Tulsa Public Schools Leadership Development

Recently, the Tulsa World (https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/tps-zeroing-in-on-6-200-students-who-must-improve-on-state-test-to-help/article_9a0aec1c-a03f-11ee-a048-572647717f52.html) called for more than 1,000 volunteers to step up and address the urgent need in Tulsa Public Schools. How many Tulsans will answer the call?

The situation in public education reminds me of an old parable of a terrible storm that throws thousands of starfish onto a beach. Soon, a young girl began chucking them into the ocean. After some time, a man approached her and said, “Why are you doing this? You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
She stood deflated, staring at the sand. Then, she picked up another starfish and threw it. “Well, I made a difference for that one!”

Hundreds of Tulsa educators have been throwing starfish for the past 87 days. Despite seeing a beach full of stars, they keep bending down and finding the next one—every starfish matters. Tulsa educators will keep doing it until the school year is done.

But there’s more. In the story, the whole town is so inspired by the girl that everyone joins in, and the starfish are saved. *Hooray!*

But no one is coming.

Either this little girl gets help or a wave sweeps through this beach.

We need to rush the beach. Rushing the beach means volunteering one hour a week with Reading Partners, donating resources to your neighborhood school, or considering a career as a teacher. Set an alarm to wake up your school-aged neighbor. Pick up a single starfish to help clear our beach. Visit tulsaschools.org/volunteer to learn more.

Photo credit: Newsweek

We are honored to work with people who understand the complexities of the human experience - for our students and our staff. Our equity team works across the system to promote, challenge, support, and coach in areas of safety, dignity, and belonging. Thanks for his contributions to our district.

Prioritize or perish!

Prior

Vision. It’s not just in the slogans and mailers. Rather, it is manifesting the things we want to be true and identifying our actions to make this possible. Eugene Field AP, Robin Hines-Ukhun reminds herself everyday of her vision by adorning it on her wall. How do you share and practice your vision for your school, your team, and yourself?

“It’s up to us to notice, name, and disrupt,” said to the Emerging Leaders 1 cohort.

Found this gem!

Do you trust me? Trust can be complicated. It involves deeply understanding ourselves, our values, our experiences, and our cultures. It involves daily actions. The complexities of relationships, goals, outcomes, and experience drive a perception - a feeling - of trust.

The Power of Moments. Staff and students may not remember everything you do but we can build in peak opportunities for connection and insight. “I remember leaving the classroom and taking a walk outside with you because it was ‘too beautiful not to’ you said,” one teacher said about a coaching conversation with a school leader. “That was the day I realized how much more I could do to support student behavior and you helped me to do that by asking me questions and getting out of my space - and my own way.”
Insights and learning can happen at any moment and we need to be prepared to capitalize on it. Bring insight by curating a series of moment.

Our programs emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence. Every months we practice skills associated with EQ. This month, AP1s will continue to deepen their EQ skills but focusing on an “inquiry stance.” This article states, “Teachers often feel more motivated when they have opportunities for choice, and voice, leaders said. The key for leaders is to get out of the way.”
Check out more here - https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-leaders-need-emotional-intelligence-heres-how-they-build-it/2023/11

Today, Tulsa Public School’s Executive Director of Leadership Development, Jennifer Gripado shared some insights about teacher development, highlighting the importance of coaching. She said “coaching is teaching.” We are called to this work. We wouldn’t be doing it if we weren’t. School leaders get the privilege of teaching when they lean into their roles as coaches. Embrace your role as a lead teacher.

“Everyday is a job interview,” Leadership Development Coach Katy Jimenez says.

Leader alert! 🚨 Check out some of our Emerging Leader 2 cohort participants today!

At Tulsa Public Schools, we are equity-drive leaders who understand the complexities associated with working in a diverse world. “Seeing two truths is part of school leadership,” Leadership Development coach and former TPS Principal Katy Jimenez says.

School leadership is complex and requires appropriate training and support. This is part of the TPS way.