ACE Newsletter
THE WEEK OF MAY 28, Year 3
ACE Inagural Cohort
Dear ACE Family,
Welcome to the new school year! We are so grateful you have joined us for the 4th year of ACE and the first year of our Leadership Model. Already, through your diligence during summer training, the strong roll out of PD, and your care to campus preparation for students, you have reinforced the belief that greatness is really about people --- "Great schools start with great people. No matter where you go, when you see students inspired to reach for their dreams, you invariably encounter a visionary leader, expert teachers, and dedicated support staff."
Thank you for your dedication; please remember each day that your work is incredible valuable. We cannot empathize enough what it means for our students to develop a strong foundation for college readiness within a positive and supportive school culture.
Sincerely,
Jolee Healey
Jon Saphier on What Teachers Look for in School Leaders
Trust is one of the key factors in educators’ collective efficacy, says author/consultant Jon Saphier, and collective efficacy is essential to high student achievement. In this compilation of ideas from his own research and that of Tony Bryk and Stephen Covey, Saphier deconstructs what trust in a school leader looks like from the teacher’s point of view.
• “I trust that you are competent and can keep the wheels turning by staying on top of essential operations and handling crises.
• I trust that you think I am a worthwhile person because you consistently notice and comment on the things I am doing well and are interested in my life outside of school.
• I trust that you will make it safe for us to make mistakes by making yourself vulnerable; acknowledging what you don’t know and where you need help; righting wrongs, apologizing, and making restitution; acknowledging mistakes; showing loyalty by giving credit freely, acknowledging others, and not bad-mouthing anyone behind their backs; holding yourself accountable and sharing how you’ll communicate what you’re doing; and being a constant, visible learner with us.
• I trust that you’ll be honest, meaning that you give me honest feedback about my performance; talk straight, let people know where you stand, use simple language, call things as they are, and not leave false impressions; create transparency, erring on the side of disclosure; confront reality, take issues head on, even ‘undiscussables,’ and lead courageously in conversations; and clarify expectations, discuss, validate, not assume things are clear, and renegotiate if necessary.
• I trust your integrity, that is, that your motives are for the interests of the children, not your own career advancement because you stand up for important values; keep your moral compass; maintain urgency for what needs to be done; and keep your promises, following through on your commitments.
• I trust that you will act courageously by protecting us from initiative overload and keeping us safe from toxic behavior.
• I trust that you make legitimate decisions because you solicit input; explain how our input was used and why; can set limits and say ‘no’; and make decisions for the good of the school.
• I trust that you will deliver results by highlighting small victories and getting the right things done.
• I trust you will show me respect by listening first and not assuming you know what
matters most to others; doing active listening; hearing out different points of view; valuing my time; having my back; sharing difficult information because you think I can get better and deserve the chance.
• I trust that you will act in a caring and compassionate way by showing kindness in little things; being generous; and going the extra mile to show consideration to individuals beyond formal requirements.”
“The ‘Black Box’ of Collective Efficacy” by Jon Saphier, February 17, 2018 at Research for Better Teaching http://rbteach.com/products-resources/downloads/all; Saphier can be reached at saphier@rbteach.com.
Best wishes for an enjoyable and productive week.