Three years ago, it was being knit together by the careful hands of a bunch of construction workers. Two and a half years ago, it was born and began its life. A year and a half ago I became a teacher, and joined up with the barely-out-of-infancy school.
I love that our school is new. We are building something new, each year is full of firsts- this year it is our first seniors. There is an air of excitement in classes, on fields, on stages, and even in the halls. This mood and approach to education is so important to the life of a school. Excitement quickly spreads throughout the faculty and amongst the students. Excitement turns to readiness to learn and eagerness to engage and create more new and stronger lessons and environments. This newness is something I realize that I am taking for granted. MOST schools are established, and doing "new" things does not come easily.
That being said, I do believe there some things that all schools can and should do to recapture the "new."
Culture
It begins and ends here: new things are expected and encouraged. Cultures are shaped by perspectives, the perspective that breaking from tradition in a meaningful way (not change for change's sake) is healthy and necessary. "New" culture is all about openness- the new teacher and the established teacher have equal share in the building and growing of the school environment and attitude. Experience carries equal weight with ingenuity, and both work to balance each other out. New teachers invigorate the established, the established guide the new. In short, the culture of a "new" school is built around team. There is no room for condescension or elitism amongst staff or towards students. This culture allows students as well as educators a hand in the life of the school. If that seems like a risk, it's intentional.
Risks
Educators MUST have a culture that encourages and even expects risks to be taken. They try new technologies, new formats, new lessons. Teachers who are taking risks demonstrate to students that sometimes failure is a part of learning, and that getting back up after a failure is how to pursue success. Administrators who take risks inspire teachers- and make them feel safe to try audacious things.
If you are an established school, recreating a culture of the "new" can be difficult. People, and therefore teachers, don't like change, so opposition is to be expected. But you are a risk taker, right?
My admnistrators take and encourage calculated risks. So our staff follows suit. My wife teaches at another campus in our district that is very established. Her principal is doing an amazing job of recreating a culture of the new- integrating social media seamlessly in his leadership and around campus, and challenging teachers to re-evaluate why "we've always done it that way" in a way that gets results and minimal pushback.
Flexibility
New is not easy. New schools try things that do not work. New schools have to change plans on the fly.
If you want to reclaim the new- you need to bend a little. If you are taking risks, that's a great start, but flexibility also means being willing to give people a second chance.
Teachers and students.
Flexibility may mean you have to allow students a chance to re-earn your trust. This is terrifying. But it is necessary. If you as a school are dedicated to a second chance for your educational approach, there is no better way to get the students on board that practically demonstrate a second chance by offering them one.
Let students have a voice in the new direction and a say in the expectations.
Student-centered instruction is all the rage, this is student-centered educational culture. It helps to build a relationship between student and teacher that is vital to the culture of the "new."
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One of the reason I was so excited to start at my school is that as a new teacher, I would get to grow with my school. But shouldn't that be the case for all teachers and all schools? Schools and teachers growing, maturing, and developing together is a healthy relationship. One I'm glad to take part in, and hope all teachers and schools can find for themselves.
