Strong systems are mandatory for keeping schools running through turnover→

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Elizabeth Dampf, Director of Professional Learning at Round Lake Area Schools, writing for ASCD:

"The amount of time new teachers spend running around finding answers is wasteful, and they know it. Teachers who quit usually cite lack of support as their main reason, even in districts that have mentoring programs and PLC structures. Attrition among new teachers was high even before the pandemic: In 2019, the Economic Policy Institute found that more than half of teachers reported feeling unsupported, causing a quarter to consider quitting as a result. So, where's the disconnect? For my money, it's in the lack of organizational support—in other words, the lack of clear processes and easily accessible resources."

Clear procedures and policies are like caffeine for the entire school. They provide the energy and direction needed to keep things moving, even when the days get long.

Imagine working at a hospital where there are no clear rules about how to clean equipment or treat patients. Can you imagine the chaos and danger that would ensue? Yet, in education, we often expect new teachers to figure things out on their own, with little help or direction. It's unacceptable. We need to put clear systems and procedures for our teachers at the top of our list, just like hospitals put safety protocols at the top of their list for their patients. It's not just about making sure things run smoothly; it's also about making sure our students and staff are safe and do well.

Help Wanted

/ Meridian High School/

I'm looking for someone to join me in leading a team of teachers on the sometimes insane but always fulfilling adventure of progressive school reform.

My district in its first year of a four year initiative to transform a traditional comprehensive high school into a New Tech Early College. What that means is that:

  • Our top priority is maintaining an empowering culture of mutual trust, respect, and responsibility.
  • We strive for 100% of learning to be project- or problem-based.
  • We are not threatened by state initiatives to standardize learning. Rather, we use standards as our foundation for creating curriculum centered on deeper learning.
  • Our teachers partner with outside businesses and organizations to add real-world relevancy to their projects. We have a local support network to make this easier.
  • We are a one to one laptop school with an open technology policy.
  • We integrate courses and subjects whenever meaningful connections can be made (e.g. GeoDesign, BioLit, American Studies, etc.).
  • We have a strong yet supportive, flexible, and understanding teachers' union.
  • Staff collaboration is a rule. Teachers work together to solve school-related issues, critique projects, and to build school school culture.
  • We understand the power of protocols. We use them in both adult and student learning.
  • We assess "soft skills" (like collaboration, professionalism, communication, and critical thinking) in addition to content as part of every course grade.
  • Our future graduates will earn forty hours of community service and 100 hours of job shadowing, exploration, or internship.
  • Our stated goal is to double the number of graduates successfully completing 24 credits in college before the summer of 2017. We are confident that we will get there.
  • All of our students will have an opportunity to earn up to 30 college credits during their first four years of high school.
  • In 2016-17, we will begin offering a "fifth year" to all students interested in having us pay for and support them during their first year of college. This means that students could graduate from our high school with an associates degree in five years. We estimate that approximately 60-70% of our student body will take advantage of this opportunity.
  • As the only full-school New Tech Early College high school in the state of Michigan, we are innovators in our field. This comes with a great deal of pride, but more importantly, it requires a great deal of energy and time.

I've been very fortunate to start these initiatives with a very skilled and experienced administrator who has decided to retire at the end of this year. To replace him, we will need an instructional leader who understands change leadership and believes in the principles of progressive education.

Do you know such a person? If so, please encourage him or her to apply. The formal posting for the position can be found here. For more information, visit our website.