Shelley Yates: A Better Me

It has now been 4 weeks since my return from attending Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership. I continue to reflect on my experience on a daily basis and know that I have come back to Texas wanting to be better and expecting the very best out of myself, staff, and students. I learned so much and I am still processing all of the wonderful information that our presenters delivered to us. They gave us so much to give back to our staff and students.

One thing I did learn is that I must change from being an informative leader into being a transformative leader. With that, my teachers will change from informative teaching into transformative teaching. It's all about transforming our kids. But, it must begin with the adults in the building. Transformation. That is the "Art of Leadership".

I want to thank Raise Your Hand Texas for such a powerful learning opportunity. RYHT exhibited so much faith in Texas education leaders to invest so much into us to provide this learning adventure. The friendships that were made with other educators from around the United States and other countries are priceless and we learned so much from each other also. The accomodations were exemplary and we were taken care of above and beyond.

For me, this will be something that I will always look back on and reflect on how it helped me grow personally, professionally, and intellectually. It was a life changing experience and I will forever be deeply grateful. Thank You Raise Your Hand Texas!

Shelley Yates

Vernal Elliot: Exciting and Life Altering

The Harvard Urban School Leaders Institute was phenomenal! There were so many educational leaders who shared their research based best practices. Each day was full of new learning,confirmation of current practices and ideas for implementation of best practices. All of the presenters in some way focused on teaching and learning. The overall theme that was woven throughout the Institute included relationship building with all stakeholders, providing academic rigor for all learner and ensuring relevance to or standards.

It is hard for me to pick one session that was a favorite because each one delivered such thought provoking information. The critical issues discussed such as, race, diversity, student failure rate, organization, time management, dealing with conflict were discussed openly and honestly. No stone seemed to be unturned…confronting current realities of the state teaching all children to mastery. The exchanges from educational practitioners were stimulating and challenging. The reality seems to be that we are deal with varying degrees of common problems in schools across the United States.

The Harvard Urban School Institute was one of the most exciting and life altering educational experiences for me. My life has been enriched and I have been challenged to make an impact on quality teaching and learning, so that teachers receive the training necessary to improve their craft. Then students will be the recipients of deliberate and consistent best research base practices focused on standards that result in higher levels of academic achievement for all students. I am thankful for this opportunity.

More Pictures from Vernal Eliot

Vernal Elliot

James Oliver: The Harvard Experience

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been two weeks since “The Harvard Experience”. Over the past 13 years in education I have had some great staff development, but nothing compares to the 10 days I spent at Harvard. I am so thankful that a vocal group of inspired Texans (RYHT) has chosen to actively support educators in this State. In a time of uncertainty, you have let teachers, administrators, and all others associated with our schools know that you care about educating children in Texas. For me, the Harvard leadership training could not have come at a better time.

Sometimes we all need to slow down and reassess what we’re doing. The creativity that often eludes us in the hustle and bustle of modern-day life was allowed to take hold in a classroom many miles from home. I came back with new ideas and plans that are already taking shape. Our high school master schedule has a totally different feel. Using a new set of priorities and perspectives, our 08-09 schedule will allow more time to meet individual student and teacher needs. I have already started swapping other ideas with my teachers. It’s amazing how excitement is contagious. I see a great year ahead of us!

On a side note, thanks to everyone in Group 6 and 7 for your continued communication and support. I never thought I would be getting so many words of encouragement from Texas principals, not to mention those serving in other states and countries. Just yesterday I got an e-mail from a fellow educator in New Zealand. Thanks again RYHT for allowing me to network on a whole new level.

James Oliver

Fred Bowyer: Truly a Blessing

I want to thank everyone at RYHT for this wonderful opportunity. I am a much better leader today than I was prior to attending this institute. The speakers were all outstanding and provided practical knowledge that could be taken back to the school and used immediately.

I must say that I was very impressed with the urban leaders that attended from Texas. They were all very knowledgeable and committed to their schools and students. I am sure they found the information just as valuable as I did. What did I learn? I learned that being an urban leader in Texas is not much different than being in New York or Chicago. Our students have the same issues, and our teachers require the same type of leaders.

As Jerry Murphy told us, leadership is often unheroic and we don’t always have the answers. It is our ability to develop a shared vision with our staff by asking questions and listening that will put our schools on the path to success. “A leader’s vision is the grain of sand in the oyster, not the pearl.” Keep your ears open for news of Condit Elementary; I think we are going to be doing some great things. Thank you again for the wonderful opportunity, it was truly a blessing.

Fred Bowyer

Joseph Showell: Tremendous Experience

The Urban School Leaders conference was a tremendous experience. Everything about the experience was rewarding. The faculty at Harvard were outstanding. The speakers were experts in their craft. They all engaged the group and challenged our thinking. The environment was extremely supportive to learning. I had the opportunity to meet several new friends from across the nation. I am especially glad I got to meet my San Antonio, and Fort Worth friends. I want to specially thank Chris for saving my seat each day. My delay in reporting is because I wanted to share some of the 100 photos I took while at Harvard, but I could not wait to express my gratitude to Raise Your Hand Texas. Thank you again for the FIRST CLASS learning opportunity. I promise the experience will have a positive effect on my leadership.

Joseph Showell

Ralph Funk: Words Are Inadequate

Words do not exist that can adequately describe the Harvard experience. Imagine 167 dedicated principals from twenty states and eleven different countries, fifteen focused facilitators, ten institute organizers and fourteen of the finest research minds converging in one location to learn from each other for ten days. One would imagine that such a diverse group would have problems relating to one another, but the attendees’ love of children and burning desire to improve education created an immediate bond. This instant bond translated into lengthy conversations that rivaled those of life-long friends. The institute was truly one of the highlights of my 23 year administrative career.

Beginning with Chris Dede’s challenge to include our student’s knowledge and use of technology to make learning more relevant and concluding with the final session where Jerry Murphy examined the art of leading through change, the institute was designed to touch the full myriad of skills required by administration. The expert orchestration of the institute is further proof of the quality of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

I have now returned to work and the “real world,” but even the day-to-day grind of the high school principalship cannot dim the passion that was ignited during this event. My staff is beginning to tire of my sharing knowledge learned while at Harvard – and I have only just begun! The applicability of the learning to my every day work has already enabled me to be a better leader of my school. This experience will allow me to build other leaders and to improve the academic performance of the students with whom we work on a daily basis.

Just as words do not describe my experience, words seem inadequate when expressing thanks to Raise Your Hand Texas for enabling 32 Texas principals the opportunity of a lifetime. Few, if any, of us could have made this journey without your assistance. I cannot help but think that the knowledge and skills learned by these principals will truly make a difference in their schools and in the lives of many students. Thank you Raise Your Hand Texas and to all the principals who made this such an amazing experience!

Ralph Funk

Terri Mossige: Pay It Forward

I have so much gratitude and appreciation for Raise Your Hand Texas for providing me the opportunity to attend the National Institute of Urban School Leaders this summer. It was an amazing experience and I will definitely be attending more of the summer institutes offered by the Principals Center at Harvard in the future.

This was a very intense week of learning which began at 8:30 am in the morning and ended at 5:00 pm. You were assigned numerous reading materials each day to prepare for tomorrows presenters. Each presentation was filled with up to date information in the field of leadership as well as education which left you in a state of reflection on your own leadership and how the information can impact your campus. My colleagues and I spoke about how the end of the day left you tired and inspired all at the same time. We were energized about the possibilities before us and pressed on to read our articles in preparation for the next day activities.

I met school leaders from all over the United States and there was a common bond among all of us no matter what zip code you reside. Furthermore, the experience of meeting and speaking with others was another avenue to my learning. We shared common experiences, ideals and dreams for our students and schools. I left this week with a great network from all over this country and I plan to keep in touch throughout the school year.

Finally, the learning and reflection of the week have reaffirmed by commitment and passion for my profession. I believe I am a better leader because of this experience and have been equipped with greater tools to improve the leadership of my administrative team, teacher leaders, faculty and staff. Thank you again for providing me this opportunity and I believe as we continue to "pay it forward" the impact will be felt by many others for years to come.

Terri Mossige

Ronnita Carridine: Value at the Core of Education

I remember growing up in an educational system of opportunity. Being here at Harvard for the Urban School Leadership Conference has made me reflect on what opportunity really means in an urban environment, rural environments, suburban systems, higher education, and society as a whole.

How does this opportunity align with Efficacy and Proficiency among students and educators alike? Does this opportunity embrace Inclusion and a sense of Belonging? Where does this opportunity fall under the guise of Antiracism? Are there Theories of Action in place in forming systemic structures for opportunity? What are the guidelines for promotional opportunity in the Media? How does a Leader in urban environment present opportunities to students, teachers, and parents? Does Equity of Excellence exist in opportunity? OK, enough already - Something I will have to ponder over.

In any case, I would like to take this opportunity, however, to thank Texas Raise Your Hand for affording so many Texas Principals the opportunity of attending this wonderful conference. We have been well taken care of. We have networked with leaders from across the country and the experience has been more than monumental. We look forward to the opportunity to work together in the future...

Ronnita Carridine

Felix Glass: A Precious Gift

George Strait sings "I Can't See Texas From Here." While Boston is a long way from Waco, I had no problem seeing application of our speakers' presentations in my campus of Waco High School.

Topics from instructional leadership, professional development, inclusion of special education students, and communications all have become a permanent part of who I am and what I do.

I cannot say enough what precious gift this opportunity has been - not just for me, but for the faculty and staff I serve with, and most importantly the students who come to my school.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Felix Glass

Michael Cardona: Life Changing

I can without reservation say that my experience at the Principal's Leadership Center - Leadership an Evolving Vision was the most life changing, challenging, relevant, and reassuring professional development I have attended. I want to thank Raise Your Hand Texas for their first class treatment and the experience of a lifetime. I went to Harvard with a preconceived notion of what these outsiders could teach me. It started with Chris Dede and ended with Jerome Murphy. In between, I was a participant to the most thought-provoking discussion regarding the role of education in society. While I may not have necessarily agreed with all the presenters’ ideas and beliefs about education, I respect their passions and desire to make the world a better place. Norman Kunc is an inspiring individual and I am in awe at his passionate plea for inclusive education. Kay Merseth put together an extraordinary program which made me look at my role and what I need to do to ensure that all of my students receive the best education. Joe Arangio Jr. was a great small group leader and I will miss his insight and I will miss my time with my team members. Project Adventure was an incredible experience; I only wish we had more time to experience the role of team. I was able to conquer my fear and place my trust in another person. Raymund, you are the man from down under.

My interactions with fellow educators made an impression that will last a lifetime. My fellow Texans inspire me and I can reassure all Principal's that you are not alone. It is a lonely seat we occupy and this leadership institute bonded us with people from around the world, who regardless of background have the same goals and desires for their students as we do. Together, we can change the world.

It is my hope that we continue to recognize the importance of continuing these discussions and professional development opportunities. I learned more in these ten day than I have in previous staff development opportunities. In the future, I hope that opportunities arise for those of us who were in the same co-hort to re-establish our connections and continue our discussions.

Finally, to the friends I have made, I wish you the best and you always have a friend in San Antonio. Daniel Garcia, Melba Foster, Victoria Bode, Lamont Smith, Glenda Howell, Janet Laughter, Barbara Black, Thomesine Chambers, Raymund Flanagan (Australia), Margaret Campell (Jamaica), Julie Boles (Arizona) , Janet Exon (New Zealand), Terri Neuman, Gail Miller (Australia), Tim Payne (Massachusetts), Diane Parks, and Devorie Kreiman (California) you inspire with your words and actions and you have forever made an impression in my heart.

I return to school with a renewed sense of purpose. As a principal whose father dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, I never would have imagined that I would attend Harvard for any reason. It is because of Raise Your Hand Texas and their belief in education that this is possible and I will never forget the opportunity.

Michael A. Cardona

Anita Hardwick: A Great Experience

I cannot begin to thank you enough for selecting me to attend the Harvard Principals' Institute on Urban Education! This has been such a great experience for me. Not only are the speakers among the best in the field, but the opportunity to network with other school leaders from around the country has been invaluable. The topics that have been discussed (and that I have the chance to ponder on with my new friends) are absolutely top-of-the-list relevant for me at Withers Elementary - sustaining school change, using data to plan for excellence, conflict resolution, inclusion practices in special education, institutional racism, working with the media, principal practices to encourage student and teacher engagement.

The Charles Hotel is lovely. It is a treat to feel pampered after a day of thought and work!

I apologize that it has taken me until today to make my first contact. The days are intense and we have nightly readings...and, of course, we hope to see a little of Cambridge/Boston.

Anita Hardwick

Ronnita Carridine: Inspired

Let me begin by saying what an honor and privilege it is to have been selected to participate in the Raise Your Hand Texas partnership with the Harvard Graduate School of Education in the Urban Leadership Conference this week. Thus far, the experience has been invaluable. We have had the opportunity to listen to and interact with many leading educators, economists, business leaders, and superintendents regarding issues surrounding urban education. Presenters of great interest have been Jeff Howard, Ronald Ferguson, Norman Kunc, Jerry Murphy, and Malachi Pancoast. In addition, Irma Tyler-Wood and Wendy Luttrell have also inspired many of the superintendents, principals, consultants and coaches, and teachers participating in this series. As I reflect on what has been presented thus far, the themes surrounding urban education have been interconnected in thought, practice, and strategic implementation. The following three tenets are what I have mostly reflected upon: Moral Consciousness and Belief Systems, Equity and Efficacy resulting in Proficiency, and Belonging.

I look forward to hearing from the remaining presenters and Ruby Payne, founder of the AHA Process. I continue to have AHA Moments daily and cannot wait to apply what I have learned. Until next time!

Ronnita Carridine

Brenda Emanuel: The Achievement Gap

As we have engaged in collaborative dialogue this past week, I reflect on the valuable insight and new information that I have received during our exchange. I am eager to employ the lessons learned and heuristics that I have gained as an active participant in this conference. During my tenure as school Principal, I am always looking for opportunities to broaden my perspective while honing the skills and abilities of my staff. My continual effort to seek new innovative ways to continue to lead and guide the staff to meet the evolving challenges of our school is essential to future success.

One of the challenges that continue to be one of my areas of concern is the achievement gap. I gleaned something during one of the sessions which was “Excellence and Equity is the key to closing this gap.” Furthermore, we explored the idea that building trust between administrators and teachers is crucial. Administrators should establish a climate where their word represents a bond of trust. Leaders must facilitate a certain level of trust by exhibiting a high level of competence during their administration. Given this concept, one of the ideas from our session that resonated in my mind was the idea that we must set goals and expectations for ourselves as well as for our teachers while providing them with the means and resources to attain and sustain these objectives.

Brenda Emanuel

Brenda Emanuel: Improving the Quality of Education

This experience has afforded me the opportunity to engage in collegial conversations that will have a positive impact on how I continue to lead as an instructional leader. It has allowed principals to share ideas, strategies, and techniques for dealing with issues that present challenges during our daily administration.

The participants were motivated to rethink how we conduct our business through a collaborative process. The discussion topics were relevant to issues that educators routinely face. These relevant topics were representative of concerns that educators consistently struggle to resolve in hopes of producing positive results which will impact the learning environment.

The presenters were very accessible and willing to dialogue both collectively and individually with participants in an effort to establish a sense of support and commitment to the success of today’s educational system.

I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in this program. Thank you Raise Your Hand Texas for providing the means for Texas Principals to develop a deeper understanding of effective research and its impact on teaching and learning. I know that we will utilize the information we have gained to improve the overall quality of education in our schools, districts, and communities while enhancing the knowledge and skills of today’s leaders.

Brenda Emanuel

Milton Fields: Profound

I appreciate the opportunity that Raise Your Hand Texas has provided me to attend the Harvard Graduate School of Education. I have heard so much and witnessed so many great conversations; it is difficult to concentrate on any one thing to comment on. We are learning about leadership and one of the most profound statements that I have heard since I have been here is "Leadership is the most observed and least understood phenomenon on Earth". I will keep in touch as the days progress. Once again, thanks for the opportunity.

Milton R. Fields III

Marsha Burris: Opportunities to Grow and Learn

This opportunity to attend this prestigious Harvard USL Institute has been packed with an educational experience beyond my imagination. Beginning Sunday through today, the presenters, group leaders, facilitators, and principals have all been focused on the principal/leader and the education of urban school students. It is evident the attendees are passionate on how to become better principal/leaders from elementary, middle school, high school principals who are attending this week.

So far, my favorite presenters and the ones I have learned the most from are Irma Tyler-Woods, "Bridges" the timeline activity she presented I will introduce during my first staff meeting of the new school year. I could have listened to the three keynote speakers, the USL panel, for more than an hour. Bob Peterkin gave sound advice and encouraged principals to have an absolute passion for the job, he encouraged high school urban leaders to get their students onto college campuses, technical schools, or both throughout the school year to give these students exposure to something they have never experienced - Barbara Adams was explicit about knowing who you are and stay excited about learning! Tom Payzant said principals should lead by example and ask questions and never be afraid.

The walk to Longfellow Hall is filled with beautiful historic architecture. The dinner at the Harvard Faculty Club ... enough said!

I can't thank RYHT enough for allowing me the honor to come and attend this week. Tomorrow will be filled with more opportunities to grow and learn - Thank you!

Marsha Burris

Kathy Robinson: Thanks!

I have been home a week from my awesome school experience in Boston. I have been reading the blogs everyday. I needed time to let it all sink in before I responded.

I read the words others used to describe this time: Experience of a Lifetime, Refreshing, Inspiring, Amazing, Intellectual Opportunity, etc. I agree with them all. I enjoyed the speakers and tried to take something from each one. I mailed my notes and books home and I can’t wait for them to arrive. I have been bugging my family everyday about checking the mail! I could not wait to meet with my principal friends and tell them all about the experience! I am looking forward to this new school year more than I ever have due to Raise Your Hand Texas! Thank you so much for this opportunity. Not only did I get great information from the speakers but I made several new friends who were willing to share fabulous ideas from their campus.

Thank you so much Beth for your beginning of the year ideas. I have already started talking to my staff about 100% of 100%. Beth, thank you for your ideas about the Fred Factor. I ordered and received the book already! I can’t wait to tell my staff about Fred. Margaret, thank you so much for your information on Math. Mike and Bob, thank you for your funny stories! I also enjoyed everyone in Group #2. John, I have repeated your poem about kids on buses several times since I have been home. I enjoyed all of you! Please keep in touch. Your ideas, stories and time together meant more to me than you will ever know!

Kathy Robinson

Project Adventure

Belinda Cini, James Oliver and Kathy Velghe

Debra Brown: Howdy!

Hello from the lobby of the Sheraton Commodore Hotel in Cambridge! The trip from Texas to Boston for the Leadership an Evolving Vision conference at Harvard University was nice, with the airlines and hotel agents being very helpful. I met up with four other Raise Your Hands Texas members on the plane and in the taxi to the hotel between Dallas and Boston. A big Texas “howdy!” comes from my new professional friends, Belinda Cini from Round Rock, Daniel Garcia from Pflugerville, James Oliver from Brookesmith, and Kathryn Vighe from Dickenson. More trickled in all afternoon, but we haven’t met them yet. Like, me, each principal is thrilled to be attending the RYH Texas conference and is somewhat in awe that we are the lucky ones to get the opportunity to attend. The actual conference begins on Wednesday morning, bright and early.

Since we arrived and checked in without incident, there has been a little time today to see the local sights by foot. We’ve walked the short distance from the hotel to the site on campus where our session will take place. Of course we became a little turned around and traveled several blocks the wrong way. It wasn’t such a bad thing though because we were able to see many sites around the university that we otherwise might not have discovered. Already we have walked on the red brick sidewalks where famous historical figures walked long before us. Dates like 1662 and 1798 are common on the many historical markers all around us. We look like the tourists that we are, but we also feel like we belong here…seeing a part of our nation’s incredible history that we share with the native folks of Massachusetts.

Good (new) friends and a full evening of ‘just looking’ marked today. I have a picture, but it will have to wait for technology to work right for me so I can upload it to you. An exciting day is on the agenda for tomorrow. I’ll keep in touch.

Debra Brown

Felix Glass: Cherish the Experience

I have to state unequivocally what an experience this has been. I arrived on Sat. and attended my first sessions on Sunday morning.

Dr. Murphy and Mr. Pancoast gave very insightful presentations. I plan to utilize Dr. Murphy's SWOT acronym for assessing campus culture. The S and W refer to identifying strengths and weaknesses of the campus environment, the O has you identify opportunities, and T is for the awareness of threats.

I will always cherish the experience of having dined at the Harvard Faculty Club. I have met fantastic campus leaders from around the country and I am benefiting from their perspectives.

School leadership can be similar to coaching. You pick the good parts of what one organization is doing, and pair it with a good component from another organization. As you implement the good pieces you being to develop a new structure that fits your organization’s unique needs.

Thanks again to the supporters and leaders at Raise Your Hand Texas who have made this possible for me.

Felix Glass

Diane Parks' Pictures

Diane Parks at Project Adventure

Vicki Bedo and Diane Parks

Steve Williams: Enriched

Ralph Funk, Steve Williams, Renee Garcia, Kay Merseth (Institute Director), Carla Rosa-Villarreal, David Knowles (South Africa), Malcolm Williams (South Africa)

An incredible 10 days have now come to a close, wow what a trip to Harvard! In all of my years as an administrator, I have never experienced anything that comes close to my 10 days at Harvard. Words can not do justice to the appreciation I feel towards Raise Your Hand Texas. The speakers and professors challenged us day in and day out, presented to us the most recent up to date educational research in which all types of leadership practices can be based upon, and finally they provided us with many new tools that we can use daily to be the effective leaders that our kids deserve. I would have to say though the aspect of the entire experience that really took me back was how many new contacts I made.

Internationally it was amazing to discover that our colleagues experience the same problems that we face daily as well. The Crazy 8's was the study group I was in. It was made up of principals from across the world and the US, they were an awesome group to be a part of and their insight was special. There were 35 of us from Texas, they all were awesome! I have always believed that making contacts in our profession was vital for the survival of any administrator, and I can say without hesitation that the contacts that I was able to form are most definitely going to stay with me forever, they are very special people with amazing talents and abilities.

Thanks again Raise Your Hand Texas, you have enriched my career beyond all measure!

Steve Williams

Diane Parks: A Deep Commitment

Words can not express how the Evolving Leadership course has impacted me both as a leader and as a person. Learning from the top professors and the international school principals that attended the class has been powerful. All of us from Texas in this group feel very privileged to be selected to attend Harvard. The closing session today was very moving and reinforced that all of the people attending have been changed.

Several of us have indicated that we would like the opportunity to meet as a team throughout the year to continue the learning and to be able to share our learning with other school leaders in Texas. I feel a deep commitment to share the knowledge from the past ten days. Hopefully, either RYHT or our principal associations such as TEPSA will facilitate this. Thank you for the experience of a lifetime!

Diane Parks

Penny Tramel: Belonging

This morning caused me to give pause at how we look at special education students. I think I carried away that we need to look at the special education student through the lens of diversity. I am still reflecting on the idea of "belonging" in that it surpasses a higher need on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It is definitely something to think about. I think we do need to look at each student individually and make collaborative decisions based on what is best for each child. The afternoon with Professor Kash Rangan was excellent with looking at strategic planning, mission, and vision. Wow, what a great day!

Penny Tramel

Art of Leadership Group Photo

Kathy Harmon: Renewal, Enthusiasm, Openness

Renewal, enthusiasm, openness, all these words come to mind about my experience at Harvard in the AOL Institute. It is unbelievable the amount of information that we received that is enlightening, enriching and confirming. We have had the opportunity to hear so many great speakers on reform, data, communication, reading strategies, renewal of self and more. The key to implementation will be for me to reflect on our needs assessment data and provide staff development based on those needs. I received lots of good team building strategies as well as self reflective pieces to start my year off. I plan on taking those pieces and using them as a way to look at what we need to do differently as a campus so that we can continue to move forward with our students, our parents and each other. The LCMS school mantra is, “Do Whatever It Takes.” I am going to add on to that this year by also including, “Teaching to Learn.” I feel that these two pieces compliment each other and will set the bar for what will be expected at LCMS everyday!

I would like to thank Raise Your Hand Texas for the opportunity to attend the AOL Institute. I have developed life long friends from Texas and other parts of the US as well as the world. I enjoyed the Group Meetings and the opportunity to meet and share with others.

Kathy Harmon

Penny Tramel: The Teaching Cycle

Professor Fischer's reading and lecture really caused me to reflect on the teaching cycle as it relates to the brain and how we learn. His research in the area of assessment, particularly Lectical Assessment, has huge applications for education if they can get the training time a little less cumbersome. Active intelligence was a term used that made me think of how we constantly think and process information, as well as apply and problem solve. Professor Honan's lecture in the afternoon in aligning resources to improve student achievement was excellent as well. It was very interesting to see how an entire system was aligned through a "jolting" process and it was helpful for me to reflect on some of the things that could have been done to make it more palatable for the community and school personnel.

Penny Tramel

John Kuhn: Experience of a Lifetime

I want to take this opportunity to thank Raise Your Hand Texas for this experience of a lifetime. The environment inspired me, the speakers challenged me, and my new friends from around Texas (and the world) motivated me. I am not the same principal that left Texas on June 29. I am not even the same person. Thank you RYHT for investing in me, in my colleagues, and in the children of our state. We are bringing the Ivy League back with us to places as diverse as Mineral Wells, El Paso, College Station, and San Saba.

As a quick anecdote I want to tell you that I stole away one day to Concord and stood on the very ground where the first shot of the American Revolution found its mark. I could see in the distance the childhood home of Ralph Waldo Emerson and I was struck by this thought: the works of those Minutemen and the words of that writer are the perpetual inheritance of Concord's inhabitants. People of courageous ideals and transformative ideas leave their lands forever richer. I hope that we, the principals of Texas entrusted with this life-changing experience, will likewise raise our cities and towns on our shoulders and leave them richer, stronger, and brighter for future generations. No one can undo the good that we bring about.

Thank you also for your work on Accountability reform and for your tireless efforts to make our legislators aware of the very real concerns of educators. We needed a champion.

John Kuhn

Penny Tramel: Day 3

Today we had two outstanding professors lecture. Kim Marshall talked about formative and summative assessment and included what he called "Interim" assessment in with formative assessment. Interim assessment equates to our district benchmarks. The good news is we are administering them on the timeline they should be administered to obtain effective data for instruction with students! He gave some excellent guidelines that speak to the criteria for designing quality "Interim" assessment.

Ron Ferguson discussed effective staff development and gave specific indicators for what effective staff development looks like for teachers. In addition, he discussed tasks that help us formulate targets for student engagement and classroom learning conditions that help achieve student engagement targets. He talked about the tripod effect and academic success for all students. The three legs of the tripod are content, pedagogy, and relationships. Examining trust factors such as motive, competence, dependability, and collegiality, as well as respectfulness, are a large part of effective relationships and should be examined by administrators on a routine basis.

Penny Tramel

Ana Silva: Fired Up

Leadership the Evolving Vision has been an intellectually simulating experience. The networking has been fantastic. Project Adventure has given me the rationale and theory behind experential learning. I am bringing back the problem solving ideas team builders. Professor Dede fired me up to persue more technology integration into the curriculum.

Ana Silva

Penny Tramel: Day 2

Project Adventure was great! I connected it to the "relationship" component of the Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships Framework. We also reviewed different learning theories in our reading and were able to make connections to the activities we participated in throughout the day.

Penny Tramel

Penny Tramel: Day 1

Our first day at Harvard was truly incredible! Professor Dede was absolutely amazing with his perspective of the future in education and situated learning. The morning had me examining perspective on how educators need to adapt to the skills needed for success in the 21st Century. In my opinion, ICT (Information Communication Technology) is the cornerstone for effective instruction, and projects Professor Dede is currently working on such as Alien Contact and The River City Project, are only the tip of the iceberg of what we should be doing with our kids a few years from now. There are many questions in my mind after today, such as "What will assessment look like for situated learning?" "How will we lead parents and educators in making the shift?" "What are my first steps going to be in taking action with the information we are learning?"

In the afternoon, we heard from Professor Sasser. His information was helpful in looking at strategic planning, implementing change, and the role of the leader. One of the things I wished we had talked more about was how to sustain change once it has been implemented.

Penny Tramel

James Oliver: I'm adding room in my toolbelt!

Wow, what an experience! From the time I got to the airport in Austin on Wednesday, I've been in constant communication with some excellent Texas educators as well as others from around this country and beyond. It's amazing how we can all have a common goal, but address it so many different ways. When you talk to those educating kids around the world you really start to see a bigger picture. Some of their school systems have entirely different configurations, and their personnel take on some extremely diverse roles. After much discussion, I can honestly say that I think Texas is ahead of the game in many respects.

I've had several people come to talk to me because they want to know what Texas is doing. That's a great feeling! However that being said, I still see many things that I'm going to take back and implement in my district. Today, we discussed interim assessment and a light bulb came on. I immediately new that thoroughly discussing test results with our students was an area that our district needed to address. I've already got a stack of reminders to digest and implement when I get home. Thanks RYHT for a great opportunity.

James Oliver

Donna Thompson: Grow in Wisdom

This photo captures the purpose of our trip to Harvard with the Art of Leadership conference as sponsored by Raise Your Hand Texas!

One of my colleagues spoke of RYHT and the sponsored trip to Harvard saying, "This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me as a principal." I think all of the Texas principals who entered the gates of Harvard to study about leadership echoed that same sentiment. The leaders and supporters of RYHT demonstrated their belief in us as instructional leaders and their support of the important work we do with the students in Texas public schools. Now, I'm prepared to demonstrate my dedication to my personal mission of preparing my students to lead happy, healthy and productive lives. "If not me, then who?"

Donna R. Thompson, Ed.D.

Margaret Davis: Transformational

The Art of Leadership provided nine amazing days of learning! Each day ended with an hour of group time. I was a member of Group 10.


Our group included educators from 5 states and 1 foreign country, from elementary, middle, and high schools, and from public and private schools. Our schools ranged in size from 200 students to 2000 students. Our locations stretched from New York City to rural Oklahoma to New South Wales, Australia. We were, needless to say, very diverse! From our diversity came the most amazing strength. During Tuesday’s Project Adventure team building exercises, we learned to listen to each other and developed efficiency in our solutions to mutual challenges. I am proud to share that we solved the fulcrum challenge in world record time. We amazed our Project Adventure Leader, Leslie, by only touching the ground one time. We accomplished the task by listening to the expert in our group, the principal with a degree in physics.

As the week progressed, we shared deeply by listening to our Harvard experts and reflecting on how we could apply the learning We focused on both the practical applications, such as having children read their writing out loud, to the deeply philosophical questions, such as our personal mission statement. During our last session, we had to write a word or short phrase that summarized the week. Without collaboration, we used the same language:

• Transformational


• Opportunity of a lifetime


• Passion for children


• Passion, time, focus


• The world depends on what we do.
  

I came to think of the exterior of the magnificent stone churches in Cambridge as a metaphor for our group and for the institute. Churches formed by hundreds of unique stones joined together to create a holy place. I saw us as unique educators joined together to create a holy place where unique children learn and grow.

Thanks to Raise Your Hand Texas, Harvard, and Group 10 for making these last 9 days transformational for me.

Margaret Davis

Donna Thompson: Renewed Determination

One of the key insights I have gained from attending the Art of Leadership conference at Harvard is related to the efficient and productive use of data. In Texas, we often feel like we’re “testing the kids to death”… with pre-tests and benchmarks and practice tests and mastery tests… not to mention the “real” TAKS test. Sometimes teachers ask, “When am I supposed to teach? I’m so busy testing, I don’t have time to teach!” The truth is that, if we’re not making good use of the data generated by that testing to drive and modify instruction, then, at best, we’re providing our students with practice in test-taking skills and exposing them to test format… and at worst, we’re wasting their energy and time as well as our own.

Several of our speakers have challenged us to adopt a structured program of data disaggregation… and then to “teach our teachers” how to understand what the data “says” and how to use that information to modify or determine instruction. This may mean that the teacher has to re-teach students who didn’t understand. Or it may mean that the teacher has to find a different instructional strategy to reach students who didn’t learn the material in the original presentation method. Of course, the data could show that the students have mastered the information at that level and are ready to be challenged to take instruction and learning to higher levels. In any case, the insights drawn from the disaggregation of the data should determine the teacher’s next course of action in the classroom.

I’ve come out of these sessions with new ideas and a renewed determination with regards to data inspection. I will have a focused plan and will train my teachers how to use that data to our greatest advantage in instructing students. An analogy comes to mind. I think of how the Native Americans reportedly found a valid use for every part of the buffalo they harvested from the plains… how they didn’t let even the smallest part of the animal go to waste. We’ve got to become that focused in using the data generated from our instruction and our assessment of students. We’ve got to look at their answers… the ones they got correct and the ones they missed. We got to examine the questions and the format and the content and the level of thinking involved. We’ve got to let data “drive” our instruction… and let it take us down the road to our goal of successful learning for every child.

Donna Thompson

Laurie Norton: Refreshing, Inspiring, and Essential

This morning during my brief walk to the campus I had a moment where it hit me, "I'm in Boston walking to the Graduate School of Education building at HARVARD!" The day began with 168 principals from as far away as South Africa meeting together to hear Dr. Chris Dede, who is on the cutting edge of inventive technology that is revolutionizing the way we connect to how students learn! He is creating MUVE's (multi-user virtual environments) so that students become a part of "real-world" scenarios requiring them to apply scientific knowledge as participants in the environment! He is piloting a project in middle schools where students use their cell phones to solve problems requiring critical reasoning and collaborative problem-solving utilizing math and literacy skills. These programs will track student progress so that teachers can diagnose and analyze individual student learning needs and successes. He made a strong case for redefining the foundational skills that students need for the 21st century. While students must learn foundational skills that lead to further learning, we cannot stop there if we are going to adequately prepare students for the future. I found his presentation refreshing, inspiring, and essential!

Dr. Earl Sasser, a professor in the Graduate School of Business, then presented a fascinating lecture on the leadership of former Police Commissioner of New York City, William Bratton. Bratton significantly reduced the crime rate in NYC through his exceptional leadership skills. Utilizing a case study approach, we examined his style and how he achieved such impressive results through his compelling vision, communication skills, courage, strong relationships, and accountability measures. We discussed what we learned from his experience that we can apply to our roles such as examining our goals to focus on critical tasks, making sure we have the right people in place, a sound strategy, a means to measure our progress, and a systematic way to monitor that progress. We learned that the multiplier effect of having a few highly productive people over more moderately productive people was 1200% per person for a job requiring significantly less complexity than teaching!

After our sessions, we were treated to dinner at the Harvard Faculty Club. We learned that women were not allowed in the Faculty Club until 1965! During dinner, I sat between two principals who did not know each other but were both from Australia. They compared stories about their roles in Australia, and we all talked about the differences between Australia and the U.S. I had to work hard to help them learn to say "dubya" the Texas way!

Everyone I've talked to is in awe that "Raise Your Hand Texas" has made such an incredible investment in Texas educators. I am truly so honored to be here.

Laurie Norton

Diane Parks: An Amazing Experience

Today was our first day in the session. It was an amazing experience to hear Chris Dede discuss emerging technologies and Earl Sasser from the Harvard Business School talk about leadership and change using case studies such as the NYPD. After class, we attended a dinner at the Harvard Faculty Club. This was an amazing experience. I have learned so much in one day from other principals throughout the world and from the presenters at Harvard. I appreciate the opportunity RYHT has given me and I hope to be able to share my knowledge with other principals in Texas!

Diane Parks

Pictures From Redesigning High Schools

Kay Merseth, Director, Teacher Education Program; Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education and Mr. Joe Arangio

Michael Clyde in front of the Currier House Dormitory

Classroom on the Harvard campus at the Episcopal Divinity School

Cyndy Mika: Listen Reflectively

Today’s morning session was on the topic “Using Writing to Improve Achievement” by John Collins. I think the most important concept I took from him are the three characteristics of an effective leader:

1. Feeling: all effective leaders feel passion about what they are doing
2. Time: all effective leaders put in a long day and work in the career a long time
3. Focus: all effective leaders have a focus and do not waver from that focus

An interesting point Collins made was that if you are a leader with the characteristics of felling and time, but without focus, you are merely a workaholic. This drives home the importance of having focus. Knowing where you need to go and writing a plan to get the institute there together.

Additionally, Collins gave us strategies to improve writing across the curriculum, in particular 5 types of writing that we can do in the classrooms, in professional development, and in our own reflection time.

This afternoon’s session was very thought provoking. Barry Jentz met with us regarding “Communicating to Improve Performance”. This topic dealt mainly with our ability to listen to negative feedback about our performance, particularly from those who work for us. Although it is difficult, we often listen and take to heart feedback from our bosses and make changes from those, but it is extremely difficult for us to listen to feedback from our teachers and staff. In fact, we often turn the problem back on to them and try to fix them. This can lead to a negative culture in the school in which the leader is unapproachable. We have to do more than just be managers if we are in the business of improving schools. We have to be learners, especially when we are getting feedback from others about our performance. We need to learn to listen reflectively instead of reflexively.

Cyndy Mika

Cathy Berryhill: Raising Our Hands

Attached is a picture of the principals from Texas who attended the Institute for “Redesigning High Schools for Improved Instruction” last week at Harvard. We are all “raising our hands” in tribute to the “Raise Your Hand Texas” organization who so generously and graciously provided us with this once in a lifetime experience. Also in the front and center of our photo is Dr. Kay Merseth, Director, Teacher Education Program; Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education. At our last meeting together on our last day of instruction, Kay told us not to forget that as educators we are truly doing “God’s work”. This put the institute and our life work into perspective.

It is difficult to encapsulate six days of learning into a short blog but at this time I want to say “Thank You” to those who had the vision to send principals to Harvard. I have been challenged and honored and my plans for my school and my district (University of Texas at Austin Charter School District) have been inspired by the Harvard faculty and the Raise Your Hand Texas organization. Kay Merseth talked to me after the Institute and said she would like to come to Texas and call it “Harvard Comes to Texas”! I’ve passed this information on to Anne Foster and they are going to work on this powerful event to have our beloved Harvard professors come see us in our own backyard! Thank you RYHT!

Cathy Berryhill

Linda Cronenberg: Forward Looking

This has been a wonderful opportunity to participate in the finest arena of educational research and knowledge in the world. While at times I feel affirmed, at other times I share an "aha" moment with my colleagues. To hear an expert espouse your vision, mission, and strategies for organizational improvement is powerful. At all times we are challenged to apply the learning to our own situations. Networking and conversing with people from all over the United States and the globe has given all of us a chance to stretch. Thanks to all of the forward-looking, global thinkers that organized and contribute to Raise Your Hand Texas, for sending the Texas contingency. I applaud your plan for creating better Texas public schools.

Linda L. Cronenberg

Barbara Ponder: Amazing Memories

Here is another update from Harvard along with a picture. As we were sight-seeing on the 4th of July, we ran across "Ben Franklin" the Boston Marketplace. Pictured from left to right are: Bob Atteberry (Humble ISD), Barbara Ponder (Barbers Hill ISD), Kathy Robinson (Midland ISD), Beth Dow (Lamar Consolidated ISD).

The Leadership Conference is wonderful.......I can't imagine a better Professional Development opportunity. So far, we have heard a total of 10 lecturers who have spoken on a variety of topics (school culture, student learning, curriculum integration, teacher leadership, communicating to improve performance.....and more). There are so many great discussions, ideas and opportunities to develop new leadership tools. Needless to say, my brain is swimming with information. I have filled half of a spiral notebook with lecture notes and journal reflections. It will be interesting to categorize and sort through everything when I return home. Several of the RYHT participants are already working together to create outlines for presentations back at our home districts. I have become friends with so many campus leaders from Texas as well as across the country. In visiting with administrators from other states, it is clear that we are doing a lot of things right in Texas as we address the importance of using data to make instructional decisions, address the issues of accountability, and look for ways to promote Professional Learning Communities on our campuses. Once again, my thanks to the members of RYHT for providing me with such an incredible opportunity to grow as a campus leader.

On another note......I have always thought that I would be hard-pressed to find a place that could "out-do" Texas on ANYTHING.....however, attending the 4th of July Festivities on the Esplanade at Boston Commons has definitely dispelled that belief. Spending our national holiday in this historical city......the birthplace of freedom, was phenomenal! We had a wonderful time as we joined the 500,000 revelers listening to the Boston Pops play patriotic songs (no one plays the "Stars and Stripes Forever" better), and listening to one of my favorite groups.....Rascal Flatts!!! To top off the evening, we watched an amazing fireworks display over the Charles River. The river was filled with boats watching the display......it was a sight to behold. I don't know if I will ever have the opportunity to be here again on the 4th of July, but I definitely have some amazing memories that I will cherish forever.

Barbara Ponder

Rich DuBroc: Harvard Experience

I just returned to my home from the incredible Harvard Experience. This week will go down as one of the most intense and academically rewarding experiences of my life. The presenters and facilitators at the Institute were top notch and the participation of the RYHT group was noticed and appreciated by all. My concern coming into the Institute was whether or not we would be able to take what we learn at Harvard and apply it to our schools as Practitioners. The first day answered my concern and not a day went by that we did not receive valuable and applicable information for our campuses.

Words cannot express how thankful I am to RYHT Texas for giving us this chance to go through this program and study with some of the greatest minds our nation has to offer. The opportunity to hear from and engage the likes of Elmore, Merseth, and Kegan was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity and almost surreal. The dialogue between Principals from all over the country was both enlightening and encouraging for all of us. I will value this experience for years to come and once again want to thank all those who made this opportunity attainable to someone who otherwise would have never been able to attend Harvard.

Rich DuBroc

Julie Storer: The Closers

So, we're done! This incredible week ended with a grand finale of one hour spent with Ted and Nancy Sizer - the founders of The Coalition of Essential Schools. He is professor emeritus at Brown University and they have spent 30 years changing schools in America...and they're still going. We submitted questions thru the week and today had them answered with a very informal Q & A that followed. The amount of respect and appreciation they are due was made apparent by the standing ovations both at their introductions and when the session was over.

Our final activity was to take a period of time reflecting, then we composed a letter to ourselves that the HGSE will mail sometime in the fall. I wrote my as though I were a colleague who had also attended the Institute and mentioned all the plans I have for applying what I've learned this week. I'm interested in how it will feel to get the letter in several months and see that there are already positive changes on my campus in student learning.

After saying goodbye we went our separate ways - I spent the afternoon wandering thru Harvard Yard one final time. Then I took the T to Boston Commons and took advantage of one final afternoon in Massachussets by running the Freedom Trail all the way to the end at Bunker Hill.

I can't thank Raise Your Hand Texas enough for the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the Harvard Leadership Institute for Redesigning High Schools. We were all very proud to tell our colleagues from all over the US, Ireland and Australia about the organization that is so dedicated to improving schools that they would send 100 of us to Harvard. I can say without reservation that the group of dedicated professionals from Texas that I had the honor to work with this week represented our state with pride. With our schools in the hands of this quality group of educators the future is bright!

Julie Storer

Terri Chidgey: Intellectual Opportunity

My time here at Harvard has been one of the most enriching educational experiences I have ever participated in. The speakers have been extraordinary. Today, we heard from Jeff Howard who presented his work on efficacy. His process of assessment, reviewing the data, formulating feedback about the patterns in what students did well and where they need improvement, and then developing strategies to address the feedback caused me to examine our process. Part of his presentation focused on the importance of children having confidence that they can learn combined with effective effort resulting in student development. As educators it is our job to build their confidence level. He was inspiring!

A bonus to this intellectual opportunity has been meeting the brilliant participants attending the principals' center with me. Hearing about the unique and different school settings we have across our nation and abroad has been fascinating.

I am eternally grateful to Raise Your Hand Texas for providing me with this rich opportunity. The accommodations have been wonderful!

Terri Chidgey

Donna Thompson: Off the Chart

My participation in the Art of Leadership Institute at Harvard has exceeded my expectations! The speakers on Monday were incredible. Roland Barth's presentation gave me new insight into the conditions that engender learning. I can apply this knowledge to my own learning as well as that of my faculty. Tuesday, I participated in Project Adventure, a physical challenge course and set of team-building exercises. It was amazing! Again, I learned so much that I can take back to my campus and use in my work there. Today's speaker, Jeff Howard, brought a message that confronted us with uncomfortable truth regarding our perceptions of student and faculty potential. As Dr. Barth would say, my learning curve is "off the chart!"

Dr. Donna Thompson

Yolanda Larkin: A Student Again

What a magnificent learning experience I am having at the Harvard Art of Leadership Conference! I want to say "Thank You" to the Raise Your Hand, Texas organization for giving me the opportunity to come to Harvard and participate in such an enlightening event.

I have learned many things during the past three days, but the following quote from Ronald Barth really made an impact, "We learn from our experience, if we reflect on our experience". The presenters have provided me with plenty of interesting constructs to reflect on in the days ahead, and I hope to organize all their pearls of wisdom into meaningful practices for my students, my teachers, and myself. I have rediscovered that "thinking" is hard work, but that all the effort it requires is well worth it. Slipping back into the role of student has been a most enjoyable experience and I am looking forward the days ahead.

Another great part of this experience has been the opportunity to meet and discuss educational issues with professionals from all over the U.S. and even from foreign countries, such as Egypt, Australia and India. It is fascinating to learn about educational processes happening in other corners of the world and compare their practices to those of the United States.

Yolanda Larkin

Cyndy Mika: An Inspired Day at Harvard

Today was an inspirational day at Harvard. In the morning we had a wonderful time spent with Jeffrey Howard from the Efficacy Institute. I think the things that has come back to me as I have reflected the time with Jeffrey Howard is the idea that it is the teachers job to move students to proficiency and the principal's job to move teachers towards proficiency. Teacher proficiency (or adult proficiency) is the demonstrated capacity to move students in a school to academic proficiency and a strong character. Administrator Proficiency is the demonstrated capacity to advance the proficiency of other adults in a school. In order for an administrator to accomplish this we must utilize leadership skills and clarity about our mission to create professional learning environments for the adults in our buildings while empowering them to mobilize the students towards proficiency of the academic targets.

Kitty Boles in the afternoon gave us practice with powerful tools in order to help us develop our teachers as leaders and thus moving them towards proficiency: Rounds, Lesson Study, and Teacher Action Research. I am most interested in Rounds and plan to implement this next year upon return to my campus. Rounds is a strategy used in the medical profession as they are teaching their interns about practicing medicine. At the school level I can see this being used for very specific goals such as morning bell work, transition time, guided math, small group reading, center time, etc... as new (or experienced) teachers lacking a specific skill can make rounds with specific things to look for. This group making rounds would need to be afforded the opportunity to reflect upon what they saw with a facilitator of the rounds.

In the past few days i have seen two great technologies that i would love to have on my campus.... A tablet notebook computer for interactive powerpoints and the Turning Technologies Response Cards that allow the participants to vote or choose multiple choice answers which are then translated into bar graphs of the response immediately within the Power Point. I could see great applications of these two technologies at the campus level. It is fabulous that the Harvard professors are not only infusing us with new ideas but are adept at the most recent technological advances and are able to demonstrate these for us.

Cyndy A. Mika

Cyndy Mika: Adventures at Project Adventure

Today was a fabulous day spent at Project Adventure located in Beverly, MA. The name is apropos as it was truly an adventure. Yesterday with Bob Kegan we were continulously told to leave the "comfortable bedchambers of our minds" and today I can say I truly left that and every comfort zone I have. I think that is what made it such a great day! I can ruly say I learned to trust my teammates today as we were challenged to go up on the high wire with a belay team below to hold our rope if we fell off (when we fell off is more like it!).

The high challenge course I went on was one in which we went up with a partner, each of us standing on our own wire parallel to each other. As we traversed further from the pole using each other to steady ourselves, the wires slowly got wider apart! We definitely had to trust the guy we were up there with!

Over and over the different challenges we faced today challenged me mentally, emotionally, and physically. Today I experienced continuous improvement, trust, thinking outside the box, and much more.

I truly appreciate the opportunity to participate in this wonderful event! Thank you for the chance to fulfill a life's dream and study at Harvard.

Cyndy A. Mika

Sara Bonser: An Awakening

It is a rather humbling and overwhelming feeling to be studying school improvement at a campus such as Harvard. It is a perfect example of what high expectations can do to improve student performance—even for a campus principal. Since arriving four days ago, it is amazing that we have read hundreds of pages of research, case studies, and revision after revision of a problem statement we are trying to solve and wake up eager to learn more every day.

The classroom atmosphere has been lively, engaging and thought provoking. If only all classrooms could be as interesting and motivating. If only all students would wish to do the work involved for the sake of learning rather than because it is required. In the world of education, this principal has had an “awakening” of what the classroom is intended to do: motivate, engage, inspire and instruct. Each task that we are assigned has a purpose and is intended to make us work and think. There are no easy answers. I believe that this experience has helped in the most ultimate way: we have learned that without the study and focus of instructional practice, no amount of resource, great teachers, or professional development will prepare our students for their lives in the 21st Century.

In the standards-based society that we are living in, we have placed a burden on an educational system that was never designed to meet such a demand. In addition, we have not reciprocally responded with a measure of support for our teachers and students to help them meet these standards-based demands. The accountability system has a place in drawing attention to groups of students that have been under-served by our system, however, it should not set the bar for student achievement. Our students will need much more knowledge and skill to maintain a standard of living in their lives and the lives of their children. In order to attain the ability to compete in the world market, our children must exceed “standard expectations” and be prepared to function in a world where they will solve problems, out-think computers, and “out-people” out-sourced jobs. There will be jobs in America for our children, the questions are, will they be ready for those jobs and are our schools currently designed to meet the needs of the jobs that will be available? To answer those questions, we must take a closer look at what happens behind the doors of the school and more importantly, behind the doors of the classrooms.

One of the first things you might notice in today’s classroom is a lack of student engagement. In fact, it is one of the most common things you hear from teachers today: “Students these days just don’t care, don’t do the work or are just plain lazy.” Whatever the explanation, it cannot allow us to shift responsibility from the classroom to outside factors. We are the professionals and we are responsible for the education of the student, whatever the circumstances—much like a doctor is when we enter their doors for medical treatment. Students’ expectations of what is “interesting” to them have changed. Teachers are competing with video games, cable television, and internet, which have captured students’ attention almost without effort. These things have changed the nature of “teaching.” No longer is it possible for a teacher to stand and teach and for a student to sit and passively accept information and knowledge. We must ask, “What are we asking students to do with the knowledge and information we give them?” It is the transfer of agency in the classroom from the teacher to the student that will have an impact on the student and create the student engagement teachers crave more than anything in their classroom! In order to achieve this level of student engagement, it is necessary for teachers to give up some control to the students and put them in charge of their learning. It is a place many teachers are reluctant to go and a place that administrators fear pressing on in light of teacher retention issues. The price for not engaging students is our students’ (and our) futures.

Certainly it will be necessary to engage teachers in the most effective professional development possible. While learning from the experts, attending workshops and reading “expert information” is worthwhile, only about 10% of this information is retained or put into practice “after the workshop.” The further away from the classroom that professional development occurs, the less likely it is to have a direct impact on student achievement. Much to the dismay of many professional development “circuit” speakers, the key to true professional learning actually lies within each school itself. It costs little and is the foundation of a professional learning community. When teachers can observe, describe and reflect on their teaching and the teaching of others in their building with their colleagues, the language of teaching emerges and authentic professional learning can emerge.

While we are all in search of the “magic bullet” for school improvement or high school redesign, the answer for our schools does not lie in the structures that we build or the programs that we fund. The answer to true reform is the reform that takes place within each teacher and within each classroom in our high school. When we understand that school reform is about instructional practices, only then will we begin to truly prepare our students for the future they will face in a world we cannot begin to describe.

Sara Bonser

Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership

RYHT Group Photo / Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership

Julie Storer: Improving Leadership Skills

The last two days have been so full it's hard to keep track of all we've done, but I've tried to reflect on my notes at the end of each day to make sure it all sinks in...on Monday we started with our first small group discussion of our problem statements that we are here at the Institute to work on. Then we spent the morning session with another powerful presentation by Richard Elmore on Organizing for Improvement. After the break we met with Ron Ferguson of MIT and founder of The Tripod Project for School Improvement. He addressed the imperative nature of considering content, pedagogy and relationships equally to affect school improvement. The final session was our first "case" discussion as a group in which we took an actual problem statement of a former Institute participant and evaluated it in paired groups, then as a whole. This was led by Kay Merseth and she relentlessly challenged us to apply all that we had studied to this point in framing our solutions.

The early discussion today helped us to break our problem statements down even further as we prepare to present them for our Model Consultation session tomorrow. The first morning session turned the focus on us as we worked with Robert Kegan, the Meehan Professor of Adult Learning and Professional Development at Harvard GSE. He directed us as we examined our own "immunity to change" - from the discussion after his presentation this seemed to be one of the most powerful areas we have addressed from the standpoint of improving our own leadership skills even as we work to improve the academic skills of our students. After a second case presentation led by Kay we listened to Frank Levy (MIT) as he gave us the econimist's view of How Computers and Offshoring are Changing Job Skill Requirements. We finished up with one final brief session on revising our problem statements in light of today's new information.

In addition to the presentations from the incredible Institute staff I have gained significant insight in the follow-up conversations with other participants just walking to lunch and visiting after the sessions. The diversity of the group would make you think that we all have different problems, but what it comes down to is improving student performance by improving instructional practice and I think that is where we will spend most of our time for the remainder of the Institute.

Julie Storer

Barbara Ponder: Greetings from Massachusetts

Greetings from Massachusetts! I arrived yesterday at noon and quickly met 3 other principals from Texas at the airport. We shared a taxi to our hotel and made plans to meet for lunch. We didn't have any classes yesterday, so we ventured out to see the area. We got on the subway and rode into Boston (Harvard is in Cambridge.......just across the river). We went to some historical sites, walked on part of the Freedom Trail, and enjoyed the beautiful weather. I don't know if these Bostonians know what to think about 30 Texans invading their "domain". The fact that the Astros took 2 out of 3 from the Red Sox probably didn't endear us to any of them.......though all of us where jazzed!

Today was fantastic as we began our conference. We started class at 7:30 this morning and finished at 5:15. There are nearly 200 participants in the conference. My partner during the activities this afternoon was from London, England. There are principals from New Zealand, Egypt, India, and China, as well as principals from 24 states! We heard two incredible speakers today and I already have some great ideas to share with with my staff and other district administrators when I return. We had a lovely dinner at the Harvard Faculty Club this evening. Tomorrow we are off to "Project Adventure" a team-building course about an hour outside of Boston.

We have been treated so well by everyone, and the arrangements made by RYHT are first rate! The opportunity to attend this conference is an incredible experience......and we are only through day one. I am so honored to be part of this professional development opportunity and a member of the RYHT Team. I look forward to sharing more experiences through the Blog as the week progresses.

Barbara Ponder

Julie Storer: Powerful Teaching and Learning

An incredibly full day today and not even really "full" by Summer Insititue standards...we didn't start until 10:45am to allow for folks to attend Church or get a more leisurely start to the day than we will have the remainder of the week. I took advantage of some of the time to stick with my fitness goals and go for a run. Memorial Drive is closed to all but resident traffic on Sunday's in the summer, so I joined what must have been hundreds of folks on the street or adjacent paths and made my way in a loop that took me across the Charles River and back into Harvard Square. Then it was on to class where we worked with only limited breaks for lunch and dinner and did not finish with our final small-group discussion until 8pm.

We started with Powerful Teaching and Learning - what intrigued me most in the pre-reading last night as well as in the discussion today was the work of Carol Dweck on "Mindset Theory." This examines the impact of student mindsets - either fixed or growth - on their ability to succeed in the classroom. The question was raised "How do we instill a growth mindset in students at an early age to help them develop into confident learners in the face of the challenges of secondary and post-secondary school?

Then the highly regarded Richard Elmore (author, researcher, teacher - considered one of the top ten most influential people in education in the country) took over for the first of a three-part seminar on Introduction to Redesign. The data he presented was startling and presented a fairly bleak picture of the state of our current education system. In the research he presented data showed in the last ten years that as more academic courses have been offered for high school students we have:

1. less students meeting national standards for performance
2. less students graduating in four years from high school
3. more students taking remedial classes in college, and
4. less students staying in and earning their 2 and 4 year degrees.

He gave additional data on the increase in student acheivement at the elementary grades in the past 8-10 years paired with a significant drop-off beginning in middle school. Then arguably the most compelling data was a study that found that what class a student was in for a particular course (i.e. what teacher they had) had as much a 6 times the greater impact on students academic gains than what school they attended. This helped to lead us up to Part 2 and 3 tomorrow which are Improving the Technical Core of Instruction and Organinzing for Improvement.

We met with our small groups and facilitator after dinner for the first time and began discussioning our individual problem statements. I was not alone in feeling as though I could already make very meaningful changes in my problem based on what I have learned in just 1-1/2 days.

Julie Storer

Mike Goddard: Understanding Quality Education

I woke up early this Cambridge, MA morning to a significant amount of fog and overcast. Later in the day the fog lifted, the clouds dissipated and the sun began to shine. Little did I know that was symbolic of how my day at the Harvard Principal Institute would replicate that same pattern in my thinking and perspective.

Much of the day today was dedicated to the necessity to define and understand quality instruction. Not only the level of quality instruction, but in making sure you and your campus have a common language regarding quality instruction. You know it theoretically, but until you practice it and you fully recognize the lens that you see through, you can make no progress forward.

This afternoon Richard Elmore led us through data that showed the necessity for a sense of urgency in the way we are educating our students. One critical point that was drawn from our discussion was: are we an institution that of educational subtraction (meaning does our students intellectual capacity actually digress over time or remain stagnate) or are we adding to the value of the students educational experience.

It is critical that we "confront the brutal facts", as Jim Collins says in Good to Great . The facts on a national scale, a state scale, a district scale and at the most impactful level our own campus level.

Michael Goddard

Julie Storer: An Incredible Day

An incredible day! I started off with breakfast at Creme' on Harvard Square, then headed out again to find Currier House and our classrooms. This time I was successful and I got checked in with time to spare, which I used to finish up on my pre-reading assignment. Other participants began to trickle in, then by 1:30pm we headed as a group to the EDS for the opening session. Dr. Kay Merseth of the Harvard Graduate School of Education welcomed us, gave some background on the group (participants from Connecticut to California, Minnesota to Texas, as well as Ireland and Australia; all sizes of schools and all administrative positions as well as classroom teachers) and introduced keynote speaker and former Harvard professor Paul Reville, who will take the reins as Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth of Massachusets in two days (he's been interim for a couple of months).

He spoke on the politics of reform using Massachusetts as a case study. The statement that I found most profound was his analogy of school being a 100-meter dash: he said our current accountability system puts the finish line the same for all students, yet in reality some (the "low performers") start 50 meters behind the finish line and others (the "gifted" students) start 50-meters ahead. We expect them all to finish together at the same time. He also said that if we applied our current education practice in the medical field it would be like having a hospital where everyone we admitted had different diagnoses, but were given the same treatment. Would we expect our success rate in that setting to be very high?

Then James Nehring (Graduate School of Education at U-Mass) facilitated some small group work in which we began the process of refining the problem statement we had submitted as part of our pre-institute requirements. This was our first opportunity to interact and in our group from Texas (2), Connecticut and Australia we found common themes in spite of the diversity in our school settings -- concerns about improving the rigor of instruction in all classes, increasing the motivation of our students to achieve and preparing all students with 21st century skills to be successful post-secondary and competitive in a global market. My problem focused on increasing rigor with improved instruction and assessing the relevance of activities or "homework". From the work we did today I can already see I have some changes to make - we were encouraged to refine the problem throughout the week and I think most of us have already started!

We ended today's session with a reception and dinner back at Currier, then I came in here to the dorm computer lab to write these reflections on the day. Unbelievably I have already -- in 8 hours -- collaborated with educators from New York, Connecticut, Texas, Massachusetts, Arizona, California and Australia.

Julie Storer

Julie Storer: Johnson City to Cambridge

I got two hours of sleep last night after staying up to put the final touches on my Campus Improvement Plan and Student Handbook. Both were due yesterday, but with the last-minute interviews, hiring, even a two-day tech training I had scheduled myself to facilitate before my acceptance into the RYHT Leadership Program, the drafts I presented in our administrators meeting were extremely rough. I sent the last email to my secretary with a list of work that needed to be done in my absence at about 2:30am, paid the bills online that would be due while I'm gone and then crashed until the alarm went off at 5am.

Luckily my husband was driving me into the city to catch my plane and I was at my gate with a breakfast taco and coffee with 30 minutes to spare. I used the time to call my friend and co-worker (my bosses' secretary) and thank her for the sandwich she had bought me for lunch yesterday that I ate for dinner around 6 last night -- so much for visiting over lunch! The last thing I did before I turned off my phone to board was to text my boss -- Superintendent David Shanley -- just a quick "I'm off - thanks for letting me go!"

I spent the time in flight reviewing the pre-institute materials and getting more and more enthused about the upcoming week. I had put off the pre-reading assignments just because I had so many loose ends to tie up on campus before leaving, so I read thru the articles and started on Elmore's School Reform from the Inside Out.

On arriving in Boston I got my bags, then decided to make the most of the whole Cambridge experience (quite a different setting from Johnson City, Texas) so I found a schedule and map for the T, hopped on the airport shuttle to the Government Springs station and successfully navigated transitions from the Blue Line to the Green Line to the Red Line which put me on the front steps of the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square. I checked in, got into my running gear and set out to locate the Currier House Dormitory, our general meeting place for the Institute, and the Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) where most of our classes are to be held. I ended seeing most of Cambridge, although never found what I was looking for. I enjoyed the workout, the delicious deli sandwich I bought on the way back, and the beautiful architechture of the city, but returned to The Charles unsure of where I needed to go in the morning for registration.

Julie Storer