A Principal on Leadership for a Turnaround School – Part 1 – Podcast Episode 168 | Classnotes Podcast 168

Dr Nilka Aviles, Ed.D.Classnotes Podcast (December 2, 2016) The school principal lays the critical foundation for an effective school. Not surprisingly, research shows that there is an empirical correlation between the quality of school leadership and greater student achievement. It’s a tough job. IDRA’s STAARS Leaders project has been guiding principals in San Antonio to view their work through a social justice lens by cultivating leadership competencies that lead to successful outcomes for all students, as described by the Chicago Public Education Fund. In this episode, Principal Gregory Rivers describes how he has brought these competencies to life in his school.

In Part 1, he focuses on competencies of talent management, connecting with students and families, measurement and using data, serving English learners and influencing for results.

Gregory is interviewed Nilka Avilés, Ed.D., an IDRA senior education associate and director of IDRA’s STAARS Leaders project.

Show length: 20:01

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Related Resources

Fostering Excellence through Social Justice Principles in Schools Serving English Learners
by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/resource-center/fostering-excellence-social-justice-principles-schools-serving-english-learners/

School Turnaround Leaders: Competencies for Success
Chicago Public Education Fund
http://www.publicimpact.com/publications/Turnaround_Leader_Competencies.pdf

What Every Principal Needs to Know to Create Equitable and Excellent Schools, First edition
by George Theoharis & Jeffrey S. Brooks, Teachers College Press, Columbia University, 2012
https://www.amazon.com/Principal-Create-Equitable-Excellent-Schools/dp/080775353X

Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty: Strategies for Erasing the Opportunity Gap 
by Paul Gorski, 2013
http://nsrf.iuserveit.org/sites/default/files/2013.Nov_.Connections.Book%20ReviewReachingAndTeaching.pdf

The New Meaning of Educational Change, Fifth edition
by Michael Fullan, New York, NY Teachers College, Columbia University, 2016
https://www.amazon.com/New-Meaning-Educational-Change-Fifth/dp/0807756806

“Leaders Turn Around Schools – Transformational Equity Focus Makes College Readiness a Priority,” 
by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/March_2016_College_Preparedness/Leaders_Turn_Around_Schools/

“What a Principal Can Do to Create a College-Going Culture,” 
by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/March_2011_Governance_Efficacy/What_a_Principal_Can_Do_to_Create_a_College-Going_Culture/

Courage to Connect: A Quality Schools Action Framework
edited by María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, Ph.D., & Christie L. Goodman, APR, IDRA, 2010
http://www.idra.org/couragetoconnect/

Video: Contagious College-Going Culture in Elementary School, Interview with Principal Rebecca Sánchez
http://youtu.be/y6mxAblPSac

“Professional Development in the 21st Century – Nine Structures for Coaching and Mentoring,” 
by Juanita C. García, Ph.D., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/February_2012_Teaching_Quality/Professional_Development_in_the_21st_Century/

“Community Engagement Tool for Educators,” 
by Rosana G. Rodríguez, Ph.D., Juanita C. García, Ph.D., and Abelardo Villarreal, Ph.D., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/September_2011_Teaching_Quality/Community_Engagement_Tool_for_Educators/

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Show Notes

  • Greg gives an overview of his professional background, and shares how Ball Academy was formed.

  • Greg outlines the key competencies that leaders need to drive successful academic results.

  • Greg discusses the importance of connecting with parents around how to best support their children in the learning process

  • Greg talks about the value of measurement and “deep data digs,” and training teachers to better understand and make use of this data in meeting the needs of their students.

  • Greg explains the structural shift required to better serve English learners. It starts with increasing the academic rigor of teaching in the students’ native language before transferring that learning to English.

  • Greg talks about the process of introducing change at a school, and influencing others for results.

  • Greg describes how the school recently created a new mission statement and considers the plans for rolling out that new shared vision to parents.