8 minute read
Executive Director’s Exchange
3fall 2019 I love this theme for our magazine, Collaborate: Don’t Try This Alone! That advice (warning?!) resonates with me as I reflect on my many years as an educator. From my first year as a third grade teacher to my current role as the OAESA Executive Director, I have learned that the synergy of collaboration almost always yields a better end result! On the flip side, I learned the hard way that things often got rough when I decided to go solo. Your colleagues share various ways to leverage the benefits of collaboration. One theme throughout the articles reflected Julie Lather’s quote: “What one person can do alone is multiplied exponentially when a group of people gather together to effectively tackle a question or problem.” The efficacy of the effort is broadened through collaboration. Naim Sanders believes that in the absence of collaboration, one is at a great risk of experiencing burnout and frustration. Sanders shares lessons learned from other professions’ experiences leveraging collaboration for improved outcomes. Dr. Mary Crabtree reflects on the supportive and sustaining role collaboration can play as we deal with the effects that trauma has on all those impacted. Laura Schnebelen writes about a comprehensive collaborative approach to social-emotional learning while Dr. Jim LaRiccia asks, “Whatever Happened to Kindergarten Being the Transition Year?” Several authors suggest that effective collaboration has a purpose, a problem to solve, or a solution to find. Meeting just to meet is, well, just a meeting. But meeting with a purpose can be transformative. Melinda Falconi’s dream of the Altogether Book Club was the direct result of her concern around several areas of literacy within her school. A collaborative solution to her concerns included home, school, community, and parent/child partnerships, and now the Altogether Book Club has been a success for six years! Dr. Kimberly Cockley and Michael Sedlak write about their team’s collaborative approach to the transition between elementary school to middle school. I love how they started their improved transition planning by spending time in “deliberate conversations with students, families and staff.” How often we forget that important first step of listening because we are too busy jumping right into the doing. I really respect how Cockley and Sedlak honor the student voice. You may already have a great transition plan in place, but these two colleagues offer you some new ideas and events to think about. Another daily transition for many of our students is that between school care and afterschool care. How can we be proactive and have supportive systems for our students? Dr. Paul Young shares research and practical ideas for leveraging partnerships for student success between both spaces. My first principal job was in a large, brand new elementary school in the SouthWestern City School District. We had before and after school childcare provided by the YMCA in our building, and their amazing program director, Becky Ciminillo, schooled me in how collaboration should, and could, be between in and out of school care for our students. Our teachers and the Y teachers reinforced student learning, shared resources, had joint programs and events for students. I quickly learned that the Y teachers knew our Y students’ parents or caregivers better than many of us at school because they had the chance to daily interact at morning drop-off and evening pick up. We helped each other reinforce academic and behavior plans for students, which hopefully provided consistency for our kids. I am forever grateful for all that she taught me, as it profoundly impacted the rest of my career. Both Matt Bradley and Felecia Evans refer to the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Matt reflects on the value and necessity of having a wonderful, competent, and supportive office team. He analyzes their team’s success and strong culture through the framework of three factors: relationships, alignment, and shared responsibility. Read his article for practical ideas to make your own office team even stronger. Evans shares how their professional learning community is, in essence, their village. Read how they have restructured their building level teams into instructional level teams with a renewed focus on teacher leadership, teacher voice and teacher ownership. She provides concrete examples and guiding questions which may serve you as you work with the teams within your own school or district. OAESA Board Member Katie Nowak’s article speaks to the collaborative nature of OAESA membership. OAESA’s mission is to intentionally connect, effectively develop, and passionately advocate. Katie shares many ways for you to maximize your membership to connect with colleagues, resources, and information. One of my goals when I began as your Executive Director in 2008 was to lead OAESA to become even more member-led and driven by member needs. I believe we have done that and continue to strive towards that goal. And, we have done that by collaborating. I have the privilege of working with amazing servant leaders who are our board members, country representatives, district liaisons, and members. The board purposefully collapsed 18 discrete committees into 6 high-functioning service teams focused on serving our members. We have connected with generous corporate partners who fund many projects and events for our members. We have a terrific, competent, and fun staff who make me look good and bring my brainstorms and ideas to life. I meet monthly with Superintendent Paolo DeMaria, his staff, and other education association leaders. You see, I have learned that the synergy of collaboration almost always yields a better end result—and I hope you have learned the same! Julie Davis, Ed.D. OAESA Executive Director “Throughout my career I have learned that the synergy of collaboration almost always yields a better end result.”
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COLLABORATE (DON’T TRY THIS ALONE!) back to school & ready to
In this issue Get on the Bus Event Preview Learn more about OAESA’s October 29 tour of three award-winning Central Ohio Schools
The Altogether Book Club for Children and Parents A story of one district’s success by engaging families with a book club Melinda B. Falconi Don’t Do This Work Alone The power of intentionally connecting Katie Nowak
The Next Level Taking your PLCs to the next level with the power of collective efficacy Felecia Evans
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School + Afterschool Why schools shouldn’t do it alone Paul G. Young, Ph.D.
We Can Do This Together A team approach to transitioning from elementary school to middle school Kimberly Cockley, Ph.D., and Michael Sedlak
It Takes a Village Collaboration amongst the administrative team is crucial in leading Highland Middle School Matt Bradley School Improvement in the Era of ESSA A collaborative approach Laura M. Schnebelen
School Collaboration is Calling You! No matter what issue you are facing, collaboration can help you find the solution Mary L. Crabtree, Ph.D.
Five Essentials for Collaboration With the correct essentials, collaboration can move an organization forward Julie L. Lather
Six Elements for Successful Collaboration School collaboration is an opportunity for change Naim Q. Sanders
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In every issue table of contents
ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATOR
3 Executive Director’s Exchange COLLABORATE: Don’t try this alone! Dr. Julie Davis
6 OAESA Board of Directors Our 2019-2020 Board
8 Highlighting an OAESA Hero Ryan McGraw, 2019-2020 Zone 1 Director
10 SAIL for Education Paying it forward: The power of principal mentorship Dr. Rebecca Hornberger
13 From the Desk of our Associate Executive Director Connecting the schoolhouse and the statehouse Mark Jones
44 The Magic of Why: Stories of Purpose Photos from OAESA’s 2019 annual professional conference
50 Health Matters School nurses supporting a collaborative approach to health and learning Angela Norton
52 Legal Report Binding arbitration, over the R.C. 3319.16 proceedings, in termination cases Dennis Pergram
54 Legislative Update Education policy and the state budget bill Barbara Shaner
56 The Chalkboard News from the Association
58 We’re Booked Members’ reviews of the latest, greatest books for principals and students
62 Welcome OAESA’s New Members!
INTENTIONALLY C NNECT
EFFECTIVELY DEVEL P
EDITORIAL SERVICE TEAM & READERS Natalie Buchanan, Cambridge City Schools Julie Kenney, South-Western City Schools Nick Neiderhouse, Ed.D., Maumee City Schools Katie Nowak, New Albany Plain Local Schools Cathryn Rice, Xenia Community Schools Dan Sebring, Bay Village City Schools Jeromey Sheets, Ed.D., Lancaster City Schools Erin Storer, Forest Hills Schools Tammy Elchert, Ed.D., Carey Exempted Village Schools Paul Young, Ph.D., retired Stephen Zinser, retired
OAESA/SAIL STAFF Julie Davis, Ed.D., Executive Director Mark Jones, Associate Executive Director Nancy Abrams, Business Manager Michelle Burke, Executive Administrative Specialist Melissa Butsko, Graduate Program Specialist Rebecca Hornberger, Ph.D., Department Chair, SAIL for Education KT Hughes Crandall, Communications and Project Manager Mary Mitton-Sanchez, Editor, Principal Navigator, and Multimedia Specialist
EDITORIAL POLICY Unless otherwise noted, all articles published in the Principal Navigator become the property of OAESA and may not be reprinted without permission from OAESA. The articles published in the Principal Navigator represent the ideas and/or beliefs of the authors and do not necessarily express the views of OAESA.
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The Principal Navigator (ISSN 1088-078X) is published three times per school year by OAESA, 445 Hutchinson Ave., Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio, 43235. Subscriptions are available only as part of membership. Periodical postage paid at Columbus, Ohio, and additional mailing offices.
OAESA is affiliated with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).
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