Developing a Leadership Practices Framework for School Councils October 22, :00 to 2:30 pm

Leadership Advisory Committee Recommendation  Create a Leadership Practices Framework for Yukon School Councils  Begin a collaborative development process in

Purpose of Framework  To develop a common understanding of the responsibilities of School Council members  To support collaborative partnerships among key educational stakeholders  To support orientation of new School Council members  To support the development of School Council members as community leaders

Today’s Session  Revisit the School Council’s responsibilities based on the Education Act  Identify key organizer areas or domains of responsibility of School Councils  Describe the actions or leadership practices of highly effective School Councils

Collaborative Development Process  Develop a School Council Framework based on: –Mandate from Education Act –Input for stakeholders from focus groups and school meetings –Professional literature on roles and responsibilities of School Councils and School Boards

Stakeholder Input  School Council Members- current and past  School Principals and Vice-Principals  First Nations parents and community members  School parents and community members  Department of Education

Leadership Advisory Committee  Representatives of School Councils, Yukon First Nations, Association of Principals and Vice-Principals, Yukon Teachers, Department of Education  Committee guides the process and provides feedback on drafts of the document

Broader Community Input  Meet with school parents and communities at the school site for input  Visits to schools by AYSCBC, Department of Education School Council Liaison and First Nations Director

School Council Mandate  Know and act in accordance with the mandate of the School Council as outlined within the Education Act  Advise and make collaborative decisions with the principal based on input and engagement from parents and the school community

Education Act Advisory Responsibilities  School calendar, allocation of funds and resources, school budgets, discipline and procedures, student suspensions, appeals, attendance policy, locally developed courses and materials, staff evaluation and discipline, transportation services, field trips and extracurricular activities

Appreciative Approach  What do highly effective School Council members do?  Use a strengths-based approach through discovery of what has been working well

Domains of Responsibility Key Organizers or Domains recommended by participants from October 20 session: Key Organizers or Domains recommended by participants from October 20 session:

World Café Process  A structure for dialogue around core questions   Builds on each other’s ideas as people move through table groupings focusing on key questions,   Share insights and results in the collective thinking of a group

Table Host Role  Remains at table for all the rotations   Encourages dialogue in response to the question   Welcomes new groups with each group rotation   Encourages table members to discuss and respond to question by jotting down ideas, drawings or key visuals on the paper on the table   Summarizes the ideas of past rotations and encourages additional input   Synthesizes key themes in last rotation

World Café Hosts and Tables 1. Carol Coote 3. Judy Arnold 5. Greg Storey 7. Simon Blakesley 2. Bob Laking 4. Penny Prysnuk 6. Mike Woods 7. Lori Choquette

Key Questions Think back to a time when you worked with an effective School Council  What did highly effective School Council members do?  What would you like to see highly effective School Council members do?

Within These Domains TABLE 1:Ethical Behaviours TABLE 2:Building Relationships with… TABLE 3:School Council Skill Development TABLE 4:Promoting Family and Community Engagement TABLE 5:School Achievement and School Growth Process TABLE 6:Partnering with Yukon First Nations

Response in relation to each Domain EXAMPLE: DOMAIN: Building Relationships School Council members …  Maintain regular and open communication with the school principal

Team Formation and Rotation  ? people at each table  10 minutes at each table  Team rotates to the next table number in order  Hosts summarizes past contributions  New ideas are shared and recorded on the table chart

Gallery Walk  Individually walk around to each table and review the ideas that were recorded in response to the questions relevant to each domain:  What do highly effective School Council members do?  What would you like to see highly effective School Council members do?

Next Steps  Gather input from School Councils and school communities through visits to school sites asking the same appreciative inquiry questions  Combine community input with recommendations from current professional literature

Sources of Professional Literature Examples:  Partners in Education Roles and Responsibilities of Yukon School Councils (AYSCBC)  Basics for Effective Yukon School Councils (AYSCBC)  Exit Surveys of Outgoing School Council Members (AYSCBC)  The Essential School Board Book (Harvard University Press)  Becoming a Better Board Member (NSBA)  Key Work of School Boards (BCSTA)  American School Board Journal  Good Governance for School Boards: Ontario Trustee Professional Development Program  Serving on Your Local School Board (WSSDA)

Next Steps  Develop a first draft  Review with Leadership Advisory Committee and seek feedback in November  Seek feedback from School Councils, Principals and Vice-Principals, Yukon First Nations, Department of Education  Revision and final draft

Feedback on Today’s Session 1. Your response to creation of a School Council Leadership Practices Framework … 2. Your response to today’s process for input into the document … 3. Your recommendations for development of the document …