FocusED: An educational leadership podcast that uncovers what is working in our schools.
TheSchoolHouse302
78 episodes
6 months ago
FocusED Show Notes with Guest Vicky Essebag
Vicky starts by defining “relationspaces” as the way that we bring ourselves to the spaces where we develop relationships.
Vicky tells us that we have preconceived notions about how we’re communicating and sometimes it’s effective and other times it’s not.
Vicky gives us an example of where our communication as teachers to students might be landing wrong in a way that only supports more misbehavior.
It’s better to minimize our noticing of the behaviors that are not desirable and maximize our noticing of the desired behaviors.
Solution-Focused is a strength-based approach. And, the future aspect of it asks the question, what does the person want?
Vicky says that success happens in small increments. Change happens gradually. Her advice is to take a few steps back when things aren’t going the way we want them to and then to become more inclusive.
She tells us that relationships have to be the foundation of everything we do and have to be prioritized as important in the minds of every leader.
Vicky explains that Solution-Focused has a premise that “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it; if it’s working, don’t change it; and if something is wrong, do something about it.”
Don’t miss what she says about future-oriented types of questions.
Vicky talked about a scenario and exercise that she did with students who were refusing to come to school, and they built hypothetical machines to help bring them back to school.
She talks about her own growth and a program she’s in right now to gain a certification that she wants for more international credibility.
Vicky says that the most important part about commuting with others is our presence.
We asked Vicky to give us some techniques for asking questions. She says that the best questions are open-ended and up to the person being asked to provide their answer versus searching for the right ones.
If we can inspire people with hope, why not. ~ Vicky Essebag
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FocusED Show Notes with Guest Vicky Essebag
Vicky starts by defining “relationspaces” as the way that we bring ourselves to the spaces where we develop relationships.
Vicky tells us that we have preconceived notions about how we’re communicating and sometimes it’s effective and other times it’s not.
Vicky gives us an example of where our communication as teachers to students might be landing wrong in a way that only supports more misbehavior.
It’s better to minimize our noticing of the behaviors that are not desirable and maximize our noticing of the desired behaviors.
Solution-Focused is a strength-based approach. And, the future aspect of it asks the question, what does the person want?
Vicky says that success happens in small increments. Change happens gradually. Her advice is to take a few steps back when things aren’t going the way we want them to and then to become more inclusive.
She tells us that relationships have to be the foundation of everything we do and have to be prioritized as important in the minds of every leader.
Vicky explains that Solution-Focused has a premise that “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it; if it’s working, don’t change it; and if something is wrong, do something about it.”
Don’t miss what she says about future-oriented types of questions.
Vicky talked about a scenario and exercise that she did with students who were refusing to come to school, and they built hypothetical machines to help bring them back to school.
She talks about her own growth and a program she’s in right now to gain a certification that she wants for more international credibility.
Vicky says that the most important part about commuting with others is our presence.
We asked Vicky to give us some techniques for asking questions. She says that the best questions are open-ended and up to the person being asked to provide their answer versus searching for the right ones.
If we can inspire people with hope, why not. ~ Vicky Essebag
FocusED: An educational leadership podcast that uncovers what is working in our schools.
34 minutes 4 seconds
1 year ago
Equity and School Culture with Emily Affolter
Dr. Emily Alicia Affolter is the director of and faculty for Prescott College's Sustainability Education Ph.D. Program.
Prior to serving in this role, she worked as a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Washington’s Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity (CERSE).
Emily earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Multicultural Education from the University of Washington working alongside Dr. Geneva Gay, founder of culturally responsive teaching.
Emily's current scholarship, dissemination, and facilitation revolve around culturally responsive pedagogy for teachers and leaders in K-12 settings and STEM higher education, and harnessing equity literacy in teaching methods, content, policy, and leadership.
FocusED Show Notes with Guest Emily Affolter
Was I silent during a time when I had the currency to speak up and disrupt something? ~ Dr. Emily Affolter
Emily starts with a quote from a book called Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity.
We quickly dig into some of the indicators associated with inclusivity, including problems that stem from exclusivity.
Don’t miss what she says about the need for transparent communication as well as formal feedback mechanisms. Feedback can be anonymous, but leaders need to hear as many voices as possible.
Huge Question: Are leaders in the organization committed to humility in the way that they engage with systems of power?
Emily starts from a point of curiosity regarding the content that is being taught in the classroom. She hopes to see at least 50% of the people being portrayed in the curriculum as being BIPOC and coming from the LGBTQ+ community.
You want to hear what she says about “grit” as a core value.
You don’t have to be the school leader who knows things, but you do have to be curious and ask questions. ~ Dr. Emily Affolter
Emily teaches us to ask this about our schools: What are our unquestioned assumptions about our organizational culture?
There’s a really metacognitive-style reflective practice that she describes for teachers and leaders regarding being critical about our own understanding of power (what we have inherently and what we’ve accrued in our lifetime).
We gravitated toward what she says about teachers’ use of asset versus deficit thinking when it comes to what students know and don’t know.
Joe asks about how our profession can catch newer teachers up to speed faster regarding some of the things that master teachers have learned over time within their careers.
There’s no single teacher or classroom that is truly culturally responsive, period. Instead, we’re always learning and evolving. Any increment matters.
Find out about her 7 aspects of culturally responsive teaching.
Don’t miss what she says about “teacher transformative self-study.”
Check out: Social Justice Training Institute (SJTI)
Emily talks about the concept of “reflexivity” as a personal growth strategy.
Emily and her colleagues are working on a book about regeneration from trauma in education. In other words, we’ve all experienced trauma in education or as learners and how can we come
Check out: A Decolonial Framework for Pedagogy & Practice
FocusED: An educational leadership podcast that uncovers what is working in our schools.
FocusED Show Notes with Guest Vicky Essebag
Vicky starts by defining “relationspaces” as the way that we bring ourselves to the spaces where we develop relationships.
Vicky tells us that we have preconceived notions about how we’re communicating and sometimes it’s effective and other times it’s not.
Vicky gives us an example of where our communication as teachers to students might be landing wrong in a way that only supports more misbehavior.
It’s better to minimize our noticing of the behaviors that are not desirable and maximize our noticing of the desired behaviors.
Solution-Focused is a strength-based approach. And, the future aspect of it asks the question, what does the person want?
Vicky says that success happens in small increments. Change happens gradually. Her advice is to take a few steps back when things aren’t going the way we want them to and then to become more inclusive.
She tells us that relationships have to be the foundation of everything we do and have to be prioritized as important in the minds of every leader.
Vicky explains that Solution-Focused has a premise that “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it; if it’s working, don’t change it; and if something is wrong, do something about it.”
Don’t miss what she says about future-oriented types of questions.
Vicky talked about a scenario and exercise that she did with students who were refusing to come to school, and they built hypothetical machines to help bring them back to school.
She talks about her own growth and a program she’s in right now to gain a certification that she wants for more international credibility.
Vicky says that the most important part about commuting with others is our presence.
We asked Vicky to give us some techniques for asking questions. She says that the best questions are open-ended and up to the person being asked to provide their answer versus searching for the right ones.
If we can inspire people with hope, why not. ~ Vicky Essebag
