With one objective being the identification of common trends across district schools and the consideration of implications for building-level observation/feedback processes, PK-12 principals engaged in a professional development centered around observation.
At nine district schools, the participants spent 30 to 45 minutes engaging in small team-based observation/feedback walk-through sessions, visiting a handful of classrooms.
“At the conclusion of each walk-through, principals individually made notes of observed strengths, as well as high leverage actions utilizing the observation/feedback cycle,” explained Assistant Superintendent Ted Johnson.
After the walk-throughs, each team gathered at Colorado State University Pueblo for a two-phase debriefing session:
1) For each classroom visited, the team discussed observed strengths and the consensus high-leverage action step (trajectory, phase, action) as well as the rationale.
2) Teams synthesized the entire school visit to identify trends.
In a whole group debrief, the following questions were addressed:
1) What are some common trends across our district to highlight as a result of today’s visits?
2) What supports can we collectively take to support progress along the Getting Better Faster Trajectory?
3) How has today’s activity informed your own practice with regard to observation/ feedback? What next steps/ takeaways will you bring back to your school?
