Core Beliefs for a Successful School Year

Jeff Moorhouse, Ed.D.

Principal

Morristown West High School

My Journey

Teaching Elementary= 1st, 5th and system wide p.e. Secondary= Biology and Physical Science

Administration• Assistant Principal- h.s and m.s

• Principal- elementary, alternative school, high school

Mediocrity

“To the mediocre, mediocrity appears great”Indian Proverb

“Only the mediocre have a great day every day”Coach K

Mediocrity

““The enemy of The enemy of GREAT is is goodgood””

Jim CollinsJim Collins

The Journey from mediocre to GREAT

Vision

What is the vision for your school?

What are the characteristics of great schools and great teachers?

Core Beliefs

Core Beliefs

• Core Belief #1

Our School is a Special Place

Our School Is Special

Our School Is Special

Our School is a Special Place

• Use your data for Positive P.R.

• Family Atmosphere

• Graduation

• Hedgehog concept

• Hall of Fame

What Makes Your School Special

• Be specific List as many things as possible. What do you want you school to be noted for

achieving?

Core Belief #2

Student Achievement is the Most Important Thing We Do

Student achievement is the most important thing

• Why is this method best for student learning?• Students come first• Core Subjects• Ban artificial prerequisites• Expand advanced offerings• Put resources with the students that need them the

most• Keep students in the classroom• Keep everyone off the P.A.• What does an A or F mean in student learning?

Student Achievement is the most important thing

What actions have you initiated to prove that student learning is the

top priority in your school?

How do you emphasize effort and hard work?

(Remember….be specific!)

Core Belief #3

The power of expectations

Expectations

• Multiple Data Sources• What gets measured, gets done!• 20 mile march• “SMaC” recipe• High expectations-for whom?• Mindset by Carol Dweck

Fixed or Growth

Core Belief #4

Your School is as Great as your Staff

Great Staff

• People, Not Programs• Random or Plandom?• In every situation, ask who is the most

comfortable and who is the least comfortable?• Teacher is the filter

“When teacher sneezes, the whole class catches a cold” Todd Whitaker

Core Belief #5

Each and Every Student is

Different and Important

Every Student is Important

• Students come before policies

• Know when to “bend” the rules for equity

• Make students feel special

• Treat students as if they were your own children

• Are you guilty of making blanket statements with your students?

Every Student is Important

How does your school place

importance on the individual student?

Core Belief #6

You must be the “Lead Learner”

Lead Learner

• You must be on top of “Best Practices” as it relates to your area

• You have to take time to “sharpen the saw”

• You have to be the first to try new things

• It takes 10,000 hours of practice to be a professional

Lead Learner

What are ways that you keep abreast of “Best Practices” in the field?

How do you model the appropriate use of technology?

Core Belief #7

Our community would miss us if

we were gone

impact

• The reason that we educate our students is to solve probles of today and in the future

• Make it cool to care! Food drives Blood drives Global issues

Thank You/Good Luck

• Working with students

• Professionalism

• Safe and Productive Year