Dealing with the Demands of the Principalship
Part 1 It’s all about relationships: Explore how strengthening relationships within the school community can help reduce stress and workload, revisit and re-establish the “why” of being a principal and bring joy back to the role.
Part 2 Stress less, Achieve more – Three relationship building practices: talk with your boss, conversations with courage, restorative communication
Part 3 Three Tips for Talking WITH parents in conflict situations: Ask great questions then listen, curious posture, firm AND fair
Part 4 Three practices to reduce teacher stress: Belonging for teachers too, firm and fair engages staff, working WITH not FOR or TO
Here’s a link to research on how a trusted caring adult can impact student attendance, something which supports our ATSA:TWO by TEN!
Virtual Sessions on Restorative Practices
Belonging. Voice. Agency. These are the foundation of the social science of human dignity called Restorative Practices. The 4 one hour Awareness sessions are designed to give an overview of Restorative Practices; its history, philosophy, applications and practices, to foster support for practitioners. in schools. When administration and management fully understand the nature of restorative practices, what is possible through its use, managers and supervisors are better able to articulate and provide support for the school practitioners – those who work directly with students and staff. Develop a greater understanding of student voice, engagement, student retention, school climate and positive classroom community.
Virtual sessions for Circles in Schools
Belonging. Voice.Agency. Great principles which are put into practices for use in school classrooms, staff rooms, and meeting rooms. The 4 one hour sessions on circles illustrate:
How to get started with circles and practice the basic and safe strategies in facilitating circles.
How to ask the right questions with a focus on practice in formulating and using questions in differing contexts for a variety of outcomes.
How to practice skills in virtual circles.
How to implement circles with staff, students and parents.
Attending to Student Absenteeism
In order for Principals and Superintendents of elementary and secondary schools to address students who are chronically absent, referrals to attendance specialists are not enough.Principals and Superintendents need to use what schools have hiding in plain sight.
Belonging. Voice. Agency. These principles are applied to a whole school approach to students who are persistently and chronically absent by connections built WITH a trusted caring adult who is already in the school building. The trusted caring adult is a protective factor in early identification of risk factors associated with chronic absenteeism and increases the student’s sense of belonging at school. Caring adults’ restorative and relational skills are enhanced through online training which:
-breaks down Average Daily Attendance into students with names
-builds connections with students at risk of absenteeism
-focuses staff intention to have the greatest impact in preventing chronic absenteeism
-builds bridges of connection
-asks great questions
-listens to the answers
-is firm AND fair
-involves parents in a Fair Process