Teachers as Leaders: Building Collaborative Culture
My school offers the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum to all students in grades 6-12, not just a select few. Our initial difficulties with implementing IB forced us to look inward and see what we could change about our teaching practice rather than bemoaning what students needed to change about themselves. From writing the application to become an IB World School to supporting new hires in learning our systems of planning, pedagogy, and assessment, my successes and mistakes have taught me a lot about how we can make IB accessible and engaging.
We have worked hard to build a collaborative community that includes and values the experiences and feedback from all staff in order to enhance student learning. Over the years, my fellow instructional leaders, administrators, and teacher-leaders have collaborated to design professional development about practices and strategies to create inquiry-based learning experiences or performances of understanding, co-think around problems of practice or to support students, and have space for effective adult learning, reflection, and peer feedback. Our insights have yielded four practices for implementing teacher-driven, teacher-led PD: 1) soliciting staff input and involvement, 2) dedicating time to common planning, 3) creating a teacher-leader support structure, and 4) developing a culture of co-thinking with common shared language.
The culture of co-thinking has yielded the most gains in terms of teacher-leaders and staff feeling valued as professionals, learning from each other using structured conversations, and applying their learning to their inquiry-based teaching practice. Changing the way we taught and assessed from grades 6-12 has continued toi yield more students earning IB diplomas, getting admitted to more selective colleges and universities, and gaining critical thinking, writing, and speaking skills.
Comments
Sharing expertise
Having teachers within the school sharing their expertise rather than bringing in outside experts can empower teachers. Why are teachers hesitant to share with their peers? Is there a way to scaffold the sharing so that all teachers can take a small step forward with sharing?
In reply to Sharing expertise by Arthur Eisenkraft
Thanks for your comment,…
IB curriculum
It is certainly good to promote high expectations with the IB curriculum. I saw many of the suggestions in the video as applicable to all students and not unique to that curriculum. Shouldn't all students have the opportunity for creative projects?
In reply to IB curriculum by Arthur Eisenkraft
IB does allow for flexible…
IB does allow for flexible implementation, so creative projects have been a gateway for getting students engaged in it!
I love the idea of…
I love the idea of highlighting the skills and expertise of the teachers bringing in outside speakers for PD. Bravo! I can see how this has a great ability to build community, to start where you are. Was this mindset easy to establish? Would love to hear more about how this worked.
In reply to I love the idea of… by Kathleen Donovan
Hi Kathleen, the first time…
Hi Kathleen, the first time we tried in 2017 was such a teachable moment! We thought asking teachers to share unit plans would be a straightforward ask, but it turned out that we needed to build trust before the walls came down (starting with subject leaders and grade team leaders). We made huge progress from 2017-2020, but now have to revisit building the mindset after an influx of new staff and the isolate of remote/hybrid learning.
Encouragement of Teacher Leaders
Creating opportunities for teachers in-house to facilitate authentic learning for their peers is an important practice to encourage teachers to work across the curriculum or as you stated "cross pollinate". This is an amazing way to build trust and camaraderie in your building.
Love Making IB Accessible
I am the product of an IB education (I completed the program while in HS) and consider it one of the best curricula for students. I really liked the way that you provided opportunities for all students to engage in IB at their own pace. I also loved the idea of cross-collaboration shared within the video. Thanks for this great video!
In reply to Love Making IB Accessible by John Seelke
Oh word! I wish I'd gotten…
Oh word! I wish I'd gotten to attend an IB school (but my hometown's first one didn't start until my junior year of high school). Where did you go?
Thank you for sharing this!…
Thank you for sharing this! I love the idea of in-house collaboration instead of outside PD. I find the teachers at the school know the kids best so why not leverage that to help create a place for the kids we see day in, day out?
Are teacher leaders supported?
I love the focus on collaboration and building the capacity for collaboration in your school. Wondering how those that are taking on the lead for PD develop their expertise? Is that a collaborative process, too? or do they connect with experts beyond your school? In the last few years all our PD has been in-house. Some has been transformative and some has felt like the blind leading the blind. Thanks so much for sharing.
I have a few questions for…
I have a few questions for you.
1) How did you gain the support of your administration to provide teacher driven professional development?
2) How long have you implemented this type of professional development?
3) What has been your favorite teacher led workshop?
Collaboration vs. Competition
I love the way the culture of sharing and collaboration gets celebrated in your school! "Sharing Lab" is an excellent name for a space. In the past, I have been in positions where there is so much competition, that it threatens the culture of sharing that we all need to work together as a team. How do you find/make the time for teachers to get together in this way?
Collaboration vs. Competition
I love the way the culture of sharing and collaboration gets celebrated in your school! "Sharing Lab" is an excellent name for a space. In the past, I have been in positions where there is so much competition, that it threatens the culture of sharing that we all need to work together as a team. How do you find/make the time for teachers to get together in this way?
Sharing Lab
Thanks for sharing your inspirational video and four practices used to develop teacher expertise. I’d like to know about some of the protocols used/elaboration on the four practices.
Thank you.
Also, at
Supporting Collaboration Where It Is Not the Norm
Based on the comments above, it seems that IB lends itself to be open to collaboration. Have you seen examples of strong teacher collaboration in non-IB schools? What advice might you have for a teacher whose administration does not necessarily understand these values?
Phenomenon run the gambit.
It is great to get out of the text book. Taking students on trip and allowing them to do art. Allows them to express themselves and allows other to express upon them. Great exposure and assessment.