creating a culture of innovation in k-12 schools keynote speakers david schwenker & tamara...
TRANSCRIPT
Creating a Culture of
Innovation in K-12 Schools
Keynote SpeakersDavid Schwenker & Tamara Thomas
Agenda• Speaker background• Activity #1• Innovation defined• School culture and climate – the 5 components• The innovative school leader• Activity #2• Final thoughts
Speaker BackgroundDavid Schwenker Tamara Thomas
• 23+ years education experience in Wake County Public Schools
• M.S. School Administration (NCSU)
• Superintendent’s License (ECU)
• K-12 Principal Leadership Roles• Awarded National Magnet
School of Excellence Recognition at 3 different schools (Elementary, Middle, High)
• National Conference Presenter
• 17+ years education experience public and public charter schools
• M.S. School Administration & Supervision; M.A. Music Therapy
• K-12 Administrator in NY & NC• Founding Principal of a public
college preparatory middle school
• Served as an external board member for NCDPI’s OCS
• Served as a School Quality Reviewer for K-8 schools in MI & NY
• PD Facilitator and Intervention program developer for K-8 schools in OH, LA & NC
• WCPSS HS Administrator
Activity #1Instructions:• Locate the pink and green cut outs on your table• Leave them there• You will see two houses on the next slide. Choose
the house you would prefer to live in.House “A” = Pink cut out
House “B” = Green cut out• Once you have made your selection, hold up the
correct colored paper in the air• No matter what, you must hold a selection up
once done
Activity #1
A (pink)
B(green)
Activity #1House A• Represented an innovative school
o Most parents and students want to go thereo Lottery for limited seatso A dream school for teachers to work in
House B• Represented a traditional model school
o Many parents and students have no other choiceo No lottery, anyone zoned for the school has a seato Not necessarily a first choice for teachers
Innovation Defined• A new way of doing X.• Synonyms
o Concoctiono Contrivanceo Creation
“Therefore, in any organization, there must of necessity be opportunities for creativity to occur on multiple levels in order to substantiate the very act of innovation.” – T. Thomas
School Culture & Climate
School culture and climate are comprised of the five following components:
1. Physical2. Processes & Procedures3. Instructional Practices4. Expectations for Learning: Student & Teacher5. External Factors
Though leadership is not listed as a component, there is an understanding that the role of leadership exists to either facilitate and support, or hinder and stifle these components.
School Culture & Climate
Component #1: Physicalo Classroom composition
Direct Teaching ModelContained within classroom
Teacher Facilitated Teaching Model
Classroom without walls
School Culture & Climate
Component #1: Physicalo Classroom composition
Traditional Non-traditional/Innovative
Chairs in rowsDesks Textbooks Students note taking - sit and get
Groups of desks/tablesInside/outside of roomsComfortable EnvironmentActive spaces
School Culture & Climate
Component #2: Processes & procedures1. Scheduling
o Teachero Studento Class/Course
2. Meetings – schedule, contento PLT’so Faculty/Staffo Administrativeo PD
School Culture & Climate
Component #3: Instructional Practices
Traditional Non-Traditional/Innovative
Content drivenDirect instruction • Lecture• Note-takingLimited or no staff collaborationTechnology used for basic facts
DifferentiationFacilitativeHands onProject Based LearningStaff collaboration practices – PLT’sThematic integration • Arts• Grand Challenges • STEM• TechnologyTechnology used to challenge thinking
School Culture & Climate
Component #4: Expectations for learning – student & teacher
If you are truly an innovative school, then your expectations for both students and staff are high.
School Culture & Climate
Component #4: Expectations for learning – student & teacher
Traditional Non-traditional/Innovative• Teach to the middle• Grades end up as a bell curve• Students demonstrate mastery of
material by assessments: multiple choice or short answer
• PD is not based on teacher input • PD is led by administrators or
central office staff• PD is based on mandates from
external agencies not typically directed at the various needs of individual students at the school
• Targets the whole child• Outcomes may include data collected
daily & weekly• Instruction is flexible to meet the
needs of the students• Learning is measured via project
presentations, journal entries, group work student led discussions, and other assessment tools
• Staff pushes itself to learn content to meet the needs of all students
• On going PD led by teachers or facilitated by teachers
• Staff needs based on staff input in surveys
School Culture & Climate
Component #5: External supports and factors
With whom has the school partnered for support?What does this support look like?What does parent involvement and engagement look like?
In an innovative school, • Students visit job locations for job shadowing• Teachers engage in externships with business partners• Students are required to intern at the High School level• External supports are brought in to help conquer real life
problems and to help create solutions. This is also know as authentic audience input.
School Culture & Climate
Component #5: External supports and factors
Traditional Non-traditional/Innovative
• Parents are asked for money via fundraisers
• Parents come to the school for special occasions
• Parents lecture/share their business skills
• District only partner support
• Parents serve actively on the PTSA
• Parents host staff/student events
• Business Advisory Board – includes parents
• District support –WCPSS• State level support –NCDPI• National & Global partners –
NCNS, Suzhou School • Authentic audiences support
classroom projects & presentations
The Innovative School Leader
“In an innovative school, there is no one expert but instead, being that the culture is innovative, everyone has the expertise to contribute to the quality of the whole.” – D. Schwenker
The Innovative School Leader
“To lead an innovative school, you have to be knowledgeable of what is going on. You must be involved in the day to day processes of teaching and learning. Allow the teachers to be the leaders and have the freedom to execute that which they have been hired to do. Trust your teachers!” – D. Schwenker
Activity #2 In both traditional and non-traditional/innovative schools you will find commonalities. However, your end result and how you arrive there will differ.
Think by yourself for a moment and respond to the following:Where are you in these 5 areas? 1. Physical2. Processes & Procedures3. Instructional Practices4. Expectations for Learning: Student & Teacher5. External Factors
Activity #2
A - Innovative(pink)
B - Traditional(green)
What strategies will you need in your role (teacher/leader) in order to move into one of these houses?
Final ThoughtIn innovative schools, the unknown exists and creativity thrives; students, staff, families, and business partners share input; trust and patience are required and must be developed; it is time consuming yet still has specific parameters; and it prepares children for life well beyond high school.
