Meet and Confer is a valuable process. It allows for
- Crucial conversations
- Leading with courage
- Serving with due diligence
- Models transparency
- Starting with the why
- All stakeholders know purpose
- Links to mission, vision, beliefs, values
- Sets priorities
- Sustains credibility
The Socio Cognitive Leadership strategy that will assist me most as a leader when making decisions that enhance student learning will be a shared vision. I have learned that a vision is not created through word smithing, it should reflect a clear and strong focus, with student learning as the chief priority for the school. In order to enhance student learning, I want my staff and students to know where I stand, and that is with students as the priority of every decision I make. I want to always keep at the forefront DuFour's guiding questions in my shared vision as I focus on student learning - What do we want students to learn? How will we know they are learning? How will we respond to the students who did not learn? How will they respond if they already know it?
Getting Feedback (Meet & Confer)
How?
- Handbook Committee, Compensation Committee (fist to 5)
- Union Member on both committees
- Staff volunteers and the district chooses members from that pool
- The purpose was to develop a handbook and compensation together
- Surveys
- Listening sessions
- Recertified Union Reps
Feedback Input/Recommendation/Decide
- Shared Agenda / Minutes
- Voting
- Administration Decision
- All members of the committee are responsible for feedback
- Committees forward recommendations
- Decision is ultimately the School Board’s, but having board members on the committee increases transparency and credibility
Best Practice Showcase
- Facilitators (impartial) hired for listening sessions/meetings
- Collaborative approaches
- Recommendations from group forwarded to decision-making body
How do these help?