1 © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd Signature Practices and the ISLLC Standards Facilitated by Joanne Picone-Zocchia Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd

What are signature practices? Signature practices are… Structures or processes Activities, events, programs, action, protocols nested inside bigger structures or processes that unfold over time © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 2

What are signature practices? Signature practices can be… A new spin on a common or existing practice A new approach designed specifically to meet an existing challenge or opportunity © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 3

Where can we find examples of signature practices? © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 4

Outside of Education New spin on an existing practice: Michelle Kwan’s signature spiral © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 5

Outside of Education Associated with its originator: This signature has lent its name to all signatures! © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 6

OK…but…“signature practices” of principals? © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 7

Kerry’s focus on parental involvement Kerry visits students’ homes and builds support for her student achievement goals. “I went to every house in my first year,” she says. A well-attended family education night at Harvard Park involves parents and children in a learning game and builds awareness and understanding of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test. She thanks the parents for coming and tells them, “We can’t do this work without your help and support.” Kerry adds, “School is the ticket out. If you want a better life or a different life for your child, then we have to work together.” © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 8 (from The Principal’s Story” Produced by the Wallace Foundation and PBS)

9 © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd Ted’s graphic organizer for vision alignment “How will doing X support and move us closer to our vision?” 9

Sal’s cross-role strategic planning team Monthly (more, if needed) meetings with a strategic planning team that includes teachers, students, administrators, parents and community partners gather to analyze data, generate goals, create and monitor the implementation of the action plan to attain the goals set, and revisit/refine the school’s vision. This team also troubleshoots current issues (like the district’s mid-year excessing of all school aides), and identifies opportunities for improvement as they occur. © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 10

How do we find “signature practices”? © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 11

Standard 1: Shared Vision of Learning Signature practices related to Shared Vision of Learning include: activities, events and programs for promoting ongoing, sustainable improvement. They connect improvement with attainment of school wide goals that are grounded in shared vision, mission and data. © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd Processes inside which Standard 1 signature practices might operate include budgeting, induction, goal setting and strategic planning, decision-making, and monitoring/responding to the effectiveness of decisions, actions and strategies. 12

13 © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd Ted’s graphic organizer for vision alignment “How will doing X support and move us closer to our vision?” 13

© 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 14 Standard 2: School Culture and Instructional Program Signature practices in support of Standard 2 include principal created activities, events, and programs focused on: ensuring optimal learning for diverse student needs and abilities the use of standards and assessment data to identify, address and monitor student needs and progress development of best practices in curriculum, instruction and assessment providing learning opportunities to improve teachers’ practice and ability to meet student learning needs

© 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 15 Standard 2: School Culture and Instructional Program Processes and structures inside which these signature practices could be nested, and which they could inform, include: scheduling professional development curriculum development teacher observation and evaluation analysis and use of data technology integration, etc.

What signature practices have you observed or implemented that would support Standard 2? © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 16 Turn and Talk

© 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 17 Standard 3: Safe, Efficient, Effective Learning Environment Signature practices related to Standard 3 include: activities, events and programs that improve operational efficiency, address the capacity for shared leadership, ensure safety in a variety of circumstances, etc. Processes and structures that could encompass and be informed by these signature practices are energy conservation, budgeting, induction, scheduling, safety/crisis plan, leadership development, shared decision-making, etc.

Sal’s cross-role strategic planning team Monthly (more, if needed) meetings with a strategic planning team that includes teachers, students, administrators, parents and community partners gather to analyze data, generate goals, create and monitor the implementation of the action plan to attain the goals set, and revisit/refine the school’s vision. This team also troubleshoots current issues (like the district’s mid-year excessing of all school aides), and identifies opportunities for improvement as they occur. © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 18

© 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 19 Standard 4: Community Signature practices supporting the Community standard include: activities, events and programs focused on engaging key school and community stakeholder groups (teachers, out of classroom staff, parents, businesses, politicians and community members who do not have children in the school or district) in working as partners to improve learning. Processes and structures that could contain or be influenced by these signature practices are communication plans, community outreach, community partner development

Kerry’s focus on parental involvement Kerry visits students’ homes and builds support for her student achievement goals. “I went to every house in my first year,” she says. A well-attended family education night at Harvard Park involves parents and children in a learning game and builds awareness and understanding of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test. She thanks the parents for coming and tells them, “We can’t do this work without your help and support.” Kerry adds, “School is the ticket out. If you want a better life or a different life for your child, then we have to work together.” © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 20 (from The Principal’s Story” Produced by the Wallace Foundation and PBS)

© 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 21 Standard 5: Integrity, Fairness, Ethics Signature practices in support of Integrity, Fairness and Ethics can be found in principals’ design and implementation of: services, programs, and activities that address and meet students' emotional, physical, and mental health needs as well as ensure the best possible learning for each student. They can be nested inside the processes and structures that support behavior management, allocation of educational services, induction, scheduling, analysis and use of data, labor relations (including mediation/negotiation), discipline/behavior policies etc.

© 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 22 Standard 6: Political, Social, Economic, Legal and Cultural Context Signature practices in support of Standard 6 include: activities, events or actions that develop advocacy, influence and awareness that transcends the school walls. They can include public speaking, writing, and research into current events in education. Processes that would include these signature practices are communication, professional improvement, advocacy, etc.

Activity Finding the ISLLC Standards in Principals’ Signature Practices Work in pairs or triads. © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 23

How do we uncover or develop signature practices? © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 24

Ask questions that focus on the areas in which the practices either are most likely to be present or most necessary To uncover existing signature practices:  How do you foster…?  What do you do to enable…? To raise awareness about potential:  What could you do to address or improve…?  How might you address (or help others to address) the need to…?  What could you introduce or put in place that would help others to…? © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 25

Consider 3 key factors: Context – Are there conditions in place in the district that may be acting to promote or inhibit the development or implementation of signature practices? Experience/training – Is there a need for leadership training or support? Real Purpose and audience – Is there an authentic reason for developing and implementing a “signature practice”? © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 26

”Signature practices” are not the be-all, end-all, nor are they the only way of looking at professional practice. © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 27

The ability to tease out or establish signature practices is bigger than evaluation. © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 28

Recognition of the existence and importance of “signature practices” is an opportunity to honor and encourage professional creativity and innovation in the service of improved learning. © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 29

Something to ponder… What signature practices are we developing and implementing related to professional evaluation? © 2013 Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd 30