Standard Two: Instructional Leadership
School executives will set high standards for the professional practice of 21st century instruction and assessment that result in a no nonsense accountable environment. The school executive must be knowledgeable of best instructional and school practices and must use this knowledge to cause the creation of collaborative structures within the school for the design of highly engaging schoolwork for students, the on-going peer review of this work and the sharing of this work throughout the professional community.
Element IIa. Focus on Learning and Teaching, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment: The principal/assistant principal leads the discussion about standards for curriculum, instruction and assessment based on research and best practices in order to establish and achieve high expectations for students.
Action: I regularly conduct learning walks using the Wilson County Learning-Focused Walk-Through Form. I leave written feedback after these learning walks or have face to face discussions with the teachers about the great teaching that I have observed. I also include suggestion to make their teaching even more productive. I peruse lesson plans and point out when I notice teachers making great choices as well as when other strategy may need to be considered. I have created several walk-through instruments for teachers to use for peer observations. I send out a daily newsletter that not only highlights the events of the day, but includes instructional reminders and an instructional video of the week.
Action: I regularly conduct learning walks using the Wilson County Learning-Focused Walk-Through Form. I leave written feedback after these learning walks or have face to face discussions with the teachers about the great teaching that I have observed. I also include suggestion to make their teaching even more productive. I peruse lesson plans and point out when I notice teachers making great choices as well as when other strategy may need to be considered. I have created several walk-through instruments for teachers to use for peer observations. I send out a daily newsletter that not only highlights the events of the day, but includes instructional reminders and an instructional video of the week.
Sample Daily Newsletter with Teaching Strategies
Sample Learning Walk
Sample of Learning Walk Feedback
Sample of Lesson Plan Feedback
Walk-Through Form for Peer Observations
Element IIb. Focus on Instructional Time: The principal/assistant principal creates processes and schedules which protect teachers from disruption of instructional or preparation time.
Action: Our School had several bomb threats in the first semester, so I developed a bathroom schedule that allowed all students to use the bathrooms in the front of the school, so that staff could better monitor. This schedule helped preserve instructional time.
Action: Our School had several bomb threats in the first semester, so I developed a bathroom schedule that allowed all students to use the bathrooms in the front of the school, so that staff could better monitor. This schedule helped preserve instructional time.
Bathroom Schedule
Action: On our first early release day, our teachers shared with us a concern that the planning period for 7th grade was only 30 minutes while the other teachers had much longer for planning. I worked with my Assistant Principal to develop a schedule that was more balanced.
Revised Early Release Schedule
Action: I created a spring athletic duty spreadsheet and asked teachers to sign-up for two games. This spreadsheet helped ensure that the teachers' afternoons are protected, so they still have time for planning, departmental meetings, and tutoring.