042 - Make It Local And Personal

Christopher Dodge is the Lead Learner of the Orange Elementary Schools, a PreK-6 school district in central/western Massachusetts. Christopher has served the community of Orange for 7 years. In that time, the schools have worked to create collaborative structures and systems that bring stakeholder voice into school level decision making, as well as strategies that promote student success and achievement. Orange Elementary utilizes these systems to promote a vision of serving the whole child, ensuring that students social emotional and academic needs are being met. Aside from his role as principal, Christopher serves on DESE's Principal/Teacher Advisory Cabinet. He is passionate about supporting and mentoring leaders and educators, serving as a consultant with Seaside Educational Consultants and as an adjunct instructor at Assumption University in Worcester, MA.

Key Takeaways:

You have to consider unintended consequences when modeling behaviors. Get accountability partners to keep you on track. Sometimes all teachers are looking for is permission. Block your time off in your schedule for better productivity. Create systems that lead people to do their best work instead of managing people to fit the systems you have. Make sure you lean towards yes whenever teachers bring you a suggestion. Don't waste time focusing on what could go wrong instead of focusing on what is great.

Contact:

Twitter: @PrincipalDodge1

Instagram: @PrincipalDodge1

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