This document discusses building school systems and structures around core values and beliefs. It focuses on creating schools that teach students, not just subjects, through understanding-driven projects, homework, and class participation rather than recall-based tests. It advocates examining current systems like scheduling and hiring to better reflect a school's mission. It also addresses creating change through short, medium, and long-term action plans to move systems closer to espoused values over time.

1. Where Does It Live?
Building Systems and Structures
Around What You Believe
Chris Lehmann
Science Leadership Academy

2. Project-Based Learning
Student-Centered Learning
Numeracy
Differentiated Instruction 21st Century Literacy
Edu-Speak
Direct Instruction
Authentic Assessment
Standards-Driven Instruction
Accountability
Life-Long Learning

3. Mission Statements
Should Do Their Job

4. We Deny Words Power
When They Are Not Embedded In Practice

5. What Do You Want
Your School To Be?

6. SLA Mission Statement
• "How do we learn?"
• "What can we create?"
• "What does it mean to lead?"
These three essential questions form the basis of instruction at the Science Leadership Academy
(SLA), a Philadelphia high school opened in September 2006. SLA is built on the notion that inquiry is
the very first step in the process of learning. Developed in partnership with The Franklin Institute
and its commitment to inquiry-based science, SLA provides a rigorous, college-preparatory
curriculum with a focus on science, technology, mathematics and entrepreneurship. Students at SLA
learn in a project-based environment where the core values of inquiry, research,
collaboration, presentation and reflection are emphasized in all classes.
The structure of the Science Leadership Academy reflects its core values, with longer class periods
to allow for more laboratory work in science classes and performance-based learning in all classes. In
addition, students in the upper grades have more flexible schedules to allow for opportunities for
dual enrollment programs with area universities and career development internships in laboratory
and business settings, as well as with The Franklin Institute.
At SLA, learning is not just something that happens from 8:30am to 3:00pm, but a continuous
process that expands beyond the four walls of the classroom into every facet of our lives.

7. What Is Implied:
The Ethic of Care
(yes, we’re planning on updating the mission.)

8. Hiring
Scheduling
Curriculum
Administration
Systems and Structures
Parent Relations
Professional
Food Service
Development
Assessment

9. Say What You Do
And Do What You Say

10. Caring Institutions
We Teach Kids, Not Subjects

11. Common Language of
Teaching and Learning

12. Common Inputs

13. Common Process

14. Common Outputs

15. Traditional
Classrooms:
Recall-Based Tests
Homework
Projects
Class Participation

16. The Schools
We Need:
Understanding-
Driven Projects
Homework
Class Participation
Tests & Quizzes

17. ILPs and Capstones

18. The Schedule

19. Hiring

20. Break-Out:
Examine One System or Structure of Your
School or Classroom.
How can you change it to better reflect your
values / mission?

21. The Big Question:
• What is the worst consequence of your
best idea
• How will you mitigate that problem?

22. Creating Change
What is the action plan to move the systems and
structures of your school / classroom closer to the
values you espouse?
• One month plan
• One year plan
• Three year plan

23. Keep In Touch:
Chris Lehmann
Science Leadership Academy
chris@practicaltheory.org
http://www.practicaltheory.org
Twitter: chrislehmann
Skype: chrislehmann
EduCon 2.3 -- Jan. 28-30, 2011
http://educon22.org