Setting Directions

"People who articulate such visions aren't magicians but broad-based strategic thinkers who are willing to take risks. What's crucial about a vision is not its originality but how well it serves the interests of important constituencies". (Kotter, 2001) 

"It is arduous work to climb the next hill and get a concept of the direction that must be traveled. It takes excellent information, keen intellect to sort through the options, and courage to make the best choice." (McCormick & Davenport, 2003, p.39)


Leadership Practices:
Building a shared vision
Identifying specific, short-term goals
Creating high expectations
Communicating the vision and goals

Artifact:
Innovator's Mindset Presentation

Reflection:
The slide deck above was created for PQP Part 1. The task involved selecting an educational theorist and relating this to our collective learning about leadership in education. My partner and I chose George Couros with an eagerness to read his book and make connections with visioning in light of 21st century learning. 

Artifact: 
WCDSB Leadership Part 3 Mentorship Experience-  
Reflection on Setting Directions 
Reflection on Relationships and Authenticity

Reflection:
As part of WCDSB Leadership Part 3, I selected our Literacy Consultant as a mentor to provide a glimpse of what setting directions looks like within the context of her role. Through this mentorship experience, I attended a BIPSA sub-committee meeting and gained insights on board level visioning. 
My second mentorship experience was with an administrator with a focus on setting school-based directions based on triangulated data.


Artifact:
21st Century Steering Committee Member ​ 

Reflection:
Responsible for the implementation of recommendations from WCDSB 21st Century Blueprint, and strategic planning for technology integration.





Artifact:
21st Century Teaching and Learning Blueprint Sub-Committee member
(Please click on links below)

Reflection:
My own personal learning in the area of technology integration has propelled me to share my experiences with other educators within the board. I have come to see the great benefits of using technology to support student learning. Moving forward, it is essential to stay focused on the pedagogy - it is not about the tool, but what the tool enables students to do. Creating a vision about what 21st Century teaching and learning looks like, and articulating this vision with other stakeholders has been a rewarding journey over the past number of years. 

Artifact:
School based Technology Integration Professional Development
- Help tutorials and resources

Reflection:
As the instructional technology lead at SJPII, I have shown my ability to organize and implement professional development opportunities for staff members based on their needs. Creating a safe space for educators to ask questions, share concerns, and embrace change has been my goal. As educators, we set high expectations for our students. Demonstrating how innovation can help students reach these goals has been an underlying theme throughout the professional development opportunities provided.



Artifact:
Blog post on effective learning strategies including formative assessment, responsive teaching, pedagogical documentation, accountable talk.
Cultivating literate and numerate learners through effective teaching strategies

Reflection:
Setting high expectations within the classroom learning environment and utilizing effective strategies to support students in meeting these expectations is at the heart of my role as an educator. 


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