Starting a Movement Chapter Reflections by Jessica Williams https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c Please respond with your reflections to each chapter as you read it in each module. Then, respond to at least two others' reflections that week for that chapter. en-us 2018-10-04 06:56:44 UTC 2025-09-25 04:52:21 UTC hello@padlet.com Chapter 3 - Stacia staciakohlstedt https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981186 My first comment as I get into chapter 3 is that I appreciate the information in this book but I would love some more anecdotes and examples along the way! But - that’s my own flaw and opinion on technical reading.
One statement that really stuck out to me was this one on page 56 - “each staff member must become an ardent proponent of the mission and exemplify it in both words and actions - in both creed and deed.” I right away think of my school and wonder how many teachers know the mission statement (I can’t recite it properly) - but can they pick out the tenets? I do like their idea of a mantra, and I’ve pulled up our school’s mission and am thinking about what would be appropriate. I’m all about simplifying things to make them stick.
I do think back to our theme with our staff last year as we introduced PLC’s and professional development groups - it was “Together, in His Name” - as it was to remind us when two or three are gathered, He is there in our midst - and in all the work that we do, He is present. It was not exactly a mantra - but maybe heading in that direction for that purpose!
Lastly, I like their activities for looking at where they’ve been and where they are going - I do think you need some group agreement on where they are heading, and looking to the past can be a powerful way to build cohesiveness within the group.


]]> 2018-10-04 06:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981186 Ch. 2 Authentic Alignment ~ Stacy ssyryczuk https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981187 As I began reading chapter two I began to feel the outline of a very organized learning meeting that included the mission, vision, values, and goals. I most felt gravitated toward the first stage the mission or identify and purpose of your school. I instantly felt a personal connection with God when I read that and felt our school mission is to make our invisible God visible everyday for our students. Then I let myself go into stage two and envisioned the future of what our school would become in five years. Stage three lead me to ponder our values and how important our chapel and Catholic traditions are to improving our school. Stage four was simple I need to set goals right now and I need to start with a short term goal. Hypothetically speaking the goal is tomorrow's staff meeting and getting all the teachers mindful of our mission and the pillar of how we will get to the future that I/we invision for our school. These four pillars need to be brought to life through a strong collaborative team that is passionate and focused on what we can do now today while looking ahead to tomorrow. ]]> 2018-10-04 06:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981187 Chapter 2 - Megan https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981188 Last year I was a part of our system's "Mission and Vision" committee and we were responsible for creating a revised Mission and Vision statement for our school system. After reading Chapter 2, I was reminded of our process and I wished that I would have had this book last year! Although we did eventually take a similar process, I really appreciated how the book laid out the four pillars and really focused on the idea of authentic alignment. I feel like some days I am doing things "because I'm supposed to" or "that's what I've always done". This book made me reflect on my "why" and think about how I can allow that to permeate throughout everything I do. I also really liked the idea of a school mantra. We have our mission statement posted in every classroom, but I think it would build great community and commitment if we had a short and catchy mantra that all teachers and students could easily repeat and maybe start and end each day with. The other thing that really struck me in this chapter was that PLCs are something we are, not something we do. My goal is to these ideas and really integrate them into what I do everyday and hopefully can encourage my coworkers to do the same.]]> 2018-10-04 06:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981188 Chapter 2 - Anne zacheranne https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981190 “Culture Eats Structure for Lunch”  

This seems to be a reoccurring theme in my reflections, prayers and conversations over the last couple of weeks.  I have started my year with high hopes for adjusting the direction of our school’s culture to be more inclusive of each staff member and each student, to build a cohesive community where all feel God’s love.   I have tried to restrain myself in implementing too many changes at once and focusing on the two or three changes that will start the wheels in motion.  I’m finding that, for me, change is easy; however, to convert the changes in school routine into changes in our school’s culture will take discipline and focus on my part.  

]]> 2018-10-04 06:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981190 Chapter 2 - Stacia https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981192 As I read this chapter and the four pillars, it seemed most everything came back to my identity as a Catholic, and I think I have an easier time seeing the mission, vision, values and goals in a Catholic School than an administrator could in the public schools.  Questions like "why do we exist?" I believe, can only be answered in terms of faith, and so when we look to our school and why we exist, I believe it's to serve God's mission.  When we have a shared mission, everything becomes a little more clear. 
In terms of PLC's, we started these last year and this year I went to more teacher-driven PLC's. As I read through this chapter, I wish I would have spent a little more time letting them exploring their Connecting: How. I think time spent here will, as the book states, allow us to "assess and adjust" our efforts (pg. 50) and we will be more productive because of it.]]> 2018-10-04 06:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/8gkli1ykip7c/wish/288981192