SDI +

This spring I was asked to become a member of He Dog's Building Leadership Team or BLT. The past couple of days I attended the South Dakota Incentives Plus Summer Institute in Rapid City with my BLT group. Teamwork and group work was the topic for both days. First, we talked about the qualities of good groups and then we discussed the Five Dysfunctions of A Team.

DAY ONE

The leadership team from Horace Mann Elementary in Rapid City presented on how they have been able to change the culture of their school and increase their students test scores. They have adopted the mantra "Every Student, Every Minute, Every Day." It was great to hear how they feel teamwork and positivity has changed their school. The topic also ties very nicely to what I've been reading in Theodore J. Kowalski's Contemporary School Administration. Kolwalski talks about milieu (people and relationships), organization (curriculum and schedules), ecology (buildings and supplies), and culture (values, beliefs, and norms). These components of school climate need to be in harmony for a school to be effective.

***All the presentations are located at the South Dakota Incentives Plus website.***

Notes from the Horace Mann Elementary Presentation: 

"It's all of our jobs to help every single student in our building." 

- Mr. Danny Janklow, Horace Mann Elementary Principal

Steps for Change: 

All about students, not the staff, except to use the talent available to impact the children in a positive and productive way.

"This is about children. It's not about adults." 

- Mr. Danny Janklow

What's your philosophy?

• Every Child, Every Minute, Every Day!
• Complete and total respect for self and others
• Negative comments and behaviors are confronted and not tolerate

What are the five trends in schools with the greatest gains in achievement and equity? (from the Learning Leader by Douglas Reeves)

1. They embrace holistic accountability.
• Accountability includes the actions of adults, not merely the test scores of students. 
2. These schools include consistent nonfiction writing assessments in every subject. 
• Writing includes: editing, collaborative scoring, constructive teacher feedback (immediate) and rewriting
• When students write, they are engaged in thinking, reasoning and analysis.
3. These schools use frequent common assessments. 
• Assessments, in contrast to tests: 
• are formative
• are provided throughout the school year
• are designed to improve teaching and learning
• accompanied by immediate, relevant feedback
4. Effective Schools and their staffs use immediate and decisive interventions.
5. Constructive use of data

"It's everyone's responsibility. Ask yourself these questions: What is your goal? Why would you do that? How are you going to work together to do the best for the kids?"

- Mr. Danny Janklow

All staff expectations: 
NO EXCUSES!!!

"Are you telling me you don't want to do your job or you can't do your job?"

- Mr. Danny Janklow

Team work information: 

What makes teams effective?

• communication
• shared decision making
• norms
• buy in
• set roles
• consistency
• a mission for the group
• transparency
• willingness to listen and compromise

We were asked to reflect on the teams in which we are a member of and teams we are leaders of then asked where is my primary allegiance? This is a question that all group members must ask themselves.

DAY TWO

TIE Deputy Director John Swanson presented on the Five Dysfunctions of a Team. The Five Dysfunctions of A Team was written by Patrick Lencioni.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: 

1. Absence of Trust
2. Fear of Conflict
3. Lack of Commitment
4. Avoidance of Accountability
5. Inattention of Results

1. Absence of Trust

• Can we trust people to be real all the time?
• Do we have a willingness to be vulnerable?
• Can we admit when we don't understand how to do something?

Building Trust

• Personal Histories
• Behavioral Profiles
• Shared Experiences

2. Fear of Conflict 

Mastering Conflict

• Mining for conflict
• Real Time Permission 
• giving people the right to be disagreeable
• confronting the issue right away
• Setting the Hook

3. Lack of Commitment

• You agree and then commit to what you are doing.

4. Avoidance of Accountability

• Call out people's deficiencies or unproductive behaviors
• It's harder to stand up to our friends than our enemies.

This reminded me of what Dumbledore says to Neville Longbottom at the end of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie:
"There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."

5. Inattention of Results

• Focusing on Results
• Establish a Scoreboard
• Distractions: EGO, Career Advancement, Money, "My" Department

Where is my primary intelligence?

~~The Abilene Paradox~~

• The tendency of groups to make decisions that the individuals of the group do not support.
• Don't make a decision that you believe in, but what you think others believe in -- Group Think