Technolandy

Day 116 (of 2024/25) finally official – the @bcpvpa transition from Leadership Standards to Leadership Competencies!

Proud to be part of an association whose standards were used by a variety of other education groups over the past decade+ to influence their own growth… and now we are making another transition – from ‘standards’ to competencies… words and mindsets matter!

While the standards were/are good for a checklist approach to build our own leadership capacity (and show others a huge list of skills) it is definitely more of a spectrum of leadership than a checklist… Weekly Communication ✔️  Knowing Communication had an impact… hmmm depends on how many? So how do we look at that as having an impact?

Being in the Canoe: https://bcpvpa.insite.com/files/sites/bcpvpa/news/bcpvpaleadershipcompetencies-beinginthecanoe-october2024.pdf the journey and process and how each Competency relates to the school leader and school community

A Short Trip in the Canoe: https://bcpvpa.insite.com/files/sites/bcpvpa/news/bcpvpaleadershipcompetencies-ashorttripinthecanoe-october2024.pdf a daily reference (or entry point) for development as conversation starters and a fresh approach to connecting…!

The Competencies:

Stewardship for the future of all children

– support the child in becoming themselves

– ensure each child values diversity and justice

– reduce our impact on the environment

Fostering a culture of curiosity and inquiry

– create and maintain a culture of trust, innovation, and curiosity

– model and encourage evidence informed decision making

– use inquiry to transform educational outcomes and life opportunities

– effectively share evidence 

– foster inquiry on the links between strategic priorities, action, and outcomes

Growing the capacity of self and others

– supports and empowers persons and groups

– models and informs change leadership and management

– model and support professional learning

Contextual literacy and agency

– engage effectively with internal systems and groups

– engage effectively with external systems and groups

Bridging policy and practice 

– model the value of the education system

– align resources to strategic priorities

– anticipate future challenges 

– sustains policy-practice dialogue

I like the canoe metaphor – cuz it takes work to stay balanced… and some times are easier than others… and you sometimes should have some safety equipment… and mentorship can help be more effective with the tool/metaphor… that it is built on the First Peoples Principles of Learning: https://www.fnesc.ca/first-peoples-principles-of-learning/ … that the journey may be more important than the destination (process of learning over product_… need for cooperation (paddling in the same direction/rhythm)… for collaboration (yet can go on your own…)… for communication (and not just words to tell you what to do… to look for the nuances…) … etc

It’s delightful

As I am adding a new format to some of my shares this month, here is a poem:

The Canoe

The journey together (the journey on my own)

Rewarding (and punishing and painful)

Frustrating (alone; overcrowded)

A choice (a calling)

Learning (failing)

Environmental (stewardship)

Exploratory (self contained)
Thinking (balancing)

Inquiry (immediate feedback)

Maturing (humility versus hubris)

Collaborative (isolationing) 

Forward thinking (an eye on what’s behind)

Teamwork (a lone)

Adjust to conditions (nuances)

Learning (growing)

Teaching (failing)

Worried about the future (regrets about the past)

Hopeful for the youth (changing Socrates message)

The journey never begins (the journey never ends)

Collaboratively (personalizing)

Embracing what’s next (settling for what’s now)

A gentle journey (the sounds of rapids)

Yearning for a misremembered past (the grass elsewhere is never actually that green)

Entering a state of flow