I Run a Low Performing School, Now What?
D. Scott Schwartz, M.Ed.
Author | Education Thought Leader | I am helping School Leaders Build 21st Century Schools (check out my website for more info)
In 2013, I launched the Principal's Academy, the third education pilot program. I had already launched and ran two other successful education pilot programs, the 21st century curriculum project and the Teacher Development Program.
Because of the incredible success of those two previous pilot programs, hundreds of principals were contacting me to find out, "How are you boosting student achievement with students who are unmotivated and disengaged?"
How?
Before I answer that question, if you're a principal or school leader who has a lot of education related questions, but don't know someone with a lot of research-based answers--then please consider subscribing to my FREE newsletter "The Principal's Academy."
The purpose of the newsletter is just to field questions from principals and then give answers per week.
Think of it as "virtual mentoring."
Want to Boost Student Achievement?
Hundreds of principal's joined the Principal's Academy when I decided to launch it back in 2013. What I really loved about the Academy was that I could listen to other principals and school leaders talk about the issues they were facing in their school.
I learned a lot from running the Academy.
For one, I learned that all schools should be local.
Yes, there should be national frameworks, but the biggest problem we have in our K12 system is that the State and the Federal Government try and meddle too much in local school affairs.
You can't make decisions from 30,000 feet.
The principal is the perfect leader of a school.
But that also means the Principal must become an expert in 4 critical areas:
If you want to re-engage your students, if you want to tap into their internal motivations and you want them to go from "hating" school to being upset that they can't go to school--then pay close attention.
Closing School for Snow
I am a former principal and superintendent.
And I ran a K12 program in New Jersey, which means from the months of December through March--there was a chance I would have to close school due to inclement weather (or snow).
If you're a principal right now--tell me if this has ever happened to you?
The day after a school closing, there are at least 40 voice mail messages on the school phone line from students (not parents) who are angry that you closed school.
"Schwartz, why did you close school?" said the students. "There's not enough snow on the ground. What am I supposed to do at home?"
It's Time to Turn Your School Around
If you study the data, NAEP, US Department of Education, NCES, then you know that most schools in America are below the proficiency mark on student test scores.
And even if your school is above that threshold, you still have students who are falling through the cracks and falling behind every single day.
So how do you boost student achievement?
Before I answer that question - I can tell you how you won't turn your student achievement around.
That's right - teaching to the test is the dumbest idea you can do.
And yet, thousands of principals think that's their only option.
One of the things I taught the principals in my Principal's Academy was how to re-write their curriculum maps and also restructure their curriculum and class schedules so that it supported student growth and achievement.
Did you know that you can't meet the needs of 21st century learners with 19th century classes?
When you see that statement, that should seem obvious to you.
But have you stopped to think about what it really means?
When you become an expert in curriculum mapping and course creation, you start to realize that we need to develop new, modern and cutting-edge classes that teach 21st century learners the skills and tools they will need in the 21st century.
English and Math Teachers Hate Me
I'm not going to lie, but High School English and Math teachers don't like me very much.
Well, at least not initially.
And the reason they don't like me is because if "I'm right" that means they have to re-learn how to teach. And when was the last time a teacher was happy about learning something new?
But the problem isn't that Shakespeare and Algebra are pointless, the problem is that they should no longer be the priority in education.
So what should you focus on?
One of the main reasons so many educators trust me is that I do a lot of academic research and I read a lot of academic literature. So when they ask me questions, I am combining my 20 years of real world knowledge from inside the classroom and inside schools, with what the research is telling us.
And in 2020, researchers at Georgetown University told us that 21st century learners need to learn five essential new skills.
Unfortunately for English and Math teachers--the Georgetown study didn't put Shakespeare and Algebra at the top of that list.
In fact, they weren't even on the list at all.
And this is the problem.
If you're a principal right now and you want to boost student engagement, motivation and achievement--then you need to be more up to date on the research.
I'm not saying you shouldn't listen to teachers, but they need your leadership and guidance.
And if you are walking down the wrong path--it honestly doesn't matter what the teachers are saying.
The truth is you are all lost.
And that means - you need to find your way back to the main path.
Fixing Your School
Fixing your school isn't easy.
And there is no quick solution to this problem.
But here's the good news.
For the last 12 months, I have been collating, compiling and creating a system to help any school turn its achievement around. It's called "School in a Box."
Based on my 20 years of K12 experience, the fastest way to turn your entire school or district around takes three years.
Year One:
领英推荐
The 21st Century Curriculum
Our job as educators is to help students be college and career ready. If that is true, then educators need to start following the 21st century academic research. And like I said before, Georgetown University didn't list Shakespeare and Algebra as 21st century skills.
Which means, if you force kids to take year long courses in Shakespeare and Algebra--then what are they missing out on?
Principals must become experts in curriculum mapping and course development.
You are in charge - not the teachers.
Your job is to delegate to the teachers "what to teach."
But if your course guide isn't 21st century - it doesn't matter what teachers do in class. The truth is you are already behind the curve.
Year Two and Three:
Teacher Development
"Teachers are the most valuable resource a school has."
If you don't repeat this mantra, you are doomed.
Yes, I know all about toxic teachers. Yes, I know all about resistant teachers. Yes, I know all about rude and obnoxious teachers.
But those bad apples are not the majority of teachers. In fact, they are the minority.
I have visited hundreds of schools and conducted well over 10,000 classroom observations. In my 20 years of experience there is only one or two bad apples in every school. That's it - just one or two.
The problem is those one or two narcissists are the loudest and most controlling people in the school building. And thus, those one or two bad apples make life a living hell for everyone else.
But I figured out a solution to this problem that actually works.
The only reason the one or two bad apples have any power or leverage is because they prey on other teacher's insecurities. And what they do is use the power of manipulation to gang up on newer and novice teachers.
These bad apples do not care about anyone, but themselves. And they are not team players. They are narcissists.
I launched the Teacher Development Program over ten years ago and ran it from 2009-2019. And here are the results:
If you want to retain 99% of your teachers - then you need to use this Teacher Development Program.
Year Two and Three:
Principal's Academy
At the same time that your teachers are developing their classroom skills and talent--you need to become an expert in these 4 critical areas:
The principal's job is to be the "lead instructor" in the school building.
But if you don't fully understand the curriculum maps at a level where you know how to identify learning gaps - then you're not a very good lead instructor.
I know that sounds harsh, but people don't trust me because I lie to them.
I am the most patient person you will ever meet.
I don't have a "Quit" bone in my body.
Principals that work with me all say the same thing, "how can I become more patient like you?"
The key is to recognize your purpose.
If you know your purpose in education - then why would you ever quit?
But you can't do this alone.
And the K12 system has a toxic culture that convinces teachers and principals that if they ask for help that's a sign of weakness.
That's hogwash!
From my perspective - questions are a sign of high intelligence.
Only smart people ask questions.
The problem is who has the best answer to your questions?
And that's the issue teachers and principals are running into.
They have questions - but there's no one with any real, research-based answers.
Now There's Me
Download the Self-Assessment checklist.
There are 84,000 schools in America. And if I work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, I still won't be able to help all 84,000 schools.
I'm on a mission to fix our K12 system.
That means, I needed to develop tools and resources that schools could use for FREE and without my direct help.
You heard me - FREE tools and resources.
The first FREE tool and resource is the Self-Assessment Checklist. This is a list of about 100 questions that you should answer about your school. These are not going to be easy questions to answer - and that's the point.
You need to start thinking differently.
You need to bring your school or district into the 21st century.
And Albert Einstein once said, "you cannot solve problems using the same mindset that created them."
Principals! Hear me now.
You cannot cling to the same mindset that the K12 system has implanted in your brain. You cannot use the same mindset you learned in graduate school. All of those mindsets are from the last century - and we are living in the 21st century.
Not only that, but we are supposed to be meeting the needs of 21st century learners.
How on earth can we do that, when we are stuck in the last century?
Forget about computers. Forget about technology. Forget about AI.
The hurdle you need to jump over is breaking free from the "old way" of thinking and start thinking like a 21st century educator.
Download the Self Assessment Checklist here: