Student Centered Leadership - Going further.

Our 'Why':

Revisiting our 'why' is important when you are working on making your leadership more centered around students' needs. As a department, our 'why' is focusing on the students we care for. They are the participants and benefactors of our work as leaders and teachers. 

Our 'What':

The collective goal for the English department this term is to accelerate the achievement of Year 11 students. Here a few questions that helped me reflect on what my colleague, Ms Amber George and I have achieved with the department so far with our Year 11 students. 

• What was your deliberate act of leadership? Following up with the department, being more visiable to the students, talking with the students and having restorative conversations. 
• What was the outcome? Credit shift (gaining more credits through intervention), there is a long way to go but the improvement promising. 
• What did you learn? To be patient with the process, to fix what is not working straight away and the importance of clarity in communicating our expectations to the department. 

Student Voice (What the young people are saying): 

The students' were able to share their thoughts on what they want from their teachers. 

The findings is a result from conversations that were held with senior students (Year 11, 12 and 13). This is some of their responses:

• Listen to what we want to achieve 
• Push us to get endorsements
• Know our skill set and abilities 
• Comfortable environment 
• Make our parents proud 
• Fun work
• Don't talk a lot
• Explain what we need to do to get merit and excellence
• Slow down and explain 
• Respectful environment

Critical Perspective: 

Barbara Alaalatoa (Principal of Sylvia Park School) states that “Teachers who are connected to and know the students deeply”, “Authentically build their teaching practice around the student”, “Committed to learning about their craft and their learners” and “They make no assumptions about the learners in front of them”

The Bigger Picture: 

Viviane Robinson states "The more leaders focus on their relationships, their work, and their learning on the core business of teaching and learning, the greater their influence on student outcomes." When thinking about the bigger picture with student centered leadership, I have learnt that one of the core jobs of a middle leader is to lead the learning of the department. As middle leaders it is vital that we help to translate teaching practice into the classroom and ultimately effect and influence the team and students. 

What does effective teaching look like?

Effective teaching is collaboration with colleagues, strength based learning with a focus on students needs. The relationship with the student is an integral part in effective teaching. 

It is a commitment to the student, I believe that when you are committed to the student then you are open to change, learning, evolving and not staying static.