Reflect Grow and Do It Again with Travis Lape Transformative Principal 395

Mar 14, 2021

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Travis Lape is entering his fourth year as Innovative Programs Director for Harrisburg School District in Harrisburg, South Dakota. In this role Travis has helped shift the Harrisburg School District to a system of personalized learning. In 2015 Travis was recognized for his work with integrating technology into classrooms by being named TIE Technology Leader of the Year. Travis believes that by empowering learners to drive their learning we can start to create a new system that honors all learners and their cultures.

Creating a virtual school for learners in Harrisburg -
Face to face since august, but offering other options.
Zoom sessions all day wouldn’t work well.
Distance learning playbook.
We really partnered with out parents.
What does the model look like today?
Math, reading, writing time, experiential flex time.
20–30 minutes small group instruction.
New weekly schedule personalized for each child.
Really careful with how we schedule families.
How to make our schools nimble.
Lots of fighting with kids when they are home.
Kids can be in breakout rooms to have some additional support.
We need to think about what is important.
We are moving at a snail’s pace compared to what we can do in a classroom.
It has really forced our kids to ask questions.
With any shift in education, it really comes back to our mindset.
How can we still provide a learning opportunity for these kids?
The “What if” question changes our perspective.
We need to allow teachers to make decisions
Lead Like a Pirate - People are less likely to destroy something if they help build it.
Kinder teacher distance learning - morning and afternoon group.
Reflect, grow, and do it again
It comes down to feeling valued
Giving them time to wrestle with what is and isn’t working.
That love of learning is going to be gone.
It’s not about your kid vs the rest, it’s about their own personal growth.
If anything, the comparison hurts some of our kids by preventing them from reaching their fullest potential.
How to be a transformative principal? Pause and go into classrooms and watch staff do what they do. Enjoy what your staff is doing and recognize that through a note. “Thanks for daring to fly!”

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