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Vision, Vision, Values and Goals Blog

As I read and re-read DuFour and Eaker’s Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work it once again made it clear to me how essential and fundamental the Vision and Mission are to an organization. As DuFour points out that there are four pillars or building blocks that work together or intertwine with the Vision and Mission.  As we are developing our Visions and Missions, I think we forget to build the foundation we only focus on the two pillars (building blocks) instead of all four.  I looked back at how my staff and I spent many hours and days trying to define our school, define who, what, when and what we do best for children.  We had to look at data that focused on academics, behavior and attendance.  We focused on the academics, behavior and attendance of the students and parents but we failed to focus on the behavior, attendance and the continued learning (academics) of the adults who are the essential part of the organization.  If we really looked at the dominate behavior within my school organization, you would find that the behavior and accountability of adults was null and void.   The school in which I lead had to take a hard look at adult behavior in order to make the main thing the main thing at our school.  We had to own everything we did and continued to d0 with all really does not pertain to all.  We had to look at how we excluded, eliminated and isolated the children unintentional at times but it occurred.  We had to look at the conversation we were having about children, parents and others which had tones of judgement and blame.  We had to look at the spirit of sabotage in our building and own that we were doing it to each other, the children and parents.   We had to look at our implicit bias from the data on office referrals about student behavior and how we were engaging or not engaging with children.  We had to take a hard look at our Mission and Vision at the District Level and the one we wanted to create at the school level.  As we looked at the Mission and Vision, we discussed what examples at our building showed that we were doing those things.  Our list came up short we decided as a team and family that we must show what we do at our school that aligns with the District. We developed first and foremost behavioral goals for the adults in our building which holds all of us accountable to the student we serve.  We also decided to hold goals for the Adult learners Professional Development protocols on attendance and how it was important for us to learn and try new thing with students (research-based strategy Hattie’s Classroom Discussions) to improve academic performance. We also decided to set goals for helping one another when we struggle (no judgement zone).  This has led to staff helping staff and accountability.    With the changes we underwent with me as the lead and with the help if my staff, the schools purpose today is to help all who enter and give them the courage, a voice and attitude to participate in their learning freely and fully.  We welcome all who enter our school we want them to   feel loved, safe, cared about.  As they leave us, we hope we have encouraged them to have the voice to shut down and challenge the nay Sayers.