eWalkThrough Fuel
The latest on eWT from Dr. Gillespie
From the CEO...
Welcome to eWalkThrough Fuel, Volume 2 No. 4, a quarterly communique for the SWPRSC Digital eWalkThrough® System. We are pleased to be in our second full year of this electronic support for eWalkThrough users!
The Digital eWalkThrough System is a research-based, best practice model for effective and efficient instructional leadership. If student success is the destination, education is the engine, and eWalkThrough is the fuel.
Expect the eWalkThrough Fuel quarterly from Dr. Kelly Gillespie, CEO of Southwest Plains Regional Service Center. Our professional learning team is dedicated to the design of innovative solutions that will deliver the results you require for your staff and your students.
eWT Fuel - Volume 2 Number 4
As instructional leaders, it is invaluable to continually reflect on this critical question: why should we conduct observations? The answer will support a clear focus for the Digital eWalkThrough® System. The answer will enhance motivation to conduct classroom eWalkThrough observations. The answer will leverage the power of the process and the use of the eWalkThrough data moving forward (see Figure 8.1).
eWT Fuel Vol 2. No. 4

High Fives! The number one reason to conduct eWalkThrough observations is to recognize and promote excellent instruction in action. Give teachers feedback! Instructional leaders need to high five teachers. Instructional leaders need to reward excellent teaching. Teachers need to be supported and reminded that the primary focus of their efforts is student success, and that the number one factor influencing student success is quality of teaching. | Visible Leadership Instructional leaders hit the target of providing visible leadership each and every time they are present in classrooms. They miss the mark when the majority of their time is spent in their office. The most authentic way to model support for teachers is to be in classrooms, to be a visible leader. Observing teachers in action confirms sincere interest in their craft. | Professional Learning Decisions Feedback from digital eWalkThrough observations is immediate. eWalkThrough data are at the fingertips of instructional leaders. These data provide the evidence needed to ensure sound decision-making surrounding professional learning plans. Teachers can now receive the differentiated support they need to move from current practice to ever increasing levels of rigor and relevance. |
High Fives!
The number one reason to conduct eWalkThrough observations is to recognize and promote excellent instruction in action. Give teachers feedback! Instructional leaders need to high five teachers. Instructional leaders need to reward excellent teaching. Teachers need to be supported and reminded that the primary focus of their efforts is student success, and that the number one factor influencing student success is quality of teaching.
Visible Leadership
Instructional leaders hit the target of providing visible leadership each and every time they are present in classrooms. They miss the mark when the majority of their time is spent in their office. The most authentic way to model support for teachers is to be in classrooms, to be a visible leader. Observing teachers in action confirms sincere interest in their craft.
Professional Learning Decisions
Feedback from digital eWalkThrough observations is immediate. eWalkThrough data are at the fingertips of instructional leaders. These data provide the evidence needed to ensure sound decision-making surrounding professional learning plans. Teachers can now receive the differentiated support they need to move from current practice to ever increasing levels of rigor and relevance.
Self Reflection
Because eWalkThrough data are available instantaneously, teachers can now self-reflect at any moment. Why did I use that strategy? What worked? What will I do differently next time? What if....? Self-reflection is truly the foundational element of authentic change in professional practice.
Instructional Conversations In combination with self-reflection, instructional leaders having conversations with teachers is the primary method to maximize the power of eWalkThrough data. These conversations can be continually conducted across the academic year as on-going observations are completed and data accumulates. | Coaching & Mentoring The Digital eWalkThrough System embodies a comprehensive and customized process to support excellent teaching. The instructional leader now has classroom eWalkThrough data to coach each individual teacher and can disaggregate these data as needed. Coaching and mentoring can be refined and differentiated to meet the precise and unique needs of a particular educator or team of educators. | Continuous Improvement Bottomline, digital eWalkThrough observations are conducted because the district or school is empowered with, and motivated by, a system that generates, analyzes, and archives the data across academic years. As a result, the Digital eWalkThrough System can effectively support continuous instructional improvement. |
Instructional Conversations
In combination with self-reflection, instructional leaders having conversations with teachers is the primary method to maximize the power of eWalkThrough data. These conversations can be continually conducted across the academic year as on-going observations are completed and data accumulates.
Coaching & Mentoring
The Digital eWalkThrough System embodies a comprehensive and customized process to support excellent teaching. The instructional leader now has classroom eWalkThrough data to coach each individual teacher and can disaggregate these data as needed. Coaching and mentoring can be refined and differentiated to meet the precise and unique needs of a particular educator or team of educators.
Continuous Improvement
Bottomline, digital eWalkThrough observations are conducted because the district or school is empowered with, and motivated by, a system that generates, analyzes, and archives the data across academic years. As a result, the Digital eWalkThrough System can effectively support continuous instructional improvement.
