That's right friends and colleagues- I made it to Harvard! When I was an AP, my principal went to Harvard through Raise Your Hand Texas and brought back so many ideas, but most importantly came back a strong leader. I learned so much from her, it was my goal to go to Harvard to the Principal Leadership Program. I never let go of this goal and during my first year as Principal, I applied to the program through Raise Your Hand Texas and made it! I was so excited. I could not wait for my week of the Urban School Leadership Principal Training Program to arrive. My district did a news story on two of us that were going before we left and here is a quote about my expectations:
"Smith hopes to share her experience with other principals in Dallas ISD and use what she’s gained to support her teachers’ instructional strategies’ growth. She believes growing her teachers’ instructional strategies is instrumental in the success of the students she refers to as “at-hope” versus “at-risk,” citing the population of students who are expectant mothers and special needs students receiving career skills and support to help them transition into the adult world."
So here are my top 10 learnings from a week at Harvard:
10. Meeting other Urban School leaders and understanding that our gaps and challenges are all the same. As a collective group we must pivot our learning and thinking to meet the challenges our students face.
9. It really is about the climate and culture in a school. Strong schools have strong climate and culture in their schools.
8. It is also about the mindset of adults in your school. Do they really all believe that all children can learn? What you do as a principal to change that mindset is critical to the success of your students.
7. A small group of Educators- my small learning group from Harvard- can change the world! We talk everyday through GroupMe and are better leaders for it.
6. Dinners with Raise Your Hand Texas colleagues are important as you learn best from those around you that are dealing with something just like you are.
5. Reshaping culture is hard work. I left with 10 excellent strategies to begin this work.
4. Through the consultancy model, I was able to present a challenge to my small group and leave with over 25 strategies to solve the issue I am facing at my school.
3. A huge AH HA moment was when I realized the impact of change ( how ever small I think it is) on my staff. You see I thought they were right up with me and as I have had time to reflect and learn about organizational change, I now realize they are a few miles behind me. I have the skills now to implement change that will work!
2. To Quote Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman, the leader of our institute, "Democracy Isn't Destiny, Leadership Matters. Our students are counting in us!
1. Finally, we began with a song each morning. An Apartheid song, "Something Inside Me So Stong." To quote some of the song:
The higher you build your barriers the taller I become
The farther you take my rights away the faster I will run
You can deny me, you can decide to turn your face away
No matter 'cause there's
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you're doing me wrong so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh, no, something inside so stro.o.ong
there's something inside so strong
I learned that I can do this work successfully because there is "something inside me so strong".
I have to thank Raise Your Hand Texas and the wonderful gift in this opportunity to attend Harvard. The organization did it right! The accommodations were wonderful, The travel agents were easy to work with. The Raise Your Hand Staff is excellent in every sense of the word. I now have an organization behind me as I continue this work. I also have Harvard behind me. This Urban Leadership is hard work and it takes support to be successful. I would be remiss if I did not thank my parents and husband for helping me get to Harvard! Yes I got them the shirts- Harvard Mom and Harvard Dad! My husband got a Harvard shirt as well. I am proud to represent My District and Raise Your Hand Texas as a participant in the Harvard National Institute For Urban School Leaders.
Dr Mary Grassa O'Neill and Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman with Lynn Smith at Harvard
I am one lucky girl! Count Your Blessing, Bella
