Leading and Facilitating the Change Process: Bishop Noll's story of vision, changes and pitfalls on the way to success

Why change? It's painful, it's annoying, and it upsets people. Why can't we just do things the way we've always done them? Definition of Insanity: Doing things the same way and expecting different results.

Background story 5 years in.... Drawing on experience If you're not growing, you're dying Walked into tradition; high principal turnover; 1-to-1 program; financial distress Underachieving school culture

Problems that needed to be solved Stop pulling kids from class! Find ways for our most involved and highest achieving students to succeed Make resources more accessible (teachers, computers, counselors, chapel, library, etc.) Have real homeroom tim e

Solving problems… Create assembly and club time Need for tutoring (too many students underachieving; needed contact and tutoring time) Rigid schedule—not brain compatible, not conducive to labs, projects, tests, etc. Create resource program

The Process Principal proposed new schedule that addressed issues and proposed solutions Department chairs (unimpressed—too much change, but no other solutions offered) Became an administrative goal to push ahead and address the legitimate needs posed by many faculty Brought to faculty (caused mild panic) Continued to talk about meeting needs of the students & achievement

Consequences of NOT making progress : Not being competitive caused problems with marketing (enrollment had been dropping) College and career prep: Self advocacy, time management, collaboration Rolling with tradition was not addressing 21st century skills

Implementation Fall of the next year (See schedule handout 2) BIG Challenges: PRT time and advisory Adjusting to time variances; lesson plans; should have eased in—we have scaled back Teachers using PRT as a prep; meant to be student contact time Students using PRT effectively

How did time become the main issue? 1st year: Traditional Schedule Many complaints from faculty Class time impeded for assemblies Students allowed to miss class for college visits Students meeting with counselors during class time Club meetings overlapping during SRT (SRT only 45 minutes 1 time per week)

Current Schedule

Continued Challenges: Advisory, adjusting to time, teachers becoming comfortable with student contact during PRT, proper student use of PRT Benefits: Student response, survey results, time management, 80% involved in sports/activities need the time, assembly time, counselor involvement, college visits during advisory, attendance improved

Accreditation Process Need for change in accreditation Push from the state Push from our superintendent Grants Admissions Quality assurance

Driven by administration (supported by board) out of necessity Implemented school improvement team Created Vision Statement Awareness of objective standards (AdvancEd) created a sense of urgency

AdvancEd visits by teachers and administrators to compare other schools led to more professional dialogue Changes to be focused on quality and more holistic approach to school improvement

Pitfalls: Communication and control issues among faculty and between faculty and administration Resentment; hurt feelings; lack of buy in; emotional lag affecting quality of teaching Teachers divided Students felt the tension

Too early for concrete achievement results Everyone much more focused on school goals! Clear direction and AdvancEd standards creating a mental shift: Faculty meeting story; objective justification

21st Century Skills Not just technology! Education methods will continue to evolve, like all other professional fields Focus on benefits for students creates sense of urgency

21st Century reasons for change Cheating Education not keeping pace with other industries Prepare students for real world careers Drive for BNI grads to FINISH college Lack of student social skills Turnitin.com and project based learning Dept Centers, refurnished classrooms, professional development focused on 21st Century learning PRTs self advocacy New schedule, more collaborative assignments

Our Advice? Allow 3-5 years for effective change Research, network Custom fit concepts to fit your needs Maintain focus on teaching and learning Continuous improvement--don't get stuck in a rut! Encourage small successes!

Contact Us Colleen McCoy-Cejka, Principal Fred Reynolds, Technology Director Lindsey Abbasy, Resource Program/Advisory

Drew Trost, Assistant Principal/Admissions Michele Arnold, Guidance Director Elizabeth Marino and Christen Ellis, English Teachers