SAM for “Really Smart Dummies” Peggy Goodman, Principal Christine Douthart, Assistant Principal Cindy Bloodworth, Administrative Assistant Five Forks Middle School, Gwinnett County Public Schools

Administrative Assistant Our Team Peggy Goodman Principal Five Forks Middle Cindy Bloodworth Administrative Assistant Five Forks Middle Christine Douthart Assistant Principal Five Forks Middle

Your “essential” take away… What does the SAM process look like at Five Forks Middle School, and how does it impact teacher practice and student learning?

The Vision for Five Forks Middle School Highest level of learning for ALL students in ALL classes to create rich, limitless opportunities for the future.

Our Mission WE BELIEVE all kids can learn and WE will establish high standards of learning that WE expect all students to achieve. It is our job to create an environment in our classrooms that engages students in academic work that results in a high level of achievement. WE are confident that with our support and help, students can master challenging curricula, and WE expect them to do so. WE are prepared to work collaboratively with colleagues, students, and parents to achieve this shared educational purpose. Our ILT adopted this from Dufoor’s book “Learning by Doing”

SAM begins at Five Forks What are we getting into with SAM?

3 3 3 Perspectives Builds a Cohesive Leadership Team Accountability The Power of Three 3 Perspectives Builds a Cohesive Leadership Team Accountability 3 3

Cindy—SAM I AM Calendar First Responders Training the other SAMS Scheduling Reconciling First Responders Keeping Peggy’s time SACRED/Instructional Training the other SAMS

Christine—SAM I AM (too) How has SAM changed Christine as an instructional leader? How this has changed Christine's practice as an AP? Discipline Changes School Wide Instructional/Data Talks

How We Operate! Meeting time is 8:15am every day Resources for guiding our meeting SAM’s Log (Principal’s Plan for the Week) SAM Flip Chart Instructional/Management Descriptors AA and AP keep the principal accountable Reconcile Calendar Plan Ahead Ask reflective questions to ensure that our actions improve teacher practice and student learning!

The Meeting Time to meet, y’all!

The “Spill0ver” Effect Expanding SAM to include our entire leadership team Why? Inequity... SAM on each weekly leadership meeting agenda Practice giving feedback using Rutherford’s “5 Minute” model

Leading with SAM

Keeping Instructional Time Sacred First Responders Meetings in our school are held only for Curriculum and Instruction. Buzz OneNote The Hitching Post Remind 101 Texts Email Called grade level meetings ONLY when necessary What we noticed in the classroom… Supporting teaching and learning

Managing the Management

Mark Shellinger’s Top Instructional Ideas/Practices for “Really Smart” Dummies 10. Wait for the phone call inviting you to be a SAM, and be happy when the “Shadow” comes to your school. The SAM process will help increase student learning in your school! 9. Let your staff know that you are a SAM principal. 8. Establish and communicate First Responders to staff and community. 7. Include entire Leadership Team in SAM process to develop instructional leadership capacity for all! 6. Model and practice giving 5 minute feedback to teachers with Leadership Team. 5. Use the SAM process and observation data to determine professional learning school wide and individually. 4. Plan each day/week ahead of time. 3. Schedule daily SAM meetings and keep them sacred. Hold each other accountable and have a backup plan! 2. Your AP and AA are vital members of the team. 1. Know that your purpose is to improve teacher practices each day in every classroom.

How do YOU make every minute count? It’s EASY!

Using SAM to focus on instruction?