Empowering Administrators
I first implemented the Modern Classroom model in my own classroom. But I couldn't have done so nearly as effectively without the support of my school's administration.
I'll admit it: my principal and assistant principal didn't fully understand what I was doing at first. They worried about students spending too much time on screen, or students getting too far behind (or ahead of) pace. And they were right to worry! Their primary responsibility as leaders was to ensure that my students were set up for success.
So my administrators visited my classroom, and asked me and my students questions. I showed them the research on screen time, and my students explained that they actually had more time (and better relationships) with me now that I'd stopped lecturing. Over time and through several productive conversations, my administrators started to see things from my point of view.
This process was a challenge for me as well as for them: my approach was new for all of us, and they didn't always know how to support me in refining it. But they knew a lot from their own experiences about helping students learn - so even though they'd used different methods, I did my best to listen. And I learned a tremendous amount: how to motivate students, how to balance warmth with discipline, how to set and maintain high standards. I like to think they learned from me, too.
Today, as I seek to empower educators like you to adapt this model in your own classrooms, I know firsthand how important this teacher-administrator relationship can be. My colleagues, who have been both teachers and administrators themselves, do too.
That's why, in our work with school and district partners, we try our best to empower administrators as well as teachers. In particular, we:
★ Invite administrators to take our Virtual Mentorship Program themselves, with dedicated content and submissions tailored to their roles.
★ Meet with administrators before, during, and after our partnerships, helping coach them support their teachers.
★ Send administrators regular updates on their teachers' progress, and highlight exemplary work their teachers are creating.
This summer, we're especially excited to launch our first Leadership Collaborative, in which we'll help administrators support their teachers in implementing our instructional model. Together, school and district leaders will deepen their knowledge of our instructional model, while connecting with other leaders reimagining classroom instruction. Our three-day kickoff in June will be followed by quarterly learning sessions where innovative leaders will share ideas and challenges from their schools and districts. We’re excited to continue supporting - and learning from - the leaders we serve.
