cap conference presentation - may 13, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
INNOVATION THAT STICKS Real Examples From Real Schools
May 2, 2014
CHRIS KENNEDY Superintendent of Schools, West Vancouver School District
Connecting Leaders – Inspiring Change #cap15
CAP 2015 National Conference
ALL ABOUT CULTURE
“Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast”
A Culture of Innovation
A Culture of Yes
More than just trying
stuff – disciplined
inquiry
Feeling permission takes time
Focus on a Few Things
Inquiry
• No one “model”
• It is more than just asking questions
Self-Regulation
• Start to focus at the younger grades
• Looking across domains
Digital Access
• Start with teachers
• Modernize classrooms
• Embrace BYOD in the context of equity
Common secondary timetable
• One District Campus
• Joint Ownership of students and learning
School Wide Signatures
• Every school needs an elevator pitch
• They don’t need to be the same but need to be part of a coherent network
STRUCTURES
ALIGNING RESOURCES Learning Teams
Dedicated $100,000 for teams to use – micro-budgeting
Meet inside and outside the school day
Work with a mentor
Ends with a celebration
ALIGNING RESOURCES
“So if you ever wondered if the innovation grants were making a difference – just take a look at what’s going on here! There is a massive shift in teaching and learning”
Elementary School Principal
DISCUSSION
What are the structures in your school and district that are promoting a culture of innovation?
NEW ROLE FOR PARENTS
Parents are part of the process not just observers of the polished product
INNOVATION IN ACTION
Letter grade free
assessment
Maker movement
iPads in elementary music class
Reggio Emilia inspired
programs
Bienalle arts projects across
schools
Passion projects
Heart rate monitors in
PE
What is something that is “sticking” in your school and / or district that didn’t exist 3 years ago?
DISCUSSION
What Does Support Look Like? CELEBRATE RISK TAKING
SHINE A LIGHT ON INNOVATION
MATTERS
WHERE LEADERS SPEND THEIR TIME MATTERS
Teachers
Schools
Districts
Governments
• Will make it easier for students...
• Will make it easier for teachers...
• Will make it easier for schools...
• Will make it easier for districts...
To be FLEXIBLE
Yeah, but . . .
?
How do you scale the work
YOU DON’T
YOU CONNECT AND BUILD NETWORKS Think diffusion not replication
He says the problem with teachers is
What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?
He reminds the other dinner guests that it’s true what they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.
. . . I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor. Be honest. What do you make?
This is . . .
OUR WORLD
OUR LIVES
OUR CHILDREN
OUR CURRICULUM
OUR CHALLENGE
OUR WORK
OUR ART
OUR JOY
You want to know what I make? I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize. I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write. I make them read, read, read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful over and over and over again until they will never misspell either one of those words again.
. . . and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you by what you make, you give them this.
. . . Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
Teachers make a goddamn difference! Now what about you?
Excerpts from poem: What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali
Thanks for Leading Learning.
Where you can find me: [email protected] 604-202-4379 @chrkennedy Chris Kennedy cultureofyes.ca
www.sd45.bc.ca