DRP Learn and Lead

  It has been demonstrated that a focus on equity is one of the common threads among the highest performing education systems (OECD, 2012).   All students, regardless of their demographics, geographic location or home situation, should have unrestricted access to the highest quality of instruction and effective social-emotional support. What matters most, are not the efforts that are made, but the outcomes of these efforts. We find this distinction, to focus on outputs rather than inputs, to be an urgent and necessary paradigm shift in discussions on how to improve our schools. We propose that the main solution for bringing about the conditions for equitable outcomes is contingent on all members of a learning community being engaged in ongoing cycle where learning, inquiry and making sense of the reality, go hand in hand with collaborative leadership actions that are based on solid evidence and understanding of implicit biases and the nature of human motivation. We call this a...

This has become somewhat of a inside joke among my colleagues, "here comes Dr.P quoting himself again". Joking aside, as I have grown over the years I realized that I love quotes. I like the idea of capturing important ideas in a slogan small enough to fit on a bumper sticker, yet deep enough to communicate important ideas that can change people's minds an affect the world around us. After many years of reading thoughts that influential people have left behind for us, my focus moved towards thinking of quotes that I would like to be remembered by. I encourage all people not just educators to formulate "quotable" content and share it with others. Below I included some quotes that I have used in various situations hoping that they will assist me in creating a legacy others can build upon. Like them or not, here they are:    Knowing people is nice. Understanding people is important. Getting to know people better is extremely critical. But, if you don't know you...

The global shift to remote and blended learning pushed the innovation needle in the right direction, as many school districts were faced with the “ready or not, here we go” scenario.  To avoid reverting into the old ways of teaching it is imperative that leaders go beyond just providing access to technology and adopt a mindset that allows the innovation to continue. Below is a brief description of what that innovative mindset could look like.  Learn Assume a position of a learner, researcher and curious practitioner. Don’t make any assumptions about what you know and understand about technology and the people you are leading.  Ask questions, illicit responses, send surveys and dig deeper through formal discussions and informal conversations. Learn about the people you work with, their triggers, their unique skills and their hidden misconceptions. Learn about the innovative tools at your disposal and the ones that could be acquired. Examine your own attitudes towards innov...

In the dynamic landscape of educational leadership, the concept of being "nice" often receives a bad rap. Some equate niceness with weakness, indecisiveness, or an aversion to tough decision-making. We propose a refreshing perspective: that great leaders are indeed N.I.C.E. by subscribing to a simple set of imperatives: 1. Never think never, 2. Invest in people, 3. Care, and 4. Exceed expectations. Let's delve into this innovative approach and explore how it can redefine educational leadership.  Never think never Great leaders maintain open minds and embrace the idea that learning is a lifelong journey. They understand that innovation can stem from reevaluating existing ideas through a new lens. Rather than dismissing concepts outright, they remain open to revisiting and reframing them. This philosophy extends to their own professional development, as they continuously seek new opportunities for growth and learning.  Invest in people (including yourself) Instead of focu...

The importance of feedback as a key to teaching and learning is somewhat obvious, well documented in the literature, as well as deeply embedded in teaching and leadership practice.  As the teaching profession is moving towards blended and remote teaching providing high quality effective feedback is becoming even more critical. When face to face one to one opportunities are somewhat limited, as it often happens in blended or remote teaching and learning, effective feedback must go beyond reviewing student work and providing next steps, it's about building the culture of respect, equity and evidence.  Providing feedback could be done in person, online and in a form of comments added to the student work. In any case, all comments about someone’s work must be grounded in specific and concrete evidence. Only when based on facts, rather than opinions, the feedback can be relevant and effective in improving teaching and  learning. When giving feedback, the following conditions s...