Capacity building involves bringing struggling students up to speed so that all students can learn and succeed. This can be achieved by rebuilding trust between faculty and administration, fostering kinship among teachers through idea sharing and support, and creating a learning environment where mistakes are accepted. The faculty can become more of a professional community by observing each other non-judgmentally, sharing strategies, communicating openly, and establishing an environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn. Trust and consistency are also needed to build strong relationships between schools and parents.

1. Capacity Building
BY: LUCRETIA RATLEY

2. What does capacity building mean?
 In a nutshell, doing what needs to be done, so
students can learn, and be successful.
 Coming together as a school community to bring the
students who are struggling up to speed.

3. What may be done to increase kinship among the
faculty?
 In my school, my situation is unique as there is no
trust between the administration and the staff, or at
least a portion of the staff.
 Trust needs to be rebuilt and nurtured.
 As for kinship among the teachers, there IS a kinship
among the teachers. We exchange ideas, and support
each other even though there is the perception there
is no support coming down.

4. How might the faculty become more of a
professional community?
 Be willing to have people come into their rooms and
observe in a non-judgmental capacity.
 Share successful teaching strategies at the Thursday
morning staff meetings.
 Continue the open door policy of coming and asking
how they are doing something or what they are
doing.
 Continue to open communication between each
other.
 Create an environment where it is ok to make
mistakes. Mistakes are learning opportunities.

5. School and parent relationship
 Communicate with parents, the academic success of
all students is what the priority is. How that is
achieved is through collegial dialogue and
exchanging of strategies and ideas.
 All ideas are welcomed and parents know their child
best. Any suggestions or ideas from them, and
successful strategies are welcomed.
 Trust must be built and nurtured between both
parties. This is done with communication and
consistency.

6. We are family!
 Trust! In my classroom, I spend the first quarter (8
weeks) earning the trust of my students. Once I have
that, I have them.
 I am consistent, and follow through plays a large
role.
 I express my expectations, and I practice behavior I
want to see.
 I use RCCP and SEL activities to create an
environment where mistakes are learning
opportunities, and we support one another.

7. We are family! Cont.
 Sincerity. My children know the difference between
real and fake. I lay it all out on the line, and expose
myself emotionally. It is hard, but it works.
 When we need, we revisit an area to beef it up if we
need too. i.e., team building or classroom building.
 I refer to all my students as brother, or sister, or
family member.
 I have been told, I have the mom tone. I have been
called mom more times than I care to admit.

8. We are family! Cont.
 While students may be assigned to a teacher’s roster,
we are all a school family, and need to look out for
one another. Luckily, I have had no one be offended
by this approach, nor am I.

9. Shared values and commitments
 Academic success of all  Being there for kids,
children. whether they are
 Honesty and hard work. assigned to us or not.
 Creating life long  Safety of all children.
learners.  Open to new ideas, and
 Educating the whole strategies.
child.  Data driven instruction.
 Creating a safe
environment. Safe not
just from harm, but to
make mistakes.