Student-Centered

PAGE Assistant Principal Teacher Leadership Academy Student-Centered Instruction Promotes Engagement and Learning

By Ricky Clemmons, PAGE Professional Learning

As a result of the PAGE Assistant to get the ‘yucky’ stuff done so that I would Principal Teacher Leadership be free. But then I admitted to myself that Academy, Marilark Murray of the paperwork wasn’t going anywhere. From Ashworth Middle School in Gordon County running more focused meetings to planning now spends her days differently. “I changed lessons with specific design qualities in mind, directions and made instruction my No. the APTLA process focuses on teaching and 1 focus,” says the assistant principal of the learning.” northwest Georgia school. “I had been trying Now, Ashworth teachers routinely empha-

‘I changed directions and made instruction my No. 1 focus. I had been trying to get the ‘yucky’ stuff done so that I would be free. But then I admitted to myself that the paperwork wasn’t going anywhere.’ – Marilark Murray, Assistant Principal Ashworth Middle School (Gordon)

‘Our school is now laser focused on motivating students to want to learn. We emphasize our students’ real world, right here, right now.’ – Monicca Bohannon, Assistant Principal Metter Middle School (Candler)

‘Discipline referrals decreased consistently over the two-year period of implementation. CRCT scores increased as well.’ – Karen Wild, Principal Carrollton Elementary School, in reference to her former school, Ithica Elementary (Carroll)

size student needs. “Teachers talk about their students’ needs and they research strategies. They work together to develop engaging lessons. More and more, we have incorporated choice into learning — choice in learning preferences, as well as in learning needs. Differentiation is a big focus. We are still in the growth phase, but we talk about it every day,” she says.

The school’s professional learning communities span all content areas, from math and literacy coaches to science and social studies teachers. “Our teachers are leading more and more initiatives,” Murray says. “I know the teachers better. I know the students better.”

Monicca Bohannon, assistant principal of Metter Middle School in Candler County, says her ATPLA experience gave her with the tools and confidence to design “relevant, rewarding learning experiences.” Her school is now laser focused on “motivating students to want to learn. We emphasize our students’ real world, right here, right now.” Real-world learning at the south-central Georgia school includes robotics, Google Classroom, Quiz Bowl teams and lessons driven by student input and by design principles.

Karen Wild, who participated in the PAGE Principal Leadership Network when she was principal of Ithica Elementary School in Carroll County, reports that “discipline referrals decreased consistently over the two-year period of implementation.” CRCT scores increased as well, she added. Today, as principal of Carrollton Elementary School, Wild is cultivating a culture of student engagement. The principal, assistant principal and several teachers are involved in APTLA. “Our vision has shifted to instruction that engages students. As we continue to focus on the ‘who’ in designing engaging lessons, the immediate result is fewer behavioral interruptions,” she says.

“There is a significant mind-shift necessary and this takes time,” Wild says. “There is the awareness and understanding phase, the implementation phase, the reflection phase and the refinement phase. My belief is that initial results will be seen through discipline, which will facilitate the opportunity for achievement gains.”

ATPLA brings administrators and teachers together in a stress-free, focused environment. There is time to talk and think and collaborate.

“We underestimate the level of creativity required to develop engaging and challenging content,” Murray says. “Creativity cannot be boxed into a five-minute time frame; it has to be cultivated. At the start of APTLA discussions, I often find myself thinking about all of the things I could be doing. Then I remember how much happier I am with my role as a leader.” Bohannon adds, “The opportunity to network and learn from other assistant principals has been invaluable.” n

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