy with that of the organization we have been entrusted to lead.
As a superintendent our primary role is to lead, and a key component to leading is being an active listener who is able to then share the collective voice of the community as a whole for the schools that we lead. If we are able to do this successfully, students will ultimately be the beneficiary of the process.