It has been a long time since I was a freshman in high school. This was before cell phones were in everyone’s pocket, prior to social media being a mode of communication and connection, and before any of us imagined taking notes on anything put a spiral or loose-leaf. I had a very positive high school experience and was excited to get to know more about what it is like to walk the halls, sit in classrooms, and operate as a student in our high school today.
As part of continuous improvement work, Benton Community Middle School/High School is participating in a self-study with Grant Wood AEA and The Highlander Institute. One step of the self-study was to have all administrators spend a day shadowing a student in our secondary building. Collectively, we shadowed a total of five students in the building ranging in age from 8th to 12th grades. I knew in order to really learn from the experience, I needed to fully commit to being a student on my shadow day. I spent the day in jeans and Bobcat gear, followed the bell schedule, sat in desks, used learning management systems, and did all other things that are part of being a freshman student at Benton Community in 2019. The Student Shadow Challenge resources from School Retool provided me with excellent materials to prepare for the experience and really think about the mindset I needed to be in to have a positive learning experience. As I prepared, I thought about what I wanted to know or learn about being a freshman in 2019, it was mainly focused on the experience as a whole. I knew I was going to need to monitor my feelings, actions, words, and questions. I realized I was going to have to be intentional about ensuring this day was focused on life as a student and not about observing teachers are providing adults feedback on instruction. As I reflect on why the experience made such a profound impact on my thoughts and perspective as a leader, I’m drawn to something Professor John Hattie said in a conversation we had a short time ago. “Sometimes administrators need to stop and smell the roses.” As he was saying this, I reflected on my own tendencies and the balance between affirmation and next step feedback. Prior to the student shadow experience, our administrative team did just what Professor Hattie suggested. We went on a “Love Walk” around our building and stopped in so many areas of the building to discuss points of pride. These include topics related to instruction, facilities, projects, student achievement, community relations, and more. What I knew prior to the experiences is that the one big thing that makes our school community so special: the people. By stopping, I was reminded of all of the little things that make our school community a place to belong. I challenge other lead learners to participate in a student shadow experience. Consider the prompts and questions below when deciding who to follow and preparing for your day.
-Anna
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August 2022
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