Distributive leadership is used among teams and departments at my school site. At my school site, each grade level does grade level planning together as a team. There is a grade level chairperson who is responsible for making sure that the lesson plans for the week are submitted to the assistant principal each week. It is the grade level team's choice to decide is they want one person to complete the lesson plans every week or if they would like to rotate the responsibility so that all of the team members share the responsibility of planning the lessons. All members of the team contribute to the lesson planning process during team planning through discussions and sharing ideas about the upcoming units. During this time they discuss differentiation instruction and what techniques have and have not worked within their classrooms. They also distribute leadership among the members to the teachers who are strong in specific subject areas. This allows each grade level to distribute leadership among the teachers who are strong in each subject area. It also allows them to share the responsibility of leadership.
Distributive leadership is also used among many teams throughout the school. They distribute leadership among the members of groups and teams to share the responsibilities. Administration also distributes leadership throughout administration and through the grade level chairperson's. This allows the administration to get less copies of lesson plans since each grade level submits one plan for the grade level versus one for each teacher within the grade level. There are many ways that distributive leadership is used throughout the school site, these just name a few.
Capacity building is emphasized at my school site. The Principal encourages people to voice any concerns that they have that are pertinent to the school running effectively. He also encourages teachers to make suggestions of things that they would like to see introduced at the school especially things that will improve the students education. For example, in the 2011-12 school year, they began issuing teachers with IPads to complete assessments on students in K-2. Every teacher did not have one at this time. It was a trial with select teachers to see how well it worked for them and if it would be effective for all teachers. In the 2012-13 school year, all teachers have been issued an IPad to conduct assessments with as well as progress monitoring and interventions. This has been very effective and went beyond the expectations because the IPads, have become such an asset to the technology in the classroom. The Principal is on the School Improvement Team and very involved with the Teacher Advisory Committee.
I think it is wonderful that the school is open to new technology trials. Once they can establish a benefit, it becomes common technology for all teachers. This is a great benefit to the staff as they learn to integrate technology into their daily lives and lesson plans.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your school really employs distributive leadership! How wonderful to work in an environment like that. I admire the fact that you meet and collaborate for constructive reasons and to make your school the best it can be for your students.
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