Uinta County School District #1
March 2019-Newsletter, Vol. 41
WHY SHOULD WE USE TEAMS AS OUR BASIC STRUCTURE?
"Teams are recognized as a critical component of every enterprise - the predominant unit for decision making and getting things done...Working in teams is the norm in a learning organization" (Senge et al., 1994, pp. 354-355).
Teams "bring together complementary skills and experience that...exceed those of any individual on the team." Teams are more effective in problem solving, "provide a unique social dimension that enhances...work," motivate, and foster peer pressure and internal accountability (Katzenbach & Smith, 1993, p. 18).
In the most innovative organizations teaming is the culture. Today's leaders must therefore build a culture where teaming is expected and begins to feel natural. (Edmonson, 2013).
"The ability to develop and support high-functioning teams schoolwide is essential to ensuring improved and inspiring learning for all learners - adults or children." (D'Auria, 2015, p. 54).
"A team can make better decisions, solve more complex problems, and do more to enhance creativity and build skills than individuals working alone...They have become the vehicle for moving organizations into the future...Teams are not just nice to have. They are hard-core units of the productions" (Blanchard, 2007, p. 17).
"Educators work alone more than any other professionals in modern America. Most professions have come to recognize the value of teamwork as a better way to understand and solve 'problems of practice'...Fortunately, there appears to be new interest in forms of collaboration among educators...'Professional learning communities' are increasingly popular" (Wagner, 2007).
"Influencers increase the capacity of others by asking them to work in teams with interdependent relationships...We increase capacity when we work together rather than in isolation" (Patterson et al., 2018, p.183).
"We now have compelling evidence that when teachers team up with their colleagues they are able to create a culture of success in schools, leading to teaching improvements and student learning gains. The clear policy and practice implication is that teaching is a team sport" (Fulton & Britton, 2011, p. 4).
SPECIAL THANKS TO JUDY THORNOCK @ ASPEN ELEMENTARY!
The Aspen bus drivers and the Transportation Department are extending our thanks and appreciation to Judy Thornock. Every morning she does her best to manage the parent parking and student drop off in the parking lot and helps to keep students safe. We appreciate her efforts in keeping the bus loading zone clear so the kids can arrive safely at school, we appreciate her very much!
ASSESSING YOUR PLACE ON THE PLC JOURNEY
It is important as a staff to build a shared knowledge regarding your school's current status in addressing the critical step on the PLC journey of building a collaborative culture. Here is a tool to assist you in that effort. "The Professional Learning Communities at Work Continuum: Building a Collaborative Culture Through High-Performing Teams" is online http://go.SolutionTree.com/PLCbooks as a free reproducible. Once you have established greater clarity regarding the current status of your collaborative teams, we urge you to turn your attention to the "Where Do We Go From Here?" worksheet that accompanies the continuum at http://go.SolutionTree.com/PLCbooks. It will prompt you to take the action necessary to close the knowing-doing gap.
~MARCH BIRTHDAYS~
3rd-Cami Mueller
4th-Wendy Pratt, Nannett Hill, Marquis Rennard
5th-Lori Zocco, Jan Cline, Ronda Hurst
6th-Karen Stonebraker, Eddie Halls
7th-Starling Reynolds
8th-Chad George, Beverly Fackrell, Andra Bennett
9th-John Springer
10th-Maria Easton, Heather Williamson
11th-Jeanna Martin, Eric Dickerson, Rick Slagowski
13th-Dayna Sharp, Samantha Moon
15th-Lindsay Welling, Ann Stoddard, Lisa Atkinson
16th-Ramona Pace, Heidi Moon
17th-Cassy McKenna, Robin Walton
18th-Peggy Lee
20th-Bailey Jensen, John Davis, Katelynn Hoffman
21st-Lynda Peace, JaNell Martin
22nd-Katherine Brewer, Emily Dennis, Diana Olsen
23rd-Nena Germany-Greer
24th-Kevin Haukaas, Wendy Cook, Audrey Asay
27th-Kimber Fessler, Elizabeth Masters
28th-Brooke George, Laura Sulser, Araceli Contreras, Lori Larsen
29th-Kim Smith, Heather Baldwin
30th-Heather Johnson
31st-Dustan Blair, Terri Fowler, BreeAnna Sanchez
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
UCSD#1 Administration
Cheri Dunford, Supt., Board Exec. Assistant Ext. 1021
Dr. Joseph Ingalls, Assistant Superintendent K-5 Ext. 1026
Doug Rigby, Assistant Superintendent 6-12 Ext. 1025
Alicia Johnson, Instructional Services Admin. Asst. Ext. 1024
Kristine Hayduk, Human Resources Ext. 1023
Matt Williams, SPED Director Ext. 1040
Diana Olson, SPED Admin. Asst. Ext. 1041
Bubba O'Neill, Activities Director Ext. 1060
Dauna Bruce, Activities Admin. Asst. Ext. 1061
John Williams, Business Director, Ext. 1030
Jaraun Dennis, Facilities Director, Ext. 1075
Email: ajohnson@uinta1.com
Website: uinta1.com
Location: 537 10th Street, Evanston, WY, USA
Phone: 3077897571
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Uinta-County-School-District-1-Pathway-to-Excellence-480272945367024/
Twitter: @ucsd1