Fostering Teamwork Collaboration Effective Communication Amongst School Staff

+ Fostering Teamwork, Collaboration, & Effective Communication Amongst School Staff The School Counselor as a Leader for Improving School Climate Christopher Belser, M. Ed. , NCC University of Central Florida Jennifer Curry, Ph. D. , NCC Louisiana State University

+ Who are we? n Christopher Belser, M. Ed. , NCC n School counselor for 3 years in LA n Most recently: Kenilworth Science & Technology Starting doctoral program at UCF this fall n n Jennifer n n Curry, Ph. D. , NCC Counselor Educator in Louisiana School counselor for 5 years in TN

+ How did this topic come about? n Background of school n Administration n TFA key flaw – too many leaders n Newbies in leadership over veterans n My. Voice Survey data

+ Something’s gotta give…. n Why Professional School Counselors? n “Champions” of school culture n Training in human development n Training in systems theory n Training in conflict resolution n Call to leadership in ASCA Model

+ The Pillars of the ASCA National Model n Leadership n “Leadership is an essential skill for school counselors” (p. 1) n We are often a member of leadership team n Advocacy n Systems Advocacy: “Identifying systemic problems, gaining information and insight from those who are most affected, and implementing advocacy at a systems level” (p. 5)

+ The Pillars of the ASCA National Model n Collaboration n “Additionally, the entire school community must work together to create schools that are physically and emotionally safe for all. Teachers must feel safe to express opinions, take initiative in solving problems and continually try to find more effective ways to help students be successful… Who better to help with this than the school counselor? ” (p. 17) n Systemic n “Schools Change are a system, just like a family is a system. When an event occurs that makes an impact on one member of the family or part of the system, it affects other, if not all other, parts of the system” (p. 8)

+ What we did at KST n Administered My. Voice (Pearson) survey to staff & students n School mission/vision n Meeting norms/communication norms n Teambuilding activities n Differentiated coaching n PDs—beginning of year and ongoing n Work with leaders to model effective communication

+ How to begin: Collaborative Effort n Identify key staff members to assist you n Assess n Staff your staff structure needs assessment

+ Identify key staff members to assist you n You cannot do this alone! n You will need support from: n n n Administration Teacher leaders Support staff n Your team should not be teachers only or administration only.

+ Assess your staff structure n What n kind of leadership exists? What administrative positions exist? Principal n What teacher leadership positions exist? Dean of Students Asst. Principal n What teacher support structures exist? n Grade level teams? n Departmental teams? n Professional Learning Communities? Dept. Heads Grade Chair Faculty Lead Counselor n What messages do these leaders send about collaboration/communication? Other Counselors Disciplinarians Students

+ Staff Needs Assessment n Probably should be separated from your school counseling needs assessment n Anonymous climate survey, focus group, etc. n Include perception/feeling questions related to conflict amongst staff, accessibility of leadership, quality of expectations, etc. n What other items would you include?

+ Next Step: Review Data n Look for patterns / trends n Look at subgroups if you can n Ex: Racial, Training programs, Native/non-native, etc. n Identify items that have a wide range n Identify strengths 75 n Identify weaknesses 50 New Veteran Admin 25 0 Q. 1 Q. 2 Q. 3

+ Next Step: Create Plan of Action n Build on strengths; intervene with weaknesses n Establish n Do norms/expectations you need more leadership/teaming structures? n Identify professional development topics and delivery method/who will deliver n Create opportunities for teamwork/teambuilding n Determine plan for monitoring/evaluating progress

+ Beginning of year: Recommendations n Discuss data from needs assessment with staff n Describe plan of action n Team-building exercises for staff during beginning-of -year PD days n Professional n Staff development units meeting norms n Establish a staff celebration committee

+ Team-building Activities n Types n Name activities—if you have new staff members n Games—fun activity with purposed grouping Task activities—must work together to accomplish a goal; purposed grouping Metaphor activities—activities that illustrate a key point related to teamwork, cooperation, etc. n n n Suggestions n n n Assigned seating (Tent Cards) Rotate seating Process the activity afterward

+ Team Building Activity

+ Communication & Professionalism Norms n Like norms for a counseling group n Establish a member-defined “code of conduct” n Can apply to staff meetings, daily practice, emails, etc. n Should NOT be written by one person or a select group of people n Examples?

+ Effective Communication Strategies & Conflict Resolution Strategies n Could be a good seminar for an invited speaker n Shouldn’t focus on the negative; examine positive strategies and solutions n Introduce problem-solving for conflict n Effective communication should address both inperson and electronic communication n Provide case examples and time for discussion

+ Personality Type, Attachment Style, & Communication Style in the Workplace n Self-reflection and self-evaluation promotes recognizing patterns of behavior and potential areas of conflict n Self-awareness helps team leaders know how to provide feedback and support (ex: differentiated coaching) n Research is expanding in this area, especially with attachment style in the workplace. n Personality type and communication style may be familiar to staff, but attachment style likely will not n Always share strategies for individuals to “cope” with their particular style

+ Attachment Styles Review n John Bowlby n Origins n 4 with caregiver/child relationship Types: Secure n Dismissive n Preoccupied n Fearful n

+ Attachment Styles Activity https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=u. Pud. E 8 n. Dog 0

+ Communication Styles Review n Not n 5 static Types: Assertive n Aggressive n Passive-Submissive n Manipulative n n Each has common beliefs, characteristics, behaviors, and verbal/non-verbal cues

+ Communication Styles Activity https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-4 EDhd. AHr. Og

+ Throughout the year: n Continued n Staff team-building/teamwork activities celebrations (holidays, birthdays, etc. ) n Specific mini-presentations for whole staff n Discussion topics for grade-level, department, or PLC meetings n Progress monitoring activities n Mini-surveys, focus groups, etc.

+ Special topics for meetings n For whole staff: n Effective communication with n Administration n Parents n Students n Motivational Interviewing n For leadership team: n Setting a mission/vision for your team n How leaders can create conflict (intentionally & unintentionally) n Others?

+ End of year n Re-administer staff culture needs assessment Pre-test / post-test model n Include opportunity for feedback about program n n Evaluate end-of-year data with your team What got better? Worse? n Did new problems arise? n n Plan for following year Build on momentum of successes n Find Plan B for unsuccessful interventions n Consider feedback on interventions n

+ Review n Get buy-in from administration n Identify your team n Administer n Evaluate needs assessment data and plan n Implement n Re-administer n Evaluate needs assessment new data and plan

+ Questions?