TILS C-c

Faculty Development Session

Activity: I worked with my assistant principal to put together a faculty development session
specifically for our Freshman Academy to reflect upon the year. The purpose of the session was
to bring our academy back to a singular focus and vision due to the changes the past year and a
half.
Description: This faculty development session may be a little unorthodox; however, it is how
things are accomplished to some extent. My suggestion was for us to have a working catered
lunch because one issue we have is simply getting our academy together to be a unit. I brought
this climate issue to our principal, and she agreed that a faculty session needs to be had at the end
of the year to work out some issues and prepare for next year.
a. What went well?
The part that went well was the meeting and planning aspect. I brought the academy
concerns to our administrator, and she and I decided to have this session to set up
norms for our faculty within our academy. There needs to be a reestablishment of
professionalism and teamwork mentality. Therefore, I also separately planned a team
building activity for after school as well to bring fun into our faculty after the serious
meeting. It was to begin with our administrator and guidance counselor discussing some
of the things they believed that need to be changed and improved upon within our
academy. Then the floor would be opened to the faculty to discuss pros and
cons/improvements they believe are issues.

b. What did not?

To further the issues that I was trying to help conquer before the end of the year, the
email that our assistant principal sent to our academy to let everyone know about the
meeting included why we were having the meeting. This type of information does not
come across well in an email, so many of the faculty already had an extremely negative
attitude leading up to the session. When I began to hear around the lunch table peoples
attitudes, I immediately went to my assistant principal with my concerns that this session
will not be productive but a complaint fest.
c. Given the chance to do it again, how would you do it better?
I have been given the chance to do this again because it has been rescheduled for either
our summer session or first of the year. The end of the year when emotions are high and
teachers are tired, it is not the best time to begin what seems like a process of pointing out
what went wrong and faults- in a sense. I learned that my mentality is to take on an issue
head on, hash it out, and move forward; however, just because that is what would work
for me personally is not what is most effective for a team. I am learning more and more
that my way is not be right or best way; it does not mean I am wrong, but I have to look
at the bigger picture.
***Side note- the team building activity for after school was a HUGE success! We went
to Escape Chattanooga and had to work as a team, and it was such a positive way to
end the year- laughing together!!!