Olds High Thursday, April 10, 2014

1. Olds HighThursday, April 10, 2014 High School ReDesign for System Leaders Chris Smeaton Kurt Sacher

2. Olds High • Tremendous leadership is key • Tom would say it has taken him 11 years • Level 5 leadership • Paradoxical blend-deep personal humility&intense professional will • The roster is absolutely key

3. Olds High • The power of modelling—Tom’s teaching • And coaching…and…. • Student centered staff culture • The facility is great but not the key • Influence of High Tech High and the project tuning protocol

4. Spruceview K-12 • Student centered leader Danica and staff • Pedagogical preparation • Multiple school visits • ReDesign meetings with all staff

5. Spruceview K-12 • Use of our collaborative days • Kids getting work done in flex • We expect great things in student achievement

6. In Chinook’s Edge • We are not forcing it on our high schools, we are encouraging and supporting it through our IL visits • Currently have Olds High and Spruceview (K-12) • Next year Penhold Crossing & Cremona • On the radar—Innisfail High, Sundre High et al

7. Holy Spirit High School Journey • CCH (high school in Lethbridge) part of initial pilot • St. Mary (grade 6-12 school in Taber) and St. Michael (pre K- 12 school in Pincher Creek began this past year

8. The Tale of CCH • Quarter system dual campus school • Initiated during construction of the Campus West • Top down decision

9. The Shift… • Quarter system dual campus is novel but not necessarily redesign • Adding a flex block in itself… • How do we increase engagement? • What do students need/want to learn? • How do we do it different? • Campus West- Centre for Science and Inquiry

10. Senior Administration Focus • Permission • Break the rules • All students not just some • Inspiring Education is key- do it different!

11. Key Considerations • It is not about the time or the carnegie unit- it is about instructional practice and student learning. • Is the school wanting this to serve students and to serve pedagogy or is it to serve staff?

12. Key Considerations • We really want to avoid negative parental fall out that could come from students “wandering” in larger centers • Staff must support and “talk” to parents. • Students can “sell” the idea to parents like at St. Mary School • David Staples—sports expert commenting on educational topics—sees the flex approach like he sees no zero policies

13. Key Considerations • Need to create a school culture that is safe for new ideas • System leaders need to ask lots of questions rather than put pressure on • “Creating discomfort in a safe and trusting environment.”

14. Key Considerations • System leaders need to encourage people to attend redesign meetings and to take their staffs to visit key schools • It is not a cut and paste model but there are key learnings that you can gain • This approach is not designed for people with a financial motive

15. Key Considerations • Type of teachers needed ideally? • Teachers who accept responsibility, want autonomy, seek purpose and mastery and can collaborate • Like ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, and the list goes on at Olds High. • All are level 5 teacher leaders… • Have what I call the “teacher or system default” when students are not learning.

16. Some questions • In your division how are you promoting innovation, fostering creativity and enabling risk taking? • In your division, how do you promote the notion of high school redesign? • What are your key considerations? • What is working? Not working? • What is non-negotiable?

17. Some questions • How do you build a collective approach to school change? • What are the opportunities? • What are the perceived barriers?