leadership with vision & innovation through action, can observe that learning from our cultural...
TRANSCRIPT
Leadership with Vision & Innovation Through Action, Can Observe that
Learning from Our Cultural Heritage Helps Our Educational System Thrive!
Ann-Marie Clements, M.S. Ed.
Vancouver Island University
7 min Presentation
CIEL 4 Program
July 3rd, 2015
Nepotism? or is this WASTA? Connections or pull = “it’s not what you know, but who you know.”
Western countries = more hidden
Arabic & Asian countries = more apparent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIl_lVbDqTE (0:14 – 2:20 )
CEO attending PSU
Kuwait Civil ID
Buy & transfer a car
Kuwait Driver’s License
“Bean Counters” help make
things happen.
Mindset & Leadership Training Scanning my new cultural environment & learn to listen carefully
Gave 2 Mindset trainings to staff & continuing reinforced training
throughout the year.
“Top Down” to “Bottom Up” staff mentality shift
Used 1st of the 4 Forms of Inquiry - Storytelling about Asian & Western experiences (Canada, China, Italy &
U.S.A.)
- Goal for staff to want to explore new options in Ed. & shift moral values.
Used 2nd of the 4 Forms of Inquiry Appreciative
- Inserted the “Creative New Blood” assertiveness & transformational
change
- Used 4 Stages of Processes;
* Discovery – old technology, old teaching methods
* Dream – new technology, new teaching methods
* Design – new training, software & hardware
* Destiny – “Make it Happened” to keep staff motivated
Continued: 2nd of the 4 Forms of Inquiry
Appreciative- Pushed for staff to receive ICDL (Int’l Computer Driving License) training,
due to weaknesses with computer technology skills
- Lead Teachers to ask their teachers for input on researching software
- Gave MovieMaker & Kizoa slideshow program training from Elem. IT
personnel
- Reinforced learning by giving all staff homework on slideshow presentation
to show our department on last day of school
- New IT Manager & myself collectively worked to create New Tech
Classroom
- Hardware & software re-evaluated and updated or replaced.
- Asked for teachers input on murals for halls & outside walls
- Promoted my Teacher Assistants into new teaching positions.
- All classrooms painted with their classroom name colors (KG1 Blue –
pastel blue) to create a cleaner & visually stimulating new classroom
Asked the 3rd of the 4 Forms of Inquiry Critical or Problem-Solving
- Used 4 Standards on my teachers:
* Accuracy
* Effectiveness
* Coherence
* Improvability
- Used “Bottom-Up” management style to give responsibility to staff
- Initially attended all 3 groups (CDC, KG1 & KG2) meetings.
- VP attended CDC & KG2 group due to rapport with staff
- Problem KG1 Group, I attended the remainder of the year to focus on
change
- Walked into classrooms for unannounced observations in KG1
classrooms.
- Teachers shadow other classrooms during breaks to learn new strategies
- Teachers had to write out improvements to incorporate into their
classrooms
- Monitored progress of teachers & their assistants & instilled “visual rubric”.
Asked the 4th of the 4 Forms of Inquiry
Reflective- Initially asked staff what was good & bad about their school
- Staff initially had many more negatives than positive comments
- End of the year, staff was much more positive due to Mindset changes in
place
- Reiterated my storytelling of the schools I’ve experienced & taught around
the world, my & ILE readings & how we can learn from them to
change our school
- Taught Lead Teachers to ask 2 or more teachers to end each weekly group
meeting with discussing various teaching or behavioral techniques that
worked in their classrooms
- I asked for their input to show respect and to create more trust
TRUST Open liberal formal educational training @ Portland State University &
Washington State University
VP = daily manager of the staff
Principal = Innovator of Change
Firewomen = “Putting Out Fires” daily
New Yorker honesty & Democratic strategies
World Traveler whose open to new cultures, languages and religions
Low absences (2 days only) and no lateness = reliability &
consistency
Willingness to learn about the Kuwait Education system & Arabic
culture
Principles of Learning – Similarities
Between
Aboriginals & Kuwaiti’s Long history of their heritage and taught their offspring’s
Living with extended family members in large groups
Extended family names
Family respected, within social structure & individual ID
Wasta is used because of trust for their own people
Families are very private & protected
Women are protected from the outside influences.
Principles of Learning – Similarities
Between
Aboriginals & Kuwaiti’s Awareness of their religious philosophy is very
important
Explore their identify, patience & spiritually meditate
Acquiring their own historical education is important
Telling group stories about local, regional & political
issues
Provide leadership to their people
Environmentally can live off their land
Local food customs are important
Spirals of Learning
Scanning - What are my teachers & students learning?
Focusing – What needs to change?
Developing a Hunch – Lack of tangibles, tech &
leadership
New Professional Training – Teachers, Assistants, Staff &
Admin
Taking Action – Wasta to make sure improvements
occurred
Checking –Keep monitoring attitudes of staff and the
improvements in; technology, teaching & behavioral
methods used. Make sure it fits well with remainder of
the school & their different departments.
TRANSFER OF INFORMATION
WHAT DID I LEARN? Cherish our historical backgrounds both within our countries &
ancestral origins are important to realize the injustices of pollution, poverty & wars.
Get staff ready for change both psychologically & through appropriate training.
Learn about other educational “Best Practices” techniques from around the world & incorporate it within your program.
Nepotism is everywhere & should be used to advance your good causes
Educate administrators, parents, staff to create the best learning environment for our “clients” the students to improve their future.
Education is always changing, so we must continuously using the Spiral of Learning to; scan, focus, develop a hunch, obtain new professional trainings, take action & recheck.
Visionary & innovative leaders who understand school politics, cultures and their people will advance their school forward & make a significant difference for their staff and especially for their students & community.