|
Departments:
|
by Casey Kozlik Gordon Tech is an all boys inner-city Catholic high school on the northwest side of Chicago. We are located minutes away from Northeastern Illinois University. As a result of strategic planning that we did five years ago, Gordon Tech was on the eve of attempting far reaching school reform. Our administration was charged with changing our schedule to a 4x4 block schedule, moving to student-centered learning, and preparing for a coeducational school. Change is difficult and just one of the above changes would be considered a large enough project for a school to attempt. we were going to start addressing all of the changes at once. We knew that it was a near impossible feat, but we didn't think that we had much choice. We decided that we could not attempt the changes without trying to bring our faculty closer together so that we could work as a team. We all had to have the same vision and focus. I called Dan Creely, a professor at Northeastern Illinois University and a great friend, to seek his advice. Dan has had a tremendous effect on my development as a person and as an administrator. Dan asked the magic question: "What was it that we wanted to accomplish?" After our discussion Dan gave me a number of options. We decided that Dan would bring in a team of facilitators, all middle school and high school teachers, who were trained in team building. Our plan was to bring in the team for first day orientation for the new school year. The facilitators would put our faculty, staff, and administration in situations where they would experience frustration, joy, and teamwork. We wanted them to gain a new appreciation for each other by going through a number of low level initiatives in small groups. They would have to work together to solve problems using critical and creative thinking skills. The goals for the day were:
The evaluation of the orientation was the highest evaluation that we had for an orientation in twenty-five years. The faculty thought that the experience was so great that we should do these types initiatives each month. The results were so positive that I enrolled in Dan's Challenge Education course. After I finished the course I was so enthused that I sent one of our physical education teachers to take the course. It hasn't been easy, but we have accomplished the following changes since that orientation day five years ago: * The successful implementation of a 4x4 block schedule, everyone loves
it
In my opinion, Dan and his team of facilitators did more in one day to unsure success than our administration could have accomplished in a decade. His team started a ripple effect that continues today in our school community. I don't mind telling people that I get very emotional about how far we have come as a school since that day. The students are happy and they are learning more. They are learning in a mode that will serve them well in the future. The growth in the self-worth of our teachers, students, staff and administration is astounding. I am so proud of everyone. I would not trade jobs with any principal in the city. The transformation is indescribable; you have to experience it to truly appreciate what we have accomplished. We are guided by a quote that we have adopted: "The distance doesn't matter, it is the first step that is difficult." When we called Dan five years ago we took the proper first step. Casy Kozlik is the Principal of Gordon Tech High School. He can be contacted
at
|