(Left to right) Malachi Byrd, Devyn Jefferson, Juwan Middleton, and Cynthia Johnson performed original spoken-word pieces as part of the School Leadership Program conference. These students represent CONTRA VERSE, a spoken-word team from Cesar Chavez School for Public Policy, which is led by their teacher and coach, Michael Bolds. Throughout the two-day convening, these students and others shared insightful perspectives on education and the impact of current reforms on educators and students.
What happens when you invite students to a project directors’ conference on school leadership? They infuse the atmosphere with energy and enthusiasm, push the envelope in thoughtful ways, inspire with their creativity, and remind the adults why our work is critical.
OII’s School Leadership Program office recently hosted a convening for 45 of its grantees currently implementing projects that prepare and develop principals to serve in high-need schools and districts. The conference provided an opportunity for districts, universities, partner organizations, Principal Ambassador Fellows, and federal policymakers to learn from each other and other experts in the field about how to improve and promote school leadership. Throughout the two-day conference, student performers graced the stage to intermittently bring our work back in focus while also challenging us all with provocative questions, such as “At what point does patience give way to urgency in our reforms?”
In a blog post, Josh Klaris, Resident Principal at ED, reflects on lessons learned at the conference. In particular, he highlights Matthew Clifford’s take on the Ripple Effect of principal influence and on Kate Rousmaniere’s reminder, “The principal didn’t become the ‘most complex and contradictory figure in the pantheon of educational leadership,‘ overnight.”
Cross-posted from The Teachers Edition: A Newsletter Celebrating Teaching and Leading from the U.S. Department of Education, May 1, 2014 issue.
