Year 2 of the Northern Tier Leadership Course - for Year 1, see the previous post.

This last year, I added to my resources, Michael Fullan's Motion Leadership and Mike Schmoker's Focus on the Essentials. I was so taken by Schmoker's book and the simplicity of it that I garnered a copy for each of my certified staff. We read it as a book study and listened to a webinar of highlights. We continue to use this resource as a guide in our multi-age, multi-level classrooms. When we find it difficult to manage so many different levels and curriculum outcomes, we focus on the essentials. Fullan's book is a reminder for me not to go too fast and to take my staff with me on the journey.

This year I spent more time and energy enabling others to act and it's paid off big time. Staff have taken the lead in the creative side as well as working with students to improve their learning. Teachers have been taking turns to be my designate when I have to be away from the school and the teacher I share a class with has become more confident in her own abilities. I have been able to trust and entrust the student learning to capable hands. Supervision has become a two-way street. I know that we still have a ways to go, but I'm sure that we are heading in the right direction.

At the beginning of the year, and now here at the end, we revisit our vision, fine tuning as we go. We involve our students, each other, and the parents in the decision-making process. The newest version of the vision will be created in poster format and hung in the classrooms and common areas with pride for next year and for new staff coming on.

We continue to solidify relationships and keep our culture and environment positive. Students who were once sullen and acted out are now focusing on their learning more often and seeing a glimmer of hope in their futures. We still have some students who don't believe they can succeed, but we will continue to work on them, breaking down their barriers and giving them encouragement. We focus on a small number of goals, use high-yield strategies and are more specific and direct in our actions to meet the needs of our students.

So what did I learn? I learned that I need to share my vision of learning and teaching because it is the right thing to do; this vision inspires learning and teaching in others. Encouraging the heart is possibly the most important aspect of developing relationships, modelling the way motivates others to do the same, and challenging the process facilitates change for the better. These last two years, I have taken many risks and have been rewarded ten-fold. The added benefit - improved learning for kids!