Liana+-+Schools+by+Design+(Grant+Wiggins)

March 26, 2011

**Leading by Design**
//Grant Wiggins & Andrew Greene//

Handout will be shared online (and other resources will be available at authentic education.org. password is: ascdsf2011.)

Schooling by Design is the book that frames the big picture (mission based school). Mission is the foundation and everything else flows (learning principles, curriculum and assessment, instructional programs & practices, appraisal, development, personnel hiring, Policies, structures, governance, resource allocation. This is the vision of a functional system. Curriculum is more important than people because it is the path that leads to the accomplishment of the mission.
 * What does it mean to Lead by Design?**

We are simultaneously trying to clarify mission. VIsion. What does that look like? The reality question is what do we see now, given the vision. You can't build a house without a blueprint. But schools constantly try to reform without the blueprint. So between vision and reality we choose the action to close the gap.

Andy Greene - PDF shared that has an interesting questionnaire with questions to ponder, such as: Are the classes in the same disciplines/grade levels the same as far as grading policies are concerned, curriculum, etc.? If an academic leader wants a collaborate culture, he/she must be willing to confront behaviors that are not collaborative. Is this true or not?

Andy does at 2-3 walk throughs everyday and leaves a note for the teacher. He also shared "a day in the life of a principal". Sounds very Kim Marshall-like in his obs process. Don't tell the answer to the question, have the teachers "own" the problem.

Equitable opportunities in each class is important.

Overcommunicate by the power of 10.

Good question: How do we strike a balance between attempting to have an open door policy and the expectation that all opinions and desires will be fulfilled? - you have 2 choices as a leader: you can lead on the basis of authority and brute force or you can not lead. OR you can base your decisions on PRINCIPLES. the essence of UBD (if, then).

Andy shared his school's mission, vision, teacher responsibilities, student outcomes, "we believe that students learn best when.... Very very interesting. And clear.

Equity is important. Grading policies need to be agreed upon and enforced. The autonomy a teacher has is in the way that a teacher gets to big ideas, essential questions, etc. But there is no negotiating things like "I am not going to do the civil war."
 * PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH**

I hate when teachers put the blame on the students. And it happens ALL the time.

Commit to the MISSION. Don't collect lesson plan books. Collect assessments.

Have faculty rate videos of teachers using the observation tool.

Andy posted a GREAT letter that he wrote to a teacher who was repeatedly late to his advisory. it was a great letter that really put the point home. Leaders need to have the COURAGE to address issues.


 * Reflection**: I really enjoyed how this was presented. Wiggins gave the background and philosophical information while Greene presented the practical side...how it actually looks in action, the what it looks like in his school. Very enjoyable.


 * Implications for Ka Pi'ina**: Understanding by Design is quite popular and I can now see why. I wonder if our admin has looked at this and discussed how it might benefit (all or part) our organization.