Leading Change in High Priority Schools

Michigan Department of Education, Office of School Improvement Hosts Seminar for High Priority School Leaders

by Linda Wacyk, Communication Specialist

“Raising achievement is a lot harder than legislators think it is,” said speaker and author Elaine McEwan. “They have every right to hold us accountable, but it is a very difficult endeavor.”

The school leaders in McEwan’s audience applauded their agreement and murmured relief at hearing—out loud—a truth they live every day. After all, these were the principals charged with leading Michigan’s high priority schools—schools that have not made adequate yearly progress. In her keynote address, McEwan challenged principals to set high expectations—for themselves, their staff, their students, and their communities.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Office of School Improvement invited McEwan to Michigan April 27-28, 2004, to meet with principals and other school leaders from high priority schools. The event, “Putting the Pieces Together: Leading for Achievement in High Priority Schools,” was sponsored by the MDE’s Partnership for Success program. McEwan had caught the attention of MDE’s Office of School Improvement Director and former Partnership for Success Director Dr. Yvonne Caamal Canul last year.

“I read McEwan’s book 7 Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership and said ‘this is the book we need,’” Caamal Canul said. She ordered copies of the book for each high priority school and invited McEwan, a former principal and assistant superintendent, to come to Michigan.

“The principal is the leader and the key to school success,” McEwan said. “The principal must provide the vision, the energy, and the direction.” She then outlined what she believes to be the seven steps to effective instructional leadership:

1. Expect teachers to teach state standards and expect students to master them. Principals must become experts at gathering and using data to evaluate and plan for improvement.
   
2. Expect teachers to constantly improve how and what they teach: daily, monthly, and yearly. McEwan urges principals to monitor the effectiveness of their curriculum and instruction and visit classrooms regularly to see where teachers need help.
   
3. Expect students, staff, and parents to create a climate conducive to learning. This means students behave with respect and work hard, teachers make the best use of time, and everyone communicates high expectations.
   
4. Expect everyone to communicate openly and respectfully. McEwan pointed to a recent survey that shows parents don’t feel schools work hard enough to communicate with them in meaningful ways. According to McEwan, this means that everyone in the community must know—really know—the vision and mission of the school.
   
5. Expect the very best from every student and every teacher. This means principals should visit every classroom at least once a week and work with teachers to set goals and evaluate progress.
   
6. Expect teachers to work together in a learning community. Motivate and encourage teachers to engage in collaboration and professional growth.
   
7. Expect everyone—including yourself—to be positive, upbeat problem solvers. This requires strong communication and human relations skills.

After McEwan’s speech, principals and other attendees put in a full day of workshops focusing on team building, problem solving, curriculum, and leadership. They also learned more about a full range of state services available to help them in their school improvement efforts, including coaches, school improvement strategies, and data management tools. The group seemed energized by all they heard. They asked questions, gathered information, and polled their peers for ideas that work. McEwan, for one, was impressed.

“This is just an amazing group of educators,” McEwan said at the end of Monday’s workshops. “I’m so impressed with their wisdom and their passion.”

For more information, contact: Elaine McEwan Ed.D., The McEwan-Adkins Group, 10140 N. Alder Spring Dr., Oro Valley, AZ 85737-9494, (520) 544-4088 (voice), (520) 544-8764 fax or Yvonne Caamal Canul, Director, Office of School Improvement, Michigan Department of Education, P.O. Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48909, (517) 335-3401, Canuly@michigan.gov.

Learn more about Elaine McEwan’s books and workshops at www.elainemcewan.com.

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