For Banks School District Student Services Team

 WHAT IS SUCCESS?  To laugh often and love much;  To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;  To earn the approval of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;  To appreciate beauty;  To find the best in others;  To give of one's self;  To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;  To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;  To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived...  This it to have succeeded.  RALPH WALDO EMERSON  POET, ESSAVIST, AND PHILOSOPHER

 The student services team will be positive conduits for constructive problem-solving by drawing on each other’s strengths when crucial conversations arise between and with students, parents, staff, school board, community members.

1. Team/organizational: Each staff member will participate in a book study on Crucial Conversations to learn new strategies and develop a common language around solving communication problems. 2. Individual goals: Each staff member will identify an individual area of self improvement need in the area of communication/problem-solving to increase personal/professional effectiveness in the work place and write a reflection on or share out at least one example by January meeting and May meeting. 3. Interpersonal goals: Each staff member will role play a Tough Case with a partner to solidify use of crucial conversation skills and provide each other feedback about application of strategies. 4. Professional goals: Each staff member will share a strategy with another colleague. They could choose to share a strategy in a staff meeting, in a 1:1 consultation, or teach a strategy to their instructional assistants.

 Know my heart/state what I want—To be a conduit of productivity with all staff by being approachable, a catalyst for problem solving with staff, and efficient with project/task completion. To treat all I interface with integrity, respect, and equity.  Resolve my personal communication weakness of “silence” by stopping avoidance behaviors and weakness of “violence” by letting go of so much control.  Model effective communication practices to my staff by showing staff how to remain in dialogue through developing mutual purpose and mutual respect.

1. Develop Annual Agenda for staff meetings:  September: Disseminate books/promote book study on Crucial Conversations to be read by November staff meeting. Engage staff in goals and share my values and personal strategies.

November Meeting:  Break into small groups and complete the last word protocol on Chapters 3, 4, and 5 in Crucial Conversations. Each staff member will identify an individual area of self improvement need in the area of communication/problem-solving to increase personal/professional effectiveness in the work place and reflect on or share out at least one positive experience example by January meeting and May meeting.

 January Meeting Each staff member will reflect on their identified area of needed improvement and either complete a written reflection or share out with the group.

 March Meeting  Staff will beak out into pairs or triads by building and role play for the group a Tough Case crucial conversation, either an example they are currently experiencing, or from the book.

 May Meeting Each staff member will reflect on their identified area of needed improvement and either complete a written reflection or share out with the group or share an experience in teaching another person a new communication strategy.  Staff will evaluate process and reflect on future needs for developing communication skills