It was disconcerting with the Principal, AP & Area Principal all had to leave at noon - but they thought the staff would provide more honest feedback to us without them being in the room.
They told the staff they already had their re-imagining day - and had told them their vision.
Now it was up to these identified learning leaders in the school to put more details to the plan.
We came to the Next Steps part of the Agenda, and it was only then we realized they had absolutely NO intention of doing anything different at all. All their ideas up to this point were around structure - no class changes, the same 4 core teachers teaching the same students etc.
They decided they wanted to take the Gr 10's on a camp experience early in September. The Math lead said he was busy all evenings (coaching his own children in one sport each) so could not possibly go out of town. The Science lead said she was only conceiving one night over night and 2 days. the SS lead said she has 3 children at home and could not go to camp...
So then we said, we you will need some time to design the student learning together - Would they be able to allocate time to collaboratively plan? Well maybe they could allocate one afternoon to that - one a month I asked? not they said one a week? One whole afternoon a week??? Yes, well we have all our afternoons free from teaching in order to lead this work!
- the Science lead said she could not possibly plan because she has to see the classroom space - anyway she has all her labs planned and will need to be in her lab and the kids will have to come to her (so much for the kids staying put and teachers moving to them!)
- the Math & Science teacher said, oh they have already talked, they have their whole year planned already
- The don't have any time to meet before the end of June because they are marking and .... writing reports cards etc. - even tho admin had also relieved them from exam supervision.
- They might have some time in August - but they hardly need Galileo...
- Then the math lead said, anyway, i need the first week to get to know my kids. So I already know exactly how that has to go. First I introduce a concept, then I give them problems to practice and I walk around and see who is doing it. After a week of that I know all about my kids...
