Tucson Standard

From January 19, 2023 post.

At this month's principal meeting, we welcomed eight classroom teachers to discuss and share their expertise on achieving growth among their students. The most effective leaders are effective listeners; thus, principals and district administrators shut their laptops, turned their chairs, and tuned in to listen and learn from the success and growth our teacher leaders have achieved.

Through a ninety-minute fireside chat, teachers Amber Adams, Audry Bunn, Jennifer Perrone, Leslie Hobbs, Danielle Talbert, Alyssa Langley, and Leah Sutherland shared the recipe that has led to success with their students and in their classrooms.

A popular theme echoed throughout the chat was the importance of relationship building.  Amber Adams, a teacher at Trask Middle School, emphasized how forming key relationships with her students has led to instructional achievement. Before students engage in instruction, there must be trust and a connection to foster those relationships. 

“Taking that time in your schedule to build those relationships ensures students walk out my door feeling loved and valued.  They know that someone cares for them. If they walk out of my room not knowing how to divide fractions that day, that’s ok. We will get there. What matters most to me is they walk out knowing they have a trusted adult who they know will support them.” 

 Adams is a strong proponent that student achievement and growth will follow when relationships are apparent and the students feel supported. 

Additionally, teachers must also be willing to meet students where they are. This is true in terms of instruction but also personally. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the students in their classroom? How can you accelerate them and ensure they are on level? Teachers must first know where the students starting point is. Once that is identified together, students and teachers can push forward toward growth.  

When it comes to meeting students where they physically are, Audry Bunn at SEA-Tech attributes the smaller population at her school to building relationships with the students and families they serve. Staff at SEA-Tech are intentional about developing bonds and engaging students. Bunn discussed how home visits play a part in ensuring every student is seen and feels valued at her school. This tactic may seem daunting for our schools with larger populations. Still, for our magnet and specialty high schools, it creates opportunities for educators to enter the spaces and environments where students and families feel most comfortable. This shift in power dynamics can allow for trust from both students and parents.

A current teacher at Isaac Bear Early College High School, Daniel Talbert, credited team teaching in the Lyceum Program at New Hanover HS as the key to her success. Throughout the morning, she pressed upon the importance of collaboration. In success, there is no time for gatekeeping skills and effective strategies. Collaboration fosters growth in the teaching profession. Mrs. Talbert went on to acknowledge that the fireside chat event provided learning opportunities for her to return to her classroom and share with her Bearhawk colleagues. 

Additional keys to success were equity, classroom management, and a willingness to embrace mistakes. In fact, it was stated, “if you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t learning.” Just as the students make mistakes in their learning process, it is equally important for students to see their teachers make mistakes.  Mistakes allow for a level of vulnerability that helps create a safe, judgment-free zone within the classroom. It encourages students to make an effort without the fear of being wrong, thus fostering engagement and participation within the classroom. Thus cultivating an environment that allows growth to thrive.

As the fireside chat began to close and each of our teachers provided their final wisdom on strategic solutions to promote growth in their classroom. One by one, the majority of principals and administrators took to their feet to applaud the seven individuals who spoke to them.

Original source can be found here.