The Paradox of Autonomy
/So what's the balance between autonomy and burnout?
Read MoreMCRSD believes in the model of Teacher-Led Schools. Teacher-leaders are empowered and supported to make the decisions that best support teaching, leading, and governance on their campuses. Learn more about our teacher-led school model here.
The following resources are created and compiled to support our teacher-leaders with their important work.
As we all move forward, may we reflect back on this past year and celebrate the things that matter—relationships, growth, and connection.
Read MoreWhy do we have so many educational practices that promote isolation? Rows of desks, desk-top cardboard dividers, loss of opportunities to connect like recess, detention, suspension, and expulsion. We know kids can't learn when they feel excluded, but still, these practices persist in most schools in the country.
Read MoreThere are purposeful actions that educators can do to support preventing or alleviating the effects of toxic stress. Research says we can do that by ensuring all students have access to safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments.
Read MoreThese are all opportunities to listen, learn, and respond in a way that preserves dignity, creates psychological safety, and then instructs with compassion. Even if the response has to be unpleasant and not what the other person is hoping to hear.
Read MoreOur society puts much value, both financially and praiseworthy, on test scores and school letter grades. Be mindful to keep those measures balanced with really does matter.
Read MoreBut if you consider that the first descriptor of our first pillar, Caring Culture, is: "We know our students. From their favorite color to their preferred learning styles, we are in the business of knowing and caring for every one of our students..." That is our commitment to creating a "highly personalized algorithm."
Read MoreI wish I had known the impact I was making on him all of those evenings driving home feeling like I had failed. I was using the wrong assessment to judge myself.
Read MoreWhy is it so effortless to focus on what is going wrong rather than on what is right, positive, and good?
Read MoreIf there is one thing that sets us apart from other schools, I sure hope it is our disproportionate prioritization of creating a culture of caring.
Read MoreBy looking through this very human-centered lens, I hope we can all see how much growth is all around us and celebrate ourselves and one another for our contributions to it.
Read MoreI want our non-teaching staff to keep these stress levels top of mind. And more importantly, reflect on what you can do to reduce them.
Read MoreWhen you are super close to the work it is easy to see the cracks and weaknesses. It's easy to become frustrated with slow progress when you are the one slogging through long days and long weeks.
Read MoreJoy comes from within. And when you take time to affirm yourself for the difference you make, joy is more likely to surface and begin to pour out.
Read MoreBurnout becomes more accelerated when we stop feeling that the efforts we make are not worth the impact they get.
Read MoreBut we are living in difficult times, and we are doing difficult work. A collective focus on practicing joy might be a good thing.
Read MoreWe are on a mission to do something different here. We are re-imagining education. By focusing on inspiring instruction in a safe, supportive, and caring environment, our students will be equipped for the life they dream of.
Read MoreWhen we ask the right questions and apply the culturally responsive assessment practices, we find out some of the most "below grade level" students are chocked full of skills and knowledge that can be leveraged for rigorous, meaningful instruction.
Read MoreWe need to agree about the lengths we will go, the rules we will challenge, the effort we will put into giving our kids experiences that will help them become the people we eventually would want to work with.
Read MoreIf your work feels heavy, if your relationships seem strained, and if your outlook is different than it used to be, be gentle with yourself. This is could take a while.
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