Leading a Learning Community

 

Fave Quotes:  We should turn out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned. (John Holt)

Personal Leadership Qualities: Commits to expanding capacity; supports a culture of high expectations and celebration of achievement

Reflection: Learning is why we exist and have the passion to do what we do in education. We are creating hope for every learner: student, staff, parent, and community member. Through getting to know each learner’s stories and needs, we can collaborate to create optimal opportunities to build capacity. We need to have high expectations for success, yet provide the supports to reach those goals. We must also remember that success will mean different things for each learner. The community needs to see that the leader has high expectations for themselves. As learning takes risk, the leader must provide safety and encouragement. Most of all, learning should be fun – we must model being able to laugh at our mistakes and demonstrate enthusiasm when we learn. Along the way, we need to take the time to showcase and celebrate each success – whether large achievement or incremental improvement. In the end, everyone increases their confidence, competency, and capacity to be able to live full lives.

Evidence:

  • High School Redesign – Division Exemplary Practice Award 
  • Advisory Learning including Seven Sacred Teachings (Character), See Into Me (Behavioral Styles), and Blue Zones (partnering with City of Airdrie on personal wellness and longevity)
  • Revised Assessment Practices to Support Learning and Opportunities to Improve Achievement; Targeted Unit Planning for Outcomes
  • Decolonization and Indigenization of Teaching and Relating Practices
  • Principal’s Advisory Council (Students) and School Council (Families)
  • Communications – Weekly Family Newsletters and Monday Matters Publication for Staff
  • Learning Lead Collaboration
  • Innovated staggered Entry to Support Grade 9 Intake (Start High School on Day by Themselves, with Link Crew)
  • TwitterFeed: @learningmpowers