The Principal Reboot by Schwanke Jen;

Author:Schwanke, Jen; [Schwanke, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
Published: 2020-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

After reviewing and voting on their ideas, we would allocate money to successful applicants and offer additional support, including the following:

Time for planning (including subs for release time)

Space for planning as needed

Technology support

A design coach to help with developing ideas

We intentionally kept our criteria vague, because we didn't want our preconceived ideas of "innovation" to constrain us. We wanted to encourage—without limits. It was great fun to hear some of the ideas put forth by teachers and so exciting to imagine the impact their courageous thinking and hard work would have on students. The effort grew into one of the most energizing projects I'd done as a principal because it sparked innovation in my own mind; I reevaluated some of our school's old, tired instructional practices and dabbled in the possibilities for novel ones.

There's no better way to get innovation than to ask for it. Why not throw out the challenge to teachers, asking them to think about what they'd love to do if there were no constraints on them? Why not make your school a place where new ideas are supported and celebrated? And as for financial support, if you don't have district funding to support innovation in the classroom, it might be a refreshing and welcome challenge to find ways to allocate your building budget to fund this type of work. Other sources of monies, such as parent-teacher organizations, community groups, or alumni support, may bolster your options, as would grants or other funding from corporate sponsors and partnerships.

* * *

As we discussed at the beginning of this chapter, principals can so easily grow weary and worn by the responsibility of being a school's sole instructional leader, especially if current instructional practices are weary and worn. There's no better way to reboot than by evaluating how instruction really looks in our schools and considering how teachers and students alike would benefit by purging outdated practices, providing opportunities for risk taking, and developing a culture of innovative thinking. Principals can find great energy by supporting unique thought and revamping approaches to teaching. There really are no limits—and what could be more exciting than that?

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