Challenge: how does Leo Dunn proceed in establishing a sense of trust necessary to continue to build and sustain a learning community?
Since the staff has become disheartened due to promises not being kept such as with the banked days, Leo will need to reestablish trust with efforts to follow through on plans made. In addition, Leo will need to be sure that adequate support is available for changes that are to be implemented. With regard to goals and changes, equal representation of all parties must be assured in the decision-making process. While the former principal was strong in commitment to change and student learning, methods employed to reach goals resulted in broken agreements, a lack of support, unequal representation, and growing distrust. Leo will need to follow through on goals of change and student learning with the new goal of building broken trust.
1. How do you get teams to work collaboratively where norms of isolation exist?
Working collaboratively includes the equal representation of all involved. Meetings must include representation from all groups rather than favored groups. None can be left in isolation if a collaborative effort is to be reached.
2. How do you develop trust amid past wounds รป teacher to teacher and teacher to administrator?
To develop trust amid past wounds each party must be involved in the decision-making process and each must be involved in keeping agreements. Support for the reaching of goals must be ongoing. Time is needed with effective follow-through of these new goals to mend past wounds.
3. What mechanisms typically exist in middle schools that can be built on to promote a culture of trust?
Middle schools typically include students caught in the middle of childhood and adulthood. Within this school team structures, interdisciplinary methods, heterogeneous groups, and differing philosophies are found that require teachers to work interdependently. Isolat...