It has been nearly four months since ESU 10 kicked off the very first Leadership Network with twelve building Principals participating in this new support offering. With guidance from our consultant, Dr. David Lorden, ESU 10 staff have worked with Principals participating in the Leadership Network to assist them in developing a problem of practice grounded in data, writing guiding questions to be the focus of a learning walk, and facilitating dialogue on such learning walks.
Each leadership learning walk includes common elements that bolster collegial problem solving and reflection on one’s own professional practices. The learning walk schedule is intentionally structured to promote high level discussion that leads to the implementation of high-quality leadership practices. ESU 10 staff guide the dialogue between a triad of Principals, providing support through probing and reflective questions. The goal each day is to ensure Principals are engaged in transformational learning that stretches them to interrogate their own previously held assumptions and understandings, while shaping their future leadership actions.
We presently have four triads involved in this professional growth opportunity with Problems of Practice related to:
- Staff culture
- Teacher instructional practices
- Reading & writing achievement
- Student behavior management
- High ability learners
Initial feedback from Leadership Network Principals has been very good. I continue to be impressed by the commitment this group of Principals has to their students, staff, and their own professional learning as they strive to provide enhanced leadership that drives change and ensures growth. We will share more about the Principal Leadership Network as the school year progresses.