The document summarizes a pysanky egg created by Jillian Sabadash to represent key ideas about effective schools and educational leadership. The front of the egg depicts symbols representing leadership, students, hope, expectations, knowledge, and character. The back represents the four roles of school administrators. The sides depict six of Lezotte's seven correlates of effective schools. Symbols throughout, like diamonds and triangles, represent concepts like knowledge, protection, and warmth. Colors also carry meaning. The top and bottom reinforce the message that collaboration and use of the seven correlates can create a "Harbor of Hope" for students.

1. Jillian Sabadash
Final Education 529
Brenda MacIsaac
Response: March 19, 2013
Representing
with Pysanky
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Писанка

2. The Process…

3. Using the kistka
The three kistka’s and beeswax used

4. From kistka to dye…
Using the kistka to outline pattern
before choosing the next dye to use

5. Ready to candle…
Tricky technique: Heating the wax to melt without scorching the egg to
reveal the final product.

6. Revealing the design beneath!
My Ukrainian heritage and my beliefs around
educational leadership and pedagogy blended
beautifully in the art of Pysanky.
The word Pysanka refers specifically to an egg
decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk
designs. Traditional patterns, designs and
colors were all carefully chosen to represent a
visual synthesis identifying important
correlates of effective schools and teaching. In
the effort to use traditional Ukrainian symbols
to represent key ideas and messages, an egg
was chosen as eggs represent a new
beginning and a renewed sense of hope. Once
carefully designed using a kistka, dyed to
choose color patterns, and candled to carefully
remove the beeswax, the final product created
could only be classified as “The Pysanka
Perspective: Using the art of pysanky to
represent essential correlates and practices
used in effective schools.”

7. Centered on the front of the egg is a Leadership Compass. Traditionally
white represents rejoicing while pink represents success. The
The front… compass was chosen to remind us that leadership is central the
success of any school and that all leaders operate using various
leadership styles. Effective leaders are flexible in their leadership
style and understand the impact it can have on others.
Within the circle in the center are spiral lines representing youth, as
students are central to everything we do as leaders. Traditionally, a
circular shape symbolizes love: carefully chosen to represent the
extent to which educators care about the students they teach.
Pysanky teaching reveals that green is used to represent hope.
Used both in the student area, and the leadership image, hope
provides the foundation for all strategies, practices and decisions
made in the effort to create effective schools. The larger circle
designed to connect to the leadership compass implies staff have
an essential role to play in the leadership process within a school.
Ladders, carefully placed toward the bottom suggest the notion of rising
to expectations while equally placed diamonds symbolize
knowledge and equity. Within the diamonds are images of the sun
designed to represent warmth: the notion that we must work to
improve achievement for all student regardless of race, ethnicity or
socio-economic status.
The top section of the front design reveals both plum trees representing
wisdom and birds feet representing protection of young. Both
images were designed to remind us of the importance of character
(wisdom) and competence (safe and orderly environment) when
striving to create effective schools. Together, the front image
synthesizes a shared vision amongst staff, students and
administrators while essential correlates are identified in an overall
vision, guided by the compass toward a common goal: Shaping the
moral character of our students while improving student
achievement and individual performance.

8. The back of the egg was designed to represent the four major
roles of School Based Administrators. (Lezotte) The diamond
in the center represents the four points of the leadership
compass. The diamond represents knowledge and wisdom
and its’ placement divides the back section of the egg into
The back…
four sections. Section one (purple) symbolizes the role of the
Principal as an Instructional Leader. Purple represents the
trust we must create with our staff to create the environment
required to be effective leaders together. Section two (blue)
uses blue to represent the need for patience when fulfilling
the role as “coach”. It is important Principals support staff by
celebrating their successes and are supportive in their areas
of need. The third section (green) represents the Principal’s
role as a leader of learners. Green symbolizes the hope
leaders must have when leading staff toward effective school
practices. The last section (pink) represents the role of
assessment leader. Pink traditionally symbolizes success
which should be the foremost goal for all effective
administrators in terms of student achievement. Each section
is equal to represent the importance of reflection while all
lines are parallel to indicate the importance of aligning
curriculum, assessment and each of Lezotte’s seven
correlates of effective schools. Ram’s horns located in each
section traditional represent strength and leadership
reminding us of the important role leadership plays in
improving overall school climate and student achievement.
The center of the egg is designed using symbols of knowledge
(diamonds in pink=success) along with a starburst
representing hope. Circles symbolize the unexpected
blessings that can come from sorrow reminding us of the
impact we can have on all students. Within the center there
are also “cracks” carefully located within the diamond
(knowledge) to remind us all students must have equal
access to a viable curriculum or the cracks will spread,
widening the achievement gap which will eventually break
“the egg”.

9. The sides of the egg were carefully designed to represent six of the
seven correlates of effective schools (Lezotte). Located
between the back and the front designs, both representing
leadership and the role of instructional leaders, we are
reminded of the seventh correlate. Netting symbolically
Side left…
represents the “fishing of men”. In this case, it is important to
remember we too are fisherman seeking to catch and create
relationships with students that will inspire lifelong learning.
The three images located in the center are designed within the
diamond (knowledge) to represent the knowledge educators
need to create effective schools (Lezotte) and dyed green to
represent hope (Hulley & Dier). The triangles carefully created
to support the diamond shapes within it are used to symbolize
protection in traditional teaching. This protection reminds us of
our obligation to protect and sustain the efforts used within
schools to create a school operating on the seven correlates.
Lezotte termed this “Correlates in Action”. The color black
represents the notion of the absolute while blue (the bottom
two triangles) remind us the entire process requires patience.
Diamond 1: Settled within the “patient” triangles is the Roman
Numeral IV. Numbers were used to represent data for the
frequent monitoring of student progress. The pink center
symbolizes success when data is used both independently and
in data teams to inform practice.
Diamond 2: Located in the center and designed in white to
represent youth is an equals sign used to symbolize equal
opportunity to learn and time on task.
Diamond 3: Located at the top of these 3 correlates is an eye used
to represent the importance of a clear and focused mission.
Hulley & Dier remind us “to teach them you have to reach
them”…to reach them, we first need to see them for who they
are as young men and women full of hope for the future.

10. The right side of the egg represents the last of the
Side right…
seven correlates. Settled again in diamonds to
represent the knowledge educators require to
create effective schools, and the patience required
to get there (blue) additional triangles and circles
have been added to this panel. Triangles
emphasize warmth and love, while circles
represent unexpected blessings. These designs
were carefully chosen to remind us that the three
correlates located on this panel have the potential
to impact both the character and competence
(Hulley & Dier) of our students and schools.
Diamond 4: Located at the bottom to represent the
importance of positive home-school relations is a
church. In Pysanky teaching, the church
represents the coming together of peoples. Hulley
& Dier remind us of the impact this relationship can
have on student achievement. Yellow is also used
to represent the “perpetuation of family”.
Diamond 5: An arrow was used to represent a climate
of high expectations for success. Designed in pink
to symbolize success, educators must remember
the importance of creating a school climate where
students are motivated to meet high expectations,
Diamond 6: Symbolically, the sun is used to represent
safety as its rays cast upon you. This image
represents the necessity of a safe and orderly
environment. Without this correlate, students and
staff lack the organizational structure required to
create schools based on the other six correlates.

11. The bottom…
The top and bottom of the egg were designed to
reflect important messages that encapsulate all
other themes and correlates located on the egg.
As both the top and bottom physically touch the
sides, front and back, it is important to
remember how the rest of the images come
together to support those created on the top
and bottom.
Designed to reflect the top image, the circle and
waves represent both hope (green) and
success (pink). The waves located on the
bottom image are uneven and perhaps could be
described as “uncharted waters”. The band of
triangles surrounding this image reminds us we
have the knowledge to chart these waters by
using the seven correlates to secure (anchor) a
beginning and create a shared vision of where
we need to go to create effective schools.
When this all begins working as a process and
we begin re-culturing our schools, the “harbor”
becomes more calm and collectively staff,
students, parents and community members
share the responsibility to develop character
and competence in our schools.

12. The top…
The top image designed in a circle reminds us that
collaboration is essential. Dufour & Marzano
emphasize the use of PLC’s to enhance collective
capacity. The waves, dyed green (hope) and
designed equally, symbolizes the calmness of the
harbor when all of the correlates are working
effectively in schools. This “harbor” represents my
desire to lead a school that could one day be named a
“Harbor of Hope”. The sun in the center reminds us of
the importance of creating a safe environment and
traditionally can also symbolize patience. It is
important to remember change is a process, not an
event. It is often a difficult but rewarding journey
toward success (pink). Hulley & Dier remind us ‘when
schools improve for the sake of students, the journey
is worth the effort’. Together these images represent
the collective mission required to create effective
schools and improve student achievement. The ring of
hope (bottom triangles) was removed for the top
section indicating that hope (green) is now woven into
the calmness, trust has been created and together,
although school administrators cannot direct the
winds, they can certainly adjust their sails…

13. The Pysanka Perspective…
It is important to remember that an egg represents a new
beginning and based on the very nature of its shape has
no beginning and no end. The process of re-culturing a
school is very much the same. It is an ongoing process that
continues to evolve.
As leaders, we must remember our role is the compass in the
storm. No matter how rough the waters may become, our
staff, parents and students depend on us to find the way
and provide guidance to calmer waters.
I have sailed my entire life and have spent much time aboard
sailboats of all different shapes and sizes. I have been with
crews that were amazing and some who required much
guidance. If I could leave you with one thought it was a
lesson I learned at a very young age…
If one does not know to which port one
is sailing, no wind is favourable.

14. References
Harbors of Hope: Hulley & Dier
What Effective Schools Do: Lezotte
Leaders of Learning: Durfour & Marzano
Ukrainian Folk Pysanka: Manbo
Youtube: Class videos & Powerpoints