TIFI Group Commitments by Desiré Whitmore

Time to think, process, and reflect. Space to share our thinking with others.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:22:03 UTC

Allowing multiple modalities to accommodate for personal reflection and for small group sharing of ideas before large group discussions.

Clear goals and timelines for our work together.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:22:51 UTC

Create structure and protocols for our meetings. and respect each others' time and expertise.

Offer several ways to interact with team members for communication and feedback and create clear expectations for when to use which.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:23:10 UTC

Offer multiple modalities for conversations/group work, as well as different protocols for different types of interaction.

Flexibility in our work to allow for growth and new opportunities

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:23:30 UTC

Finding new and exciting ways to collaborate, and understand the needs/wants of our teammates, as well as taking ownership over our own projects.

Work to understand the wealth of knowledge that our team holds, and how to best work together moving forward.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:30:08 UTC

Remaining curious about new ways of working and celebrating the expertise that our team holds.

Equity of voice

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:30:24 UTC

Make space for and encourage contributions from everyone on the team.

Remaining very intentional and thoughtful about our dialogue around decision making.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:31:41 UTC

Putting a lot of care and thought into the structure of our conversations.

Prioritizing relationships over urgency

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:31:53 UTC

Trusting in each other and our shared goals and values.

Transparency in communication, expectations, roles, goals, vision, and decision making.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:32:35 UTC

Ensuring that everyone has access to clear information about decisions and expectations for our time together.

honest acknowledgement that we will sometimes need to move forward with imperfection

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:32:55 UTC

commitment to always doing better next time.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:33:35 UTC

Remember that we do amazing work and our mistakes/failures are opportunities for growth.

Equity in our work with educators, and in our discussions with each other.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:33:46 UTC

Incorporating equity into our thinking in such a way that we are all pushing each other towards more equitable conversations and work.

Making space for joy and fun in our work, and spending time as a community.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:42:32 UTC

Incorporate creativity, movement, having shared experiences, and learning together.

Approaching our work with collective curiosity and respect for each other, not judgment.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:44:09 UTC

Embrace the complexity of our work, and have a core value of curiosity aimed at understanding as much as we can about the how and why.

Having in-person meetings with virtual options when necessary.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:47:42 UTC

Allowing for the understanding that not all meetings need to be attended by everyone, and that some work can be done in smaller groups and/or via email.

Support for director (Kelsey?) that will focus on elementary PD provider work (statewide NGSS, which I assume we are still doing) to network and get connected and immersed with those leaders.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 07:51:21 UTC

A feeling that there is still a clear direction for elementary focused work.

Have respect for and recognize each other's humanity.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 08:03:26 UTC

Respect one another's needs and boundaries, and communicate in a direct, honest manner that expresses your own needs and boundaries.

Various configurations of teams for more effective and stream-lined work-time.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 08:04:28 UTC

Allow time and space for small teams to work on their projects together before joining a larger-scale conversation.

"As a director, be clear about what you are asking me (and others) to do with our time and bodies both in our Tuesday meetings and for the rest of the week.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 08:29:19 UTC

Each of us is juggling way too much work right now. We want to support you, but be sure that what you are asking of us needs to take precedence over the other things we are doing (bc that is what we will assume if you don't tell us otherwise). If you don't know, feel free to ask.

Listen to each other for understanding

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 08:45:07 UTC

Approach conversations with curiosity and not judgment. Attempt to really see and hear your colleagues in our discussions.

Mutual understanding of what's at stake and any constraints.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 08:46:24 UTC

Continue to consider others' view points and what their and your limitations are.

The ability to interact and clarify ideas, giving a chance to change one's stance

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 08:49:53 UTC

Stay flexible and open-minded in our thinking and our conversations.

protocols are incredibly useful when having discussions.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 08:51:21 UTC

Time

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 08:53:08 UTC

I want to know the process, the why, and the how/if input is being gathered/considered.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:03:25 UTC

I don't need to be a part of the decision making if it doesn't make sense to be, especially if it doesn't directly impact me.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:03:29 UTC

I think it would be context dependent so I would select all of the above depending on the situation. With programmatic decisions and design innovations I generally want to be part of all decision making.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:04:33 UTC

I would like to know about decisions that affect me and my work.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:05:49 UTC

I am up for any version of this that meets the needs of the new team, as long as decisions and their impacts are clearly communicated.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:06:54 UTC

I would like to know as much as possible, without having to make the decisions

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:07:06 UTC

This really depends on the decision. For significant decisions, I would like to know what and why a decision was made.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:07:18 UTC

Seems like an incomplete scale of decision making.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:07:58 UTC

Gosh, it depends.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:08:31 UTC

I would like to know the basics, but I don't need the nitty gritty

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:08:44 UTC

I don't need to be a part of every decision, but there are decisions that need more discussion (which is time consuming) than others.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:08:55 UTC

It depends on how consequential a decision it is --

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:09:14 UTC

I would like to know the basics, but I don't need the nitty gritty

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:10:04 UTC

I would like to know the basics, but I don't need the nitty gritty

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:10:14 UTC

I would like to be a part of all decision making

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:10:23 UTC

I appreciate an inclusive, flexible, and joyful work environment.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:10:41 UTC

1) Distributed Expertise Leadership Model 2) Build a foundation for meaningful dialogue that include departmental strategic plan, timeline, shared decision making 3) More time spent on department design and development programming and innovations (i.e. Tuesday meetings are more general big picture and Thursday is content/design focused).

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:11:16 UTC

Commitment to work toward building trust with one another. Taking responsibility for the future of our team Keeping the teachers and leaders and communities we serve at the center of our decisions and work ahead

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:13:05 UTC

1) I'd like to have ownership over some projects or areas of work, 2) I need to feel like clearly stating my needs or what I see happening is not perceived as mean or stupid, 3) I'd like to be included in conversations about our impact, and our audiences.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:13:27 UTC

1. Equity of voice. 2. Equity protocols and facilitation. 3. Active checks on white supremacy (tight control, urgency, overvaluation of what's put in print/set in stone).

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:13:41 UTC

"- individual and collective self awareness of the space people take up - curiosity for understanding - true respect for each other"

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:14:05 UTC

I need to feel and help create a sense of belonging with my teammates. I need effective communication. I need shared values and purpose for our work to be successful. I always need snacks :)

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:14:25 UTC

I have put off answering this form over and over, because I'm not sure how to be a team player when my needs feel so different to what other people in the group want.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:15:27 UTC

I want to have discussions that are real, allow clash between ideas to occur, and a willingness on the part of everyone to reconsider their ideas upon hearing other people's thoughts and ideas. I want to have discussions where people are widely more transparent, not where decisions seem like they have already been made and we are just being convinced they were right. I want to have discussions where questions are answered meaningfully, even if it is to be told that I'm full of shit or told that is an inappropriate question. The kinds of discussions we have now just leave me more confused than when I started.

"1) Meeting protocols that ensure all voices are heard. 2) Meaningful time spent as a group, small groups, and one-on-one. 3) In-person interactions are important to me"

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:15:46 UTC

Time in meetings to reflect critically on workshop, and other aspects of our work. A feeling that there is still a clear direction for elementary focused work. Support for director (Kelsey?) that will focus on elementary PD provider work (statewide NGSS, which I assume we are still doing) to network and get connected and immersed with those leaders. Another PD provider with an elementary background.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:16:12 UTC

Well-defined goals for group meeting time. A general feeling that we are discussing the things that most need to be discussed/answering the most important questions in our shared meeting time. Honesty and speaking up if people feel like we aren't answering the questions they need answered, or having the discussions they need for us to move forward.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:16:31 UTC

being together doing stuff, opportunities to interact with small groups, move forward toward common goals without spending lots of time in meetings discussing small details

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:16:51 UTC

I like a balance of ways to participate - structured or casual, big or small, and am flexible as to format. I think we are incredibly fortunate in our group to already have good communicators and good practices in place. As a former "third wheel" in the department sense, I am really looking forward to having more opportunities to interact, share and collaborate.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:17:19 UTC

"I need people to treat each other with respect and seek understanding in conflict. I want us to listen to each other and interact honestly. I want everyone to be true to themselves. "

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 09:17:47 UTC

Space to dive deep and discuss topics as they come up, but not overdoing it.

desirewhitmore — 2024-12-02 10:06:58 UTC

Allow time for discussing big topics without cutting them off, and balancing that with remaining solution-oriented.