Personal Growth Time @ WHS

I strongly believe one of my responsibilities as Principal is to find different ways to make life less hectic and less stressful for my teachers.  I try to do this in a few ways:

• Eliminate distractions  
• Provide support and resources
• Respect your time
• Provide meaningful professional development 
• Provide Clear, Constant, Communication

This coming school year I have a proposal for all of you that will give you more time as teachers to grow and improve as educators.  A few years ago I heard about the Google work model of 80/20.  Employees at Google are allowed to spend 20% of their work time on “Passion Projects" which are not necessarily connected to their current job assignment/responsibilities.   The idea behind their 80/20 model is to keep employees thinking, creating and possibly developing something new that in the end could benefit Google.  New Milford High School implemented an 80/20 model two years ago with great success. The concept is now finding its way into more and more schools around the world.  

I would like to create an 80/20 model here at WHS called “PGT” Personal Growth Time.  I want to give you the freedom to explore, learn and create as long as the time spent is used to improve student learning and achievement here at Waldwick High School.  This model is optional and there is no expectation from me that everyone will want to take advantage of it.  

How are we going to this? ……. I know that is what you are all thinking. 

Here’s my plan.  For those staff members that are interested in being part of the WHS “PGT” Model, I will reduce your non-instructional duty assignment to only three or four days a week.   That means if you have cafeteria duty you would only be there for three days a week.  The same idea would apply to study halls, media center and hall duties.   

During your Personal Growth Time you will be expected to be working towards your “Learning Goal” and building your “Learning Portfolio”.

Examples of possible Learning Goals determined by YOU:

• Become a connected educator by developing and engaging in a Personal Learning Network (PLN)
• Researching best practice
• Developing innovative learning activity
• Creating interdisciplinary lessons
• Engaging in face-to-face professional development
• Learning to use new technologies
• Collaborating on projects with colleagues
• Create legacy projects 
• Enhance curriculum 
• Find/Research Common Core Resources 

If you choose to take advantage of the PGT Model, then you will be asked to create a Learning Portfolio.  The idea of the portfolio is to create a bank of information for you to refer back to or share with others.   You will document your progress throughout the year towards your Learning Goal.  How you create the portfolio is totally up to you. 

What your Learning Portfolio could look like:

It could be a log, website, Edmodo, blog, wiki, binder, etc. 

I will meet with each teacher twice during the year to hear about the progress (Mid-Year and End of Year Evaluation meeting) 

What the time is not for:

Doing graduate school work

Grading papers 

Having a second lunch

Calling parents for class related issues

Leaving the building 

If your interested, please fill out the Google Form below and create your learning goal.   If you would like to talk more about this, have questions, ideas please email me or give me a call.  I would love to hear your feedback.  

I do need to know if your interested by August 9 so I can finalize duty assignments.