Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

Sometimes it’s the simple things that spark insight and knowledge. For Spring Forest Middle School Principal Raymorris Barnes, it was a pencil. Barnes is a man with a purpose. 

Purpose displays in Barnes’ determined walk, open demeanor, and take-action leadership style. That leadership style compelled him to take on a challenge - the Shadow A Student Challenge.

The fact that Barnes was shadowing a student wasn’t something out of the norm for a school leader in Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD). Educators around the country have been using the model to understand and engage more effectively with their school community.  

SBISD’s commitment to growing and professionally developing educators is at the heart of the school district's strategic plan, The Learner’s Journey, and drives innovation and growth opportunities like the challenge.

Shadow a Student is a model used to monitor and manage school culture that originated as an initiative of School Retool, a professional development fellowship that helps school leaders reshape their campus culture. What is out of the norm is the universal adoption of Shadow a Student in SBISD.

“Our school leaders visit classrooms regularly to develop teachers through observations, coaching, and feedback,” said SBISD’s Chief Academic Officer Kristin Craft.

 

 

The shadowing challenge has become a signature experience for leaders in the district to garner insight and facilitate reflection on practice as they find new ways to create personalized learning environments and skills that are increasingly impactful for their students, teachers, and school communities.

 “We challenged our school leaders to spend time shadowing a student so they experience what teaching and learning look like from a student point of view,” said Craft.

As Barnes describes it - it’s a great way to get a first-hand view of their ‘product.’ The ‘product’ being the educational experience provided by his school and the client students and families.

Barnes’ passion for his work, a passion as sharp as a pencil point, is why he’s open to being shadowed himself during the challenge. Modeling behavior is all part of the experience, and if Barnes can inspire colleagues on the journey, it's all the better. 

With district cameras in tow Barnes, like any other sixth grader, heads to the band hall to start his day.

His desire to ensure students at his school are getting the education and experience they need to succeed keeps him from worrying too much about the fact that he can’t play a musical instrument.

The last one to find his seat, Barnes settled into a chair next to his challenge partner Lance Mitchell. Mitchell is a sixth grader with spunk. A new student to campus, his good nature and willingness to help his classmates were factors in being picked to walk Barnes through the day’s adventure. 

First Period entails playing scales. Barnes picks up a trombone and looks to Mitchell to illustrate the form and function of sound. Mitchell plays a few notes while Barnes soundlessly blows. The two discuss the performance and follow along with the lesson. 

Packing up before heading to Second Period, the duo reflects on the lesson, noting practice is in order. Then, they head into a bustling hallway on their way Second Period, gym class. 

Already suited up and ready, students are lined up and ready to listen to a motivational speech about determination and personal choice. Then, it’s time for drills. Barnes joins the line and runs, jumps, and sweats with the rest of the class.

Like every other aspect of the day’s challenge, Barnes is all in. From sitting at the detention table during lunch to pulling out the World Atlas and working a team project in Social Studies, Barnes relishes the opportunity to gain insight into the school experience.

Which is the point. “As leaders, we can plan and think everything is running smoothly but it’s not always the case,” said Barnes. “Being there, in the classroom, I can see things we can change. Things we can make better. That’s my job.”

Craft and the school district fully support the deep investment and understanding that result from the shadowing exercise. “Leadership lessons are learned when we take time to reflect early and often on the implementation of campus plans,” said Craft.

Finding out what’s working and what’s not is why he’s there. It doesn’t take long to uncover an opportunity. A pencil, or the lack of one, sparks a conversation between Barnes and Mitchell. 

In Third Period the day comes to a halt. A new bus driver and a lost binder are the cause. For Barnes, it’s the silver lining and why he willing to invest time to the challenge.

“Here we have a student who doesn’t feel confident or connected to adults in the school to ask for help. That’s why I am here...to see where we have challenges and to find ways to solve for those challenges,” said Barnes.

After a quick pep talk, a pencil arrives along with a binder and supplies. Classwork resumes. 

When asked what the best part of the day was for Mitchell, the answer was simple; it was having a caring adult ask how he could help. That, and watching your principal play trombone for the first time. Every principal in SBISD will spend time this school year walking in the shoes of their students and participating in the shadowing challenge. 

 

 

“We believe that every student deserves a high-quality teacher – not by chance but by design,” said Craft. “And every family deserves a high-quality school – not by chance but by design."

Following the challenge, all leaders in SBISD have access to resources and tools to apply what they have learned. They are committed to making the school experience one that is truly transformational for #EveryChild.

The action steps of the Challenge are:

• Prep – Leaders create goals and start to question or challenge assumptions they have about school.
• Shadow – Leaders spend a day shadowing their student and making observations.
• Reflect – Leaders reflect on their observation and look for opportunities to take action.
• Act – Leaders make changes, known as hacks, for improving the school experience.

For more information about the Shadow a Student Challenge, visit: https://www.shadowastudent.org

Watch highlights from the day’s challenge here: https://vimeo.com/294002068

Connect with Principal Barnes @ricegrad29 on Twitter.

 

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Submitted by Melissa Wiland, SBISD Communications, melissa.wiland@springbranchisd.com.