There are series on Netflix that I like to watch over and over again. 'The Crown', 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air', 'Modern Family' and 'The Last Dance'. The drama, the scandal, the comedy, the journey are just some of factors that I find attractive about each series. In particular 'The Last Dance' - a 10 part-documentary that follows the career of Michael Jordan and the last season he played with the Chicago Bulls (1997-1998) is a series that I have on rerun. The series follows the entire team as they go into their last successful campaign in the late nineties. Michael Jordan is the focus in the series, documenting the 'Jordan phenomenon' as well the team players and other associates who were part of the dream team. An aspect of the series that I was really drawn to was the leadership and direction of the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, Phil Jackson. Coach Jackson coached the Bulls from 1989-1998 and for each season he would use a theme or a concept to help drive his leadership. The theme would include the different plays and strategies that he would implement in the team but more importantly the theme would focus on the culture of the team. For his last season he used the concept of 'The Last Dance'. "I talked to the players about particularly how important it was for us to really be together in this last run that we were going to have,” Jackson said. “So I called it The Last Dance." (Sports Chicago 2020). This concept was adopted into the team dynamic, driving the team to really work together and to give their best in their last season with coach Jackson.
The 'behind-the-scenes' interviews and footage that ESPN captured during the 1997 season highlighted the mass appeal of Michael Jordan but moreso the leadership of coach Jackson. He believed that everyone brought something special to the team and that the team culture was just as if not more important than the results, the championship. Winning was a bonus, the focus was to create a momentum and dynamic in the team that allowed everyone to contribute and succeed together.
The most recent lockdown has been much easier than the first. What we learnt from the first time has now been reviewed and the approach to find a balance between work and family has been the focus. The English Department have met regularly in the last two weeks, focusing particularly on the achievement for our NCEA Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 English students. Part of unpacking the achievement data is to review and reflect on the areas that need attention as well as celebrating the wins. We could easily focus on the victories that each cohort has shown in their achievement shift - which is a huge testament to the team and the work and commitment to their students. But we also know that our job is not done yet and that we need to understand WHO is not achieving, WHY are they not achieving and WHAT can we do to help. In the first lockdown during Term 2, this was a the immediate response to the data analysis. We identified the students who were at risk of achieving and then unpacked why. This was a vital part of the process as we had to take time to figure out the bigger picture for the student and see what we could do to support them. This approach was taken up again when we went into lockdown in Term 3. This approach has worked for the English Department in that it highlights the student's needs and it empowers us to think about our position and what we can do to support our learners.
As we enter the last leg of 2020, our 'last dance' with our senior learners for the 2020 season - I am confident and super grateful that our team are committed to pushing through with our learners especially those who are underachieving. The approach is about facing the truth, designing a plan to move forward and taking the necessary steps to action it. Like the mindset of coach Jackson, our focus is about the work and the effort to try and minimize failure. It is about getting the team of teachers on board and to talk about what is going on. Building a culture in the team that is grounded in trust and respect. We certainly enjoy the wins and understand the work and time required, for that we are grateful to our department. It has certainly been an interesting learning journey and season for all learners in New Zealand. My hope is that all educators can use their position as leverage to build collaboration and work ethic not just within their classes but also with their colleagues.
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