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Shared Leadership for Success
Distributed Leadership: The founding principal of University Park often asks, “Why should one little mind make all the decisions with all of these great minds in the room?” Leadership at the school is shared amongst the entire faculty; no major decisions are made without first being deliberated by the whole group. This shared leadership model creates the common vision and vocabulary which are essential to the schools’ success.
Shared Vision for Student Success: Teachers at UPCS have a shared vision of success, understanding what each student will need to be able to do each year in order to be college ready. This vision comes about through a common set of expectations that teachers develop together based on successful practices for their students that crosses content areas and unites whole-school practice.
There are words, phrases, and tools that teachers develop in common planning time with student work as guides. Examples of these include writing rubrics, the rounds model for professional development, use of data in the classroom, and techniques for formative assessment such as literature circles, dear confused letters and exit cards.
A shared vision and vocabulary means that students do not experience a completely different set of expectations in every classroom. While content is different in each classroom, the expectations are the same. The writing formats (including formal essays and various low-stakes activities) enhanced by different content, are the same, and the syllabi are similar.
Common Planning Time: On Wednesday morning, the principal holds common planning time with all core academic teachers. The agenda for this meeting has no “administrivia.” Instead it focuses on professional growth, community building, shared best practice, and student issues. It is also the time when new teachers are enculturated to the pedagogical approach of the school. It is a time to build “common purposes and shared vocabulary.”
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