Leading the Tough Times in a Turnaround

Leading a turnaround school is tough. Leading a turnaround school through tough times is even tougher. What do you do as a leader when the staff begins to lose their focus and their momentum? How can you help to keep the level of commitment high? How do you encourage staff when they are feeling the weight of the work load? Shifting the trajectory of a school can feel all-consuming. There is no "down time" and no room for "good enough." The weight of the work can start to make people question their commitments and believe that there is an easier path somewhere with an easier work load and/or easier children.

Leadership is the start of moving a turnaround school. Chicago Public Schools developed a rubric of competencies for turnaround leaders that can assist in determining the "fit" for a school leader in the work that drives a turnaround school. http://www.publicimpact.com/publications/Turnaround_Leader_Competencies.pdf  According to the report, there are three key actions for successful turnaround leaders:

• Identify and focus on a few early wins with big payoffs, and use that early success to gain momentum 
• Break organization norms or rules to deploy new tactics needed for early wins 
• Act quickly in a fast cycle of trying new tactics, measuring results, discarding failed tactics and doing more of what works  

Mary Anne Radmacher said, "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, "I'll try again tomorrow." For a turnaround leader, this sums up the continuous push forward toward the goal of improved student achievement. For teachers leading their own classrooms, it is seeing the progress and celebrating each student as they move toward their goals, while continuing to reflect on improving practice, identifying growth areas, and using data to drive instruction. There is so little room for ego or hurt feelings in this work. There are tiny victories in each day, but there are also miles to go before we sleep. Turnaround leaders must be skillful at motivating and moving their staff, while always seeing the next step or the next goal. Teachers must be committed to continuous improvement, self-reflection, and receiving feedback, while inspiring and motivating students to continue to work harder than they may be used to. So, when the going gets tough, in a turnaround school, the tough must be even tougher.

 

 

 

 So, it comes down to commitment. A turnaround leader, or a turnaround teacher, must believe that the work and the children are worth the sacrifice. There will be tough days - days when you feel like you are losing the battle and that the sacrifice is too great. A turnaround leader must be committed to the belief that the right work will make a difference and that tomorrow will be a better day. Reflect, regroup, and remain committed to the belief that the students we serve deserve a bright future and we are the ones who will make it happen.