Fetc 2022 Leadership Workshop

Creating and Leading School Culture:
Innovation, Leadership, Communication
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Orange County Convention Center - South 200B
Workshop facilitated for you by:
DR. JULIE A. EVANS
CEO, PROJECT TOMORROW
@JULIEEVANS_PT
JEVANS@TOMORROW.ORG

CREATING AND LEADING SCHOOL CULTURE:
INNOVATION, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATION
@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Provide professional learning to:
➢ Support your development of a new culture of innovation
➢ Understand role of individual and organization in innovation culture
➢ Stimulate new discussions and ideas to increase your leadership
effectiveness

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
1. Why is innovative leadership so critical today
2. Understanding culture and innovation
3. Communications strategies to support an innovation culture
4. Developing a culture built for today’s adaptive challenges

Getting to know each other!
Introduce yourself to someone you do not know and say hi!

Join us on Twitter:
@JulieEvans_PT
@SpeakUpEd
@ProjectTomorrow
@FETC
Creating a community around today’s discussion

About Project Tomorrow
(www.tomorrow.org)
▪ Nonprofit education organization supporting K-12
education since 1996 through research, professional
learning and school-based programs
▪ Mission is to support the development of new capacities
and better decisions within the K-12 ecosystem
▪ Programs and research focus on role of innovation and
new learning models within education, notably around
digital learning. We believe in the power of
transformational teaching and learning to support
students’ preparation for future success.

About the Speak Up Research Project
▪ Annual research project since 2003
▪ We provide education leaders with a suite of normed
online surveys to collect valid feedback from their
stakeholders
▪ All preK-12 schools – public, private, parochial,
charter, virtual - are eligible to use the Speak Up tools
▪ Participating entities get summary reports with all
locally collected data + state and national data for
benchmarks
▪ Turnkey service provided by Project Tomorrow with no
charge/fee to participating districts
▪ National reports inform education, business and
policy decisions on K-12 education

▪ We will be using Speak Up national data
results in our workshop today to
provide examples and context.
▪ To learn more about Speak Up and/or
to get a copy of today’s presentation
sent directly to you, add your name and
contact info to our print sign in sheets
or on this online form.

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Why is innovative leadership so critical today
The pandemic and
necessary shifts and
disruptions in K-12
education have changed
schools forever.
Some people just don’t
know that yet …

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
We each have a different
view on the impact of the
pandemic. And so do our
stakeholders.
This makes it more
challenging to make the
right decisions for our
schools and community.

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
▪ Virtual learning exposed why innovation is so hard in education
▪ New momentum is growing for a broader definition of what constitutes effective learning
▪ Increased awareness of social justice issues – especially in education
▪ Heightened focus on social, emotional and mental health considerations
▪ The role of the school in the community is evolving to meet new, unprecedented local needs
▪ Parents have new demands and expectations for education
▪ Understanding equity is about much more than access to a Chromebook and hotspot
▪ New vulnerabilities to cyberattacks in our education systems
Big picture insights from the Speak Up Research this year:
What has been the impact of the pandemic on K-12 education?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
What issues are
“waking up”
K-12 Leaders in the
middle of the night?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Superintendents & District Administrators
say these are their top “wake up” issues:
1. Student learning loss/recovery
2. Staff morale and motivation
3. Mental/emotional supports for students
4. Effective use of technology
5. Adequate funding
What issues are “waking up” K-12 Leaders in the
middle of the night?
Source: Speak Up 2020-21 national findings

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
What are parents’ top
concerns about their
child’s future?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
What are parents’ top concerns about their child’s future?
Parents’ top concerns:
1. Impact of COVID and school closures on my
child’s social and emotional well-being (67%)
2. Impact of COVID and school closures on my
child’s academic achievement (61%)
3. My child’s lack of engagement in school (50%)
4. My child is not learning the right skills in school to
be successful in the future (43%)
5. Taking on too much student tuition debt for
college or job training (32%)
Source: Speak Up 2020-21 national findings

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Given changing demands and environments, we need to think differently about our leadership
practices. Increasingly, these five leadership characteristics are paramount:
▪ Expert challenge assessment - diagnosing the challenge is the first step to identifying appropriate
solutions
▪ Creative solution development – pushes problem solving beyond the boundaries of the “box” and
invents new ways to tackle old problems
▪ Communicating effectively both internally and externally – understanding that not everyone
sees the problem or your proposed solutions the same way
▪ Reading the room correctly – exercising emotional intelligence to interpret challenges and
opportunities when engaging with stakeholders
▪ Developing a vision for the future – a vision that enthusiastically embraces an unknown future while
also learning from recent experiences

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Culture
Creating and Leading a “Culture of Innovation”

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
How do you define ….
Culture

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
What do we mean by the term
“organizational culture?”
Culture is the process of “sense-making” in organizations.
Sum of rituals and values which serve as the glue to integrate members into an
organization.
Culture is a carrier of meaning. Not only “what is” but “why is.”
An organization is a living culture that can adapt to reality as fast as possible.
For a school organization, culture is your DNA – it defines how you operate.
Culture

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Why define your organization’s culture?
If we can define what our culture is, we can diagnose
problems and chart new paths to greater innovation
and effectiveness.
Culture

@fetc @SpeakUpEd

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
How do we build
support for innovation
within our school and
district ecosystems . . .
while acknowledging
the critical role of
culture?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
It starts with communications!
How do we build
support for innovation
within our school and
district ecosystems . . .
while acknowledging
the role of culture?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
It starts with communications!
Culture comes from the way we talk and treat each other and from the
expectations we set for each other.
Organizational culture generally focuses on one important dynamic – making
effective small group decisions.
To do that school leaders need:
▪ Candid communications
▪ Belief in healthy conflict
▪ Balance task and process: how we are doing with what are we doing
(PMA Consulting, LLC, 2015)

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Let’s talk about communications!
General types of
communication
Order of when
we learned this
skill
% used typically Priority in
teaching
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
General types of
communication
Order of when
we learned this
skill
teaching
Listening 1st
Speaking 2nd
Reading 3rd
Writing 4th

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
General types of
communication
Order of when
we learned this
skill
teaching
Listening 1st 45%
Speaking 2nd 30%
Reading 3rd 16%
Writing 4th 9%

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
General types of
communication
Order of when
we learned this
skill
teaching
Listening 1st 45% 4th
Speaking 2nd 30% 3rd
Reading 3rd 16% 1st
Writing 4th 9% 2nd

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
What we say – in words 7%
How we say it – tone 38%
Non-verbals – body language 55%
How do people “listen” to what we say?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
What we are learning about effective online communications
▪ Turn on video (as a strategic approach)
▪ Project confidence vocally – moderate
vocally
▪ Hold eye contact
▪ Annunciate and speak clearly
▪ Non-verbal gestures and facial expressions
matter
▪ Pause to allow for processing
▪ Be present
▪ Smile … a lot

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Emotional Intelligence (EI)
Recognize, understand and manage our own emotions
and
Recognize, understand and influence the emotions of
others
In practical terms, this means being aware that
emotions can drive our behaviors and impact people
(positively and negatively), and learning how to manage
those emotions – both our own and others

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
The four types of EI that are essential
for leaders
1. Self-awareness
2. Self-control
3. Social awareness
4. Relationship management

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Leveraging effective communications as a leadership practice
4 key enablers that help to build a culture of trust, candor and respect:
▪ Tone of respect and openness from the top to the bottom
▪ Agreement on optimal norms of communications
▪ Team members get to know each other – and learn how to communicate with each other
▪ Exercise active discussion, dialogue and debate – to inform the right decisions that need to be
made by the organization

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Interactive activity:
✓ What is your default communications style?
✓ How does your communications style impact
your leadership effectiveness?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Process of self-discovery:
What is your default communications style?
1. Complete self-assessment
2. Score self-assessment

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Example:
1. I like action
2. I deal with problems in a systemic way
See the list of paired statements.

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Example:
1. I like action
2. I deal with problems in a systemic way
Pick one statement
per pair – and
circle either first or
second statement
– what sounds
most like you?
No skipping, no
double answers

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
2. Score your self-assessment
Example:
Style 1:
1 – 8 – 9 – 13 – 17 – 24 – 26 – 31 …
Style 2:
2 – 7 – 10 – 14 – 18 – 23 – 25 – 30 …

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
2. Score your self-assessment
Example:
Style 1:
1 – 8 – 9 – 13 – 17 – 24 – 26 – 31 …
Style 2:
2 – 7 – 10 – 14 – 18 – 23 – 25 – 30 …
On your score
sheet circle all of
the answers you
chose – then
count the # of
circled responses
per style

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
What is your default communication style?
2. Score self-assessment
3. Go to your “style
corner” and meet your
style colleagues!
Your “style” is the one with the highest number
of circled responses

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Introducing the 4 Default Communications Styles

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Introducing the 4 Default Communications Styles
What
matters?
✓ Content
✓ Process
✓ Delivery

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Let’s take some batting
practice . . .
We need some hard-hitting
volunteers to step up
to the plate!
Communications strategies to support an innovation culture

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Role playing different communications styles
Scenario #1
Discuss your agreement or
disagreement with this statement:
Face-to-face learning is always
better for students than online
learning.

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Role playing different communications styles
Scenario #2
Discuss your agreement or
disagreement with this statement:
Innovation is more successful when
it is bottom up vs. top down.

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
1. How can a leader’s personal default communications styles support or
discourage innovation in a school or district?
2. What types of communication “habits” can negatively impact group
discussion, dialogue and debate?
3. What strategies could be used to increase the effectiveness of
communications, especially in times of change or disruption, and create a
culture of trust, candor and respect?
Questions to think about . . . . .

@fetc @SpeakUpEd

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Five key characteristics or attributes that are essential for today’s leaders:
▪ Expert challenge assessment
▪ Creative solution development
▪ Communicating effectively both internally and externally
▪ Reading the room correctly
▪ Developing a vision for the future

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Expert challenge assessment:
▪ Ability to accurately identify if a challenge is a technical challenge or an
adaptive challenge
▪ Ability to bring to the table appropriate solutions – based upon the correct
diagnosis of the challenge type

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Technical vs Adaptive Challenges
Technical Challenges:
▪ Easy to identify
▪ Often resolvable with ready-made
solutions
▪ Can be solved by an authority or expert
▪ Require small changes contained within
organizational boundaries
▪ People are receptive usually
▪ Proven and tested solutions can be
implemented quickly – even through a
mandate
Based upon the work of Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky (Harvard University)

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Technical Challenges:
▪ Easy to identify
▪ Often resolvable with ready-made
solutions
▪ Can be solved by an authority or expert
▪ Require small changes contained within
organizational boundaries
▪ People are receptive usually
▪ Proven and tested solutions can be
implemented quickly – even through a
mandate
Example:
▪ Fixing a broken arm

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Adaptive Challenges:
▪ Difficult to identify (easy to deny)
▪ Require change in values, beliefs, roles,
relationships and approaches to work
▪ People will the problem must be the solvers
▪ Require large changes across organizational
boundaries
▪ People often resist even acknowledging
adaptive challenges
▪ “Solutions” require experiments and new
discoveries and can take a long time to
implement (cannot be mandated)

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Adaptive Challenges:
▪ Difficult to identify (easy to deny)
▪ Require change in values, beliefs, roles,
relationships and approaches to work
▪ People will the problem must be the solvers
▪ Require large changes across organizational
boundaries
▪ People often resist even acknowledging
adaptive challenges
▪ “Solutions” require experiments and new
discoveries and can take a long time to
implement (cannot be mandated)
Example:
▪ Changing college
curriculum to meet new
employer needs

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
▪ Problems that can be solved by the knowledge or expertise of people in
authority are technical challenges.
▪ Problems that require human powered leadership are adaptive challenges –
solutions lie not in technical answers but in the people themselves.
▪ Technical challenges reside in the head – adaptive challenges in the stomach and
the heart as they often require changes in values, beliefs or mindsets.
▪ The knee jerk reaction is to see every problem as a technical challenge.
▪ A significant failure of leadership is to try and treat an adaptive challenge with a
technical solution diagnosis.

@fetc @SpeakUpEd

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Situation: Person A struggles with losing weight
▪ Dietitian recommends a low fat, low carb diet with weekly exercise
and Person A changes their diet and exercise plan accordingly
▪ But Person A loves chocolate chip cookies and can’t give up that
daily habit!
▪ Result: Person A still struggles with losing weight

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Situation: Person A struggles with losing weight
Diagnosis: Technical or Adaptive Challenge?
▪ Dietitian recommends a low fat, low carb diet with weekly exercise
and Person A changes their diet and exercise plan accordingly
▪ But Person A loves chocolate chip cookies and can’t give up that
daily habit!
▪ Result: Person A still struggles with losing weight

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Situation: Students using their smartphone in class when it is
not allowed
Is this a Technical or
Adaptive Challenge?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Situation: Students using their smartphone in class when it is
not allowed
What are the typical
Technical solutions?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Situation: Students using their smartphone in class
when it is not allowed
But what if we think about
this as an adaptive challenge!
What could be some
potential solutions?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Looking at the challenges or
problems in our schools or district
with fresh eyes …
Seeing things differently

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
▪ Virtual learning exposed why innovation is so hard in education
▪ New momentum is growing for a broader definition of what constitutes effective learning
▪ Increased awareness of social justice issues – especially in education
▪ Heightened focus on social, emotional and mental health considerations
▪ The role of the school in the community is evolving to meet new, unprecedented local needs
▪ Parents have new demands and expectations for education
▪ Understanding equity is about much more than access to a Chromebook and hotspot
▪ New vulnerabilities to cyberattacks in our education systems
Big picture insights from the Speak Up Research this year:
New eyes: are these technical or adaptive challenges?

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Now you try!
Assignment:
1. Choose of these Speak Up trends or select a vexing current challenge
or problem in your school or district
2. Diagnosis if it is a technical or adaptive challenge
3. Identify some potential new solutions (if technical or adaptive)

@fetc @SpeakUpEd

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
From identifying challenges
appropriately to becoming an
adaptive leader

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Four foundational principles of effective adaptive leadership
1. Organizational justice: a culture where everyone has the opportunity to be heard
2. Emotional intelligence: relationships matter especially when change happens
3. Development: empowering colleagues and employees to learn and grown alongside
organizational change
4. Character: ethnical responsibility and morality with heightened transparency

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
A successful adaptive leader displays the following traits:
▪ Goal-oriented
▪ Open-minded
▪ Appreciative of challenges
▪ Committed
▪ Proactive
▪ Embrace the unknown
▪ Experimental
▪ Emotionally aware

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Challenges of adaptive leadership and organizational culture
▪ Mindset: “Not a one captain ship.” Getting buy in and mindset for adaptive
leadership organizationwide can be difficult.
▪ Recognition: Not all practices and policies are effective. Need to recognition
the past efforts but also to reinforce value of thinking differently.
▪ Hesitancy: Some within the organization may be hesitant or resist changes;
without full implementation, the change may not be effective.
▪ Power: Shifting power and control from a few to many – everyone can be a
leader now

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Wrap Up Time for
Today’s
Workshop

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Reflection time:
1. What was the most important or
interesting thing you learned today?
2. What is one thing that you will share
with a colleague from today’s
workshop?
3. How will you use this knowledge to
become a more effective leader?

Speak Up reports, infographics,
briefings and data insights for schools
and districts www.tomorrow.org
Additional resources
▪ Use Speak Up research to inform your programs
and initiatives – including local advocacy
▪ Share Speak Up resources with your colleagues as
a value-add and trusted source for information
▪ Encourage your school or district to use the Speak
Up tools and be part of the larger Speak Up
movement
▪ Engage with us to further explore how to use
stakeholder feedback data more effectively

▪ We used some Speak Up national data
results in our workshop today to
provide examples and context.
▪ To learn more about Speak Up and/or
to get a copy of today’s presentation
sent directly to you, add your name and
contact info to our print sign in sheets
or on this online form.

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
www.lifelessonsinleadership.com
Life Lessons in Leadership:
The Way of the Wallaby
For Leaders Ages 8 to 88
By Ann McMullan & Michael Barrett

Wi-Fi: OfficialFETC2022 PW: Education
@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Creating And Leading School Culture:
Innovation, Leadership, Communication (W45)
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Your reflections and feedback are appreciated.
Submit your survey responses on the FETC Mobile App

@fetc @SpeakUpEd
Dr. Julie A. Evans CEO, Project Tomorrow
Other FETC workshops and sessions this year
Session Title Code Date Time Room
Asking New Questions to Design a
Fresh Playbook for Innovation
W015 Tuesday, 1/25/22 8:30 am – 10:30 am South 220B
Building Teacher Capacity for Mobile
Learning in Rural Communities
CO19 Wednesday, 1/26/22 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm South 320D
Infusing Computational Thinking into
Everyday Elementary Curriculum – Yes,
You Can!
W820 Thursday, 1/27/22 10:30 am – 12:30 pm North 322
Addressing the Leadership Disconnects
on Cybersecurity
C91 Thursday, 1/27/22 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm South 210B

Julie A. Evans, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Project Tomorrow
jevans@tomorrow.org
@JulieEvans_PT
949-609-4661
Thank you for joining me today!

Fetc 2022 Leadership Workshop

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