August 2007: Leading Student Achievement: Our Principal Purpose

In August 2007, principals gathered to begin Year 3 of the Leading Student Achievement project. The symposium began with a presentation by Dr. Kenneth Leithwood about the concept of "project" and the conditions that result in success for a project. During his presentation he discusses the evaluation process of the LSA project for Year 3, and states the objectives that will guide the project in 2007 – 2008. He then describes the five key school conditions that impact student learning, and outlines the core leadership practices that build these five conditions.

On Day Two of the symposium, Gayle Gregory, the keynote speaker, was interviewed. In the interview, Gregory answers a variety of questions concerning professional learning communities.

Dr. Avis Glaze of Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, closed the symposium by highlighting key concepts, reviewing past efforts and assessing the status of the LSA project at the present point in its implementation.

Dr. Kenneth Leithwood, Professor of Educational Leadership, O.I.S.E./UT

In the video segments below, Dr. Leithwood explains the concept of "project" as well as those conditions that result in success for a project. He then points out that there is always an evaluation component to a project and describes the specific steps in the evaluation process that will occur for the LSA project during the coming year. He next focuses on the objectives which are to guide the project in 2007 – 2008 and highlights two existing priorities that warrant ongoing attention, namely, professional learning communities and focused instruction. At this point in the presentation, Dr. Leithwood provides details on the five key school conditions that impact student learning, indicating that these are to be the priorities for the LSA project in 2007 – 2008. He also outlines core leadership practices that build these five conditions and concludes with a reflective activity for participants.

Video Segments:

Introduction: The Concept of 'Project' (Length: 9 minutes)
Objectives to Guide LSA Initiatives over the Next Year (Length: 14 minutes)
Key School Conditions Which Have Important Impact on Student Achievement (Length: 18 minutes)
Core Practices of Successful Leaders (Length: 10 minutes)
Conclusion (Length: 2 minutes)

Additional Materials:

Gayle Gregory, Educational Consultant

In this interview, Gayle Gregory answers a variety of questions concerning professional learning communities. These questions and her answers focus on the following: common characteristics of PLCs, the process for establishing a PLC, the role of the principal in implementing and sustaining a PLC, protocols that are most effective, strategies to encourage reluctant participants, and the benefits of PLCs.

Video Segment:

Teacher Teams That Get Results (Length: 37 minutes)

Musings Dr. Avis Glaze, Chief Student Achievement Officer of Ontario and CEO, The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat

In this presentation, Dr. Glaze begins by expressing appreciation to key participants in the LSA project, namely principals and vice principals, supervisory officers, student achievement officers at LNS, organizers within the three principals' associations, and the technical support personnel at CSC. She then proceeds into the body of her presentation and highlights a number of major topics. She first focuses on principals as learning-centred leaders and discusses characteristics of effective leadership within schools. She next refers to the status of Ontario education in 2002-2003 and highlights some of the strategies deemed necessary at that time to bring about improvement in student learning and achievement. Dr. Glaze points out that, as a result of implementing these strategies, there are many signs that progress has been achieved. She lists a number of these signs and then concludes by providing a number of suggestions of actions that will ensure continued progress toward the goal of improved achievement for all students.

Video Segment:

Musings (Length: 45 minutes)