Session 1: Blueprint: Structuring the School for Student Success
June Orientation Session
The June Orientation Session helped Fellows get to know one another and set the tone for our year of study together. The Fellows’ Survey results were reviewed and the JOURNEY of EXCELLENCE began. Areas of study most important to the Fellows included:
Orientation
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Session 1: Blueprint: Structuring the
School for Student Success
Session One helped Fellows identify their VISION for their schools. Consultants Steve Ramirez and Wendy Chalk focused on the components of school operation which make the vision a reality in the BLUEPRINT FOR STRUCTURING THE SCHOOL FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. They include:
Each session was coupled with the "Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium:
Standards for School Leaders" as suggested by Utah State Superintendent Steven Laing.
Those applicable standards are highlighted in the pictorial representation of Session One.
Session
1 Picture
One
Session 2: The 4 Roles of Leadership
This workshop helped Fellows to create and pursue a shared
vision by focusing on four key roles of a leader - pathfinding, aligning,
empowering and modeling. Fellows defined leadership style, helped create a
congruent culture, and diagnosed the cause of the gap between current results and
desired results.
Session
2 Picture One
Session 3: School
Climate and Culture
Fellows determined that culture is "the way we do things around here." It is determined and measured by respect, trust, cohesiveness, connection to the vision, concern for welfare of all, and collaboration. Fellows determined the culture of their own schools and learned how to change what they think is necessary.
Session 4: Utah Association of Supervision and
Curriculum Development State Meeting (UASCD)
While Fellows were registered for the entire conference, they had designated times to meet with the keynote speakers and ASCD representatives for work directly related to the Utah Principals Academy.
Session 5: Finding
Common Ground
This session provided the framework for finding common ground in a world of diversity. Historical Background for Religious Liberty, Legal Framework: No Establishment and Free Exercise and the Utah 3R's project were part of the presentation. Participants will apply newly learned knowledge to case studies from public schools and heard from a group of diverse panel members discuss their views of finding common ground.
Session 6: Rosenblatt
Signature Session
Utah Principal Academy Fellows traveled to the Bay Area for a first hand look at the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) reform in action. The National Education Goals, ten principles of CES focus on School Completion and Student Achievement and Citizenship, Teacher Education and Professional and Parent Development and the Utah Education Priorities were supported in this session.
Session 7: Assessment and Evaluation
Fellows explored the bond between assessment and student motivation, defined practical standards of classroom assessment quality and showed teachers how to meet those standards. This session also illustrated how teachers can involve students effectively in the assessment, record-keeping and communication processes.
Session 8: Leadership for Bodybrain Compatible Learning
Fellows received tools like the climate audit, to use as starting points to monitor progress toward creating a body-brain compatible environment for adults and students.
Session 9: Inviting School Success Couples with the Right to Learn
Joining with the BYU Associates group, Fellows learned what Invitational Education is and the foundations of Invitational Education and how to make schools the most inviting places in town. Fellows also learned how to make their schools "learner-centered" schools. Fellows were given assistance in keeping the students and teachers most important in the process of education. Two giants in Education, Dr. William Purkey and Linda Darling Hammond co-presented at this session.
