![]() |
This post featured by folks at TexasISD.com! Thanks! |
Aside: Another perspective for your consideration. Some times, no amount of advice is good enough to get you through an unwholesome situation. “Do you really want to work with a crazy “leader?” The answer is, “Heck, NO!” Leave, go be happy somewhere else and let the sycophants hang around and wonder, “Why did we persist in this folly?” What’s even worse is school boards that endorse a superintendent who looks good while destroying the people. For me, that’s the measure of success…an organization that nurtures its people (faculty, students) succeeds, while an organization that beats people up because they’re not dancing to a new tune played to six-shooters popping off at their feet, will not. Over time, I’ve learned it’s better to shake the dust off your feet and keep moving! It’s biblical advice!
Change Is in Your Leader’s Future
Seven Tips for Surviving Leadership in Transition
- Establish a baseline for improvement based on researched needs. In other words, it’s not YOUR initiative or idea, it’s what the district needs. Tools like Dr. Chris Moersch’s Levels of Teaching Innovation (LOTI), H.E.A.T. framework, as well as Brightbytes’ Clarity, can provide you with critical data.
- Have an outside firm do a technology assessment of your technology infrastructure and network. Nothing changes leadership’s mind as much as when someone else outside your department says things need to change. In fact, if you’re smart, you will initiate an assessment from an assessor you trust and anticipate the areas of growth. (By the way, did you know that TCEA can help you with a technology assessment?)
- Build infrastructure that will support instructional efforts. Is your district 100% wireless? If 100% wireless, does each campus enjoy wireless LAN controllers that support increased bandwidth? Have you placed sufficient wireless access points in classrooms, libraries, cafeterias, and other key meeting locations? These are only some of the questions you need to take into account.
- Be transparent and visible about what you’re doing to address the district’s needs. As much as possible, share what is happening, especially when you or your team is goofing up or moving slowly. A key performance indicator (KPI) dashboard should be something you have, even if it’s just a web page reflecting Helpdesk stats in a Google Sheet.
- Conduct webinars with anyone who will listen and/or attend. Offer free professional learning on a variety of topics, and partner with other stakeholders. That way, they will sing your praises about your technical support and expertise.
- Send out those old-fashioned print newsletters with links to more information on your website. As great as technology is, you have to accept the fact that MOST of your customers in K-12 schools haven’t stepped up to learn what students must know.
- Try to get teachers and students to present to the school board. Whenever you can, get other people in front of the school board and leadership to share what a great job you are doing supporting their success.
This is spot on! The constant change in leadership makes it hard to keep momentum going. New leadership wants to bring their changes with them. The use of tech assessments and outside resources helps. We tend to listen to outsiders and not those in our own backyards!