Bridges versus (temporary) Barricades

I continue to reflect on a conversation that I had on Monday with my building Principal.  (I spent the day at the school to help clean out and organize the book room and also to try to get a lay of the land.)  In talking to my Principal, she mentioned that she had bought some technology for the teachers (along with the ton of books-literally there were five pallets of boxes that we sorted into the book room.)  When I asked her about how she decided to allocate the money, she told me about her philosophy about "bridges versus barricades."  She took a survey of the staff and asked them to list the key issues they felt were blocking the students from learning.  She also asked them to list solutions for these same items.  She later sorted these items into what she determined were "bridges" (things she felt they could tackle and build a bridge to the solution) and "barricades" (things that for whatever reason were not doable or needed to be put on the back burner.)  This seemed like a really practical and efficient way to at least begin the task of dividing and conquering (and in her case also allocating funds.)  And thus, some of the money was spent on phonics books/kits and some was spent on tablets for the teachers' classrooms because those were both (practical) bridges.  I thought I would share this as it was helpful for me to see a Principal in action, but more so the thought process behind her actions.  I really like the fact that she turned to her staff to help determine how she should spend money (based on the children's needs, but also asking teachers for accountability in the solutions.) While she mentioned that she asked the teachers to put the "barricades" away, not to think about them, I can't help but wonder what is on that "wish list."  And I also can't stop thinking about how you've got to build the bridges to get moving.  I'm anxious to see how these practical investments will be utilized and help make a difference in the classrooms and this particular building throughout the year.  It's exciting to think about how the bridges can help and eventually enable us to break through the barricades.  It's a (slow and arduous) process for sure and that's why I liked this systematic-type approach.  While I'd love to break through the barriers as fast as possible (it's in all of our natures!), I must remember the process.

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