Leadership in the 21 st Century

1. Leadership in the 21st Century The Chicken Little dance… Chris Lindholm clindhol@shakopee.k12.mn.us

2. Everyone has a story… • Social Studies teacher & coach – Northfield High School • Dean of Students – Edina High School **2000-2002 • Assistant Principal – Shakopee Junior High **2002-2006 • Principal – Shakopee Junior High **2006-present Suburban kid with “old school” roots Passion for leadership Learned Alvin Toffler’s work from colleague Golden opportunities to learn and take risks Stay grounded with disciplined reflection

3. Chicken Little? or Leadership?

4. Biggest Picture Possible

5. Real, Authentic, Scary Questions • What is SpEd? • How can a teacher write one modified test that meets the individual needs of 7 students on IEPs? • Why does it seem that the students with disabilities that make school more difficult have less homework and work less than those without a disability? • How can more than 50% of our students receive academic performance awards each year yet our average test scores be below the state average? • What is a grade? • If student doesn’t turn in homework but passes assessments, how can s/he be failing? • Are are we systematically creating a positive relationship with every student? • If PE is all about participation, why do we call them “teachers?”

6. And some more… • Shouldn’t Honors English class be very difficult for a student who reads at the 40th percentile? • If a teacher gives different assignments to students in the same class to differentiate, what do they put in the little box in the grade book? • Why do we give “extra credit?” Isn’t that more about currency for work than a communication of mastery? • If we modify the rigor of a course to meet the needs of a student, how can we put the same grade on the transcript as we would for everyone else using different criteria? • Where did the notion that grades are based upon points for doing stuff come from? • Is having grades online so we can argue about points instead of learning really better? • Why is SpEd services so focused on helping kids do their homework? Shouldn’t they be addressing the real issue? • What does research and expert opinion say about grading, rigor, standards, and SpEd?

7. Jim Collins building common language about “the system” Defining Great how to measure and calibrate success Level 5 Leadership getting it done within a “diffuse power structure” First Who get right people on the bus in a social sector organization The Hedgehog Concept the economic engine without profit Turning the Flywheel building momentum and brand

8. Collins calls for… • Disciplined People, Disciplined Thought, and Disciplined Action • Positive tension between what should never change and what is always changing (innovation, new ideas, etc…) • Doing what is right – not what is consensus • Innovation instead of standardization • Decisions based upon research, rigorous debate, and sound judgment

9. Constant Attention to theCultureof the Organization • How do you measure this? • How do you empower others to own this? • How do you create common language for this?

10. How can I build a school culture of • rigorous debate • transparency • disciplined action • decisions based upon what is right(not past practice) • ???

11. “New” Building R – R – R (Bill Dagget) Year 2 New building, new building leadership structure, advisory program Equipping new leaders with framework and language to lead – BLT work sessions Restructure SpEd Grading Disc. Launched Asking hard qstns. Year 3 Advisory expanded, fall & spring retreats More leadership training, dept. chair training Rigor & Relevance training Grading Disc. continued Started Sem. Final Exams Asking more hard qstns. Year 4 Interdisci-plinary PLCs launched BLT given full PD responsibility Con’t leadership training Launched blog & staff Ning network Grading Disc. to individual imp. plans Year 1 New Principal, AP, SRO, Secretary Planning for summer move to old high school Capture opportunity to “re-launch” the JH Overwhelmed by details – managing change Dept Improvement Plans Article reads 2nd Walsh Book for all staff This I Believe for all staff Article reads Discipline #s less than 1/2 Climate much improved Scores on way up -Select Transition Team -Re-launch focused on what is “right” -Own many decisions Coffee Chats Faculty mtgs for PD Article reads Walsh Book for all staff

13. Culture of Rigorous Debate and Defining “Greatness”

14. 21st Century Demands(Back to Jim Collins’ GTG language) Legislative vs. Executive Leadership • Build understanding • Leadership training, “show me the data,” culture of adult learning • Rigorous decisions • All “Great” leaders made significant decisions before there was consensus • Build brand • Create positive momentum with strategic communications, celebrating successes, etc… Define “Great” Use technology as an accelerator • Technology isn’t the answer – it’s a vehicle IF it aligns with mission Align Resources • Collins refers to “Hedgehog Concept” • Get right people on the bus and wrong people off the bus!!! • Can cutting be an opportunity? When do we rethink the business?

15. www.jimcollins.com

16. To be a good teacher principal • Clear objectives referred to throughout the lesson • Measure/assess • Establish a culture for learning and high expectations • Student engagement is crucial • Differentiate • Empower students It’s simply walking our talk…

17. 21st Century “Musts” for Schools • Figure out what “standards based” really is… • Redefining “Equity” - Fair Isn’t Always Equal • Create innovation • Articulate, measure, and report the values of public education beyond what is on a transcript • Establish a culture of transparent, rigorous debate in which decisions are made based upon what is right • Restructure for 21st century realities • Non-monetary economy on the horizon?? • Power was land, money, knowledge… now it’s a level playing field for that too… • Prosumer = Producer + Consumer (think open source apps) • Niche & Persuasion… Web 2.0?? • Post “nation-state” living?? • Other entities bring people together (think unions, religion, business, etc…) • Address the Hidden Code

18. The “Covert Curriculum”or “Hidden Code” 19th Century Wave II 21st Century Wave IV? • Standardization • Specialization • Synchronization • Concentration • Maximization • Centralization • Design • Story • Symphony • Empathy • Play • Meaning • Collins video – core values & stimulating change • http://www.jimcollins.com/media_topics/building-greatness.html#audio=75

19. The stars are aligning. There couldn’t be a better time to be engaged in education leadership http://chrislindholm.typepad.com/principal-thoughts/