Leaders must create environments in which their teachers and students can thrive. During this workshop, participants will acquire practical strategies that join social-emotional education, proven practices of highly effective schools, and educational practices with effect sizes verified to accelerate student learning. Participants will exit the session with both short-term and long-term strategies that improve the lives of their students and teachers. Establishing procedures must be a highly collaborative practice with multiple, diverse voices at the planning table in order to create and maintain a highly functioning school. This workshop will serve as a model for participants to implement with their own staff and all students. Concepts include faculty and staff perceptions, techniques to collect data related to safe, supportive and collaborative cultures, implementation of professional learning communities, methods for gathering feedback, and the celebration of students and teachers.
I have been involved in school improvement in Title I schools for the past 10 years. I have completed research in the areas of school improvement and implementation of best practices within 24 of the 51 schools in our District. Most recently, I have completed my dissertation research in the areas of teacher efficacy, grit, and engagement.