Community Agreements by Green, Michael

I feel that we are prevented from making meaningful changes wholly due to MCPS policies and procedures. No matter how hard we try at the school level, if there are not structures in place from the county, we cannot carry through trying to make change

2024-02-15 19:11:27 UTC

They need to be what the team is deciding needs changes, not a list generated by one person

2024-02-15 19:11:53 UTC

Change

2024-02-15 19:11:56 UTC

To make meaningful change we have to be able to address ALL the issues we face. By ignoring them we have just created a frustrated staff and leadership team that is defeated.

meaningful change

2024-02-15 19:12:04 UTC

I think we (here at GHS) and MCPS have put structures and processes in place but we don't all follow them.

Sometimes, it feels like this space is used to brainstorm and vent, but not to necessarily produce meaningful and accountability-oriented structures.

2024-02-15 19:12:28 UTC

structures and processes

2024-02-15 19:13:09 UTC

Just a wonder: How effective are the structures and processes we currently have? How much of it are beyond our control? I just feel like we are being limited to what we can do.

School vision

2024-02-15 19:13:17 UTC

Are the Root causes that created the SIP really the root causes? Or are they just the ones MCPS will allow us to deal with?

I feel we do support each other in this group.

2024-02-15 19:13:22 UTC

2024-02-15 19:13:44 UTC

I am not sure that I think that we are making effective change. For example: the various PDs - are they effective? Could they be differentiated? We have 4 after school meetings this month and most of them feel like we are just meeting to meet.

When change is considered we need to acknowledge it in the context of the educational experience. Many times a decision or change is made that sends a ripple through other things.

2024-02-15 19:13:47 UTC

Recognition and Acknowledgment

2024-02-15 19:13:50 UTC

I still feel that people shy away from race conversations, don't recognize their privilege, or are scared to call it out.

The field of education - and our learners - had dramatically changed. All school staff need to make the necessary changes to adapt to the "new" learner (who has grown up learning from "a screen") and to make learning relevant to real life.

2024-02-15 19:13:58 UTC

2024-02-15 19:14:11 UTC

How many teachers / RTs were sent thank you notes after visits yesterday? Or given any feedback?

We have to understand that we will drive ourselves crazy - and get no where with making change - if we don't acknowledge that WE need to make personal changes, in order to see changes in our students. We can't expect that "policies and structures" are going to change student's desire to learn.

2024-02-15 19:14:21 UTC

2024-02-15 19:14:31 UTC

While there are great efforts being put forth towards this, it is clear that there is still some fear with discussing race and the impacts it has on our students.

Mixed Messages

2024-02-15 19:14:42 UTC

I feel some people share mixed messages when we are not in the room and blame is placed on certain people, not ownership of collective decisions

injustices

2024-02-15 19:15:01 UTC

We recognize it but it's hard to disrupt when some teachers don't or won't even consider that they are the problem. We have been coached and PD'd and some teachers have been reflective, but the ones who really need to be, aren't.

Meaningful Structures & Processes

2024-02-15 19:15:15 UTC

It's an area of growth because we spend a lot of time trying to create structures and processes that we feel and think will lead to productive and progressive change, but I feel like most times we are spinning wheels due to not having the needed support from MCPS. Without MCPS creating substantive policies and/or processes, we cannot do what really needs to be done in an effective manner. We are doing the best we can, and when we reflect on what we've done, we ultimately realize we need some support from outside these walls.

2024-02-15 19:15:22 UTC

With limited time for in-depth discussions about how things are going, it can be challenging to have candid conversations that foster collaboration.

2024-02-15 19:15:22 UTC

I think we often talk about and make decisions related to our students but neglect meaningful conversation and change for our Hispanic students.

Not agreeing but supporting the decision

2024-02-15 19:15:35 UTC

Some actions are not supported by all. However, as a team we must agree to support the decision of the team.

2024-02-15 19:16:03 UTC

I think when many of us raise our voices and concerns we are told WHY the decision was made / an explanation for a decision rather than actually listened to and taken seriously.

2024-02-15 19:16:22 UTC

It is challenging to make meaningful change with systemic barriers in place. However, we can only focus on our realm of control and what we do for our students in our building. Many times, a decision cannot be made in here and results in mixed messages being given to staff. Being consistent is critical with this.

Getting There

greenm18_1 — 2024-02-15 19:16:27 UTC

I feel that we have made progress with focusing on racial and social injustices and biases in our school community, but there is still work to do. This includes work connected to both race and culture, being antiracist and culturally responsive. This takes time, though, and I believe that we have made progress with this.

2024-02-15 19:16:38 UTC

I believe that in order to make meaningful changes, we need all teachers to be on board with our plans. What can we do to further support our teachers? I feel like we have a number of teachers who are already burned out and are so frustrated , which affect their effectiveness as teachers.

I feel as if we have lost our creative solutions to problems we once had. And this has impacted some of us in a negative way leading to not sharing our truth.

2024-02-15 19:16:39 UTC

I often wonder if our staff - who are predominantly white - really feel this is an issue? Or is our privilege as educators (and regardless of race, we are all privileged to have a degree and a well-paid job) stands in the way?

2024-02-15 19:16:45 UTC

Even though we continuously discuss racial issues, some continue to make racist comments.

2024-02-15 19:16:56 UTC

Decision Making

2024-02-15 19:17:23 UTC

I feel that the admin team and those above us are making decisions for all of us, our departments, our students, without stakeholder input (including RTs)

This is a very sensitive topic that sometimes feels one sided.

2024-02-15 19:18:18 UTC

Narrow the focus

2024-02-15 19:19:46 UTC

It might be time to focus on one area of change. Work on this change until we have evidence that we can move onto a new focus.

Recognizing and interrupting

2024-02-15 19:19:59 UTC

I perceive there's a lot of fear in taking action with recognize and interrupting social injustices and biases. The risks in doing so outweigh the value of doing so, and the because the outcome can be unknown, some may feel that while this is extremely important, it's not worth the risks. This is a highly sensitive topic and not enough courageous conversations are taking place to make people feel comfortable with enacting this agreement.

2024-02-15 19:20:16 UTC

It's frustrating to witness the slow pace of change here, to see opportunities for meaningful engagement slip through our fingers because we're not all moving in the same direction due to misguided delusions about how we understand race and how it shows up here at GHS. As such I feel stifled by an environment that fails to recognize and address its own biases.

I feel we do try to make structures and processes, but are often unable to get buy in from staff because of mindsets. Many teachers resist change and often reply with "this is how we have always done it". Many of the staff I encounter from all over the building have a fixed mindset and are not open to change.

2024-02-15 19:20:19 UTC