I had the good fortune to spend last weekend in Washington D.C., as a result of being selected to represent Michigan as principal-of-the-year. All 50 states except Indiana sent their state winner to a phenomenal networking opportunity sponsored by MetLife.
I would be remiss if I didn't give credit to MetLife for their sponsorship as it's the most pampered I've ever felt at an educational workshop. The weekend began with a tour of White House and Capitol Building, but didn't end there. We had great accommodations, terrific food, a dynamic speaker, all of it capped off by a black-tie award dinner on Saturday evening.
There were several things I learned during the weekend. One--there is no magic bullet out there. I facilitated a discussion focused on support for struggling learners in math and literacy. I had really hoped that at least one member of this extraordinary group of educators would have the answer I've been searching for. I figured there must be a software program or teaching methodology somewhere that hooks kids in a different way and translates into significant learning. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The programs that claim success all boil down to a teacher committed to building relationships with a passion for education that is limitless.
The second thing I learned is that many of us face the same problems. No matter what part of the country we were from we all deal with a segment of our population that is just hard to reach. There are kids in schools across the country that just don't understand the benefits of education and lack the support structure to help them reach that understanding. That is all the more reason why the teacher is so critical.
The most encouraging part of the weekend was my own realization that we are on the right track here in Grosse Pointe. The programs we have implemented to reach our most struggling learners are similar to others across the country. Many schools are double-blocking or double-dosing math and literacy instruction to give students more time with those critical subjects.
On the other hand, the push for a more project-based education that has been outlined in our High Schools 2.0 presentations is still ahead of the curve. Other school districts may have parts of it implemented, but I feel our overall plan is better developed and more far-reaching.
So we will continue on the path we have established. It is ever-changing and sometimes difficult, but I am more convinced than ever we are headed in the right direction. Wish us luck!
Friday, October 31, 2008
A National Perspective
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
If relationships between teachers and needy students is one of the most critical compenents to creating hopeful learning environments, then we need to take a stand in favor of building capacity to support them. Last week's interaction with Glenn Singleton at the Macomb ISD was one of many steps that need to be taken toward creating that capacity. I was pleased to see so many Grosse Pointe staff members there and am hopeful that we can be the change that we want to see in the world as we struggle through this process together.
Post a Comment