Welcome during Recruitment

Yesterday Leasha, Lynne and I went as representatives of the TQP Team to Turkey Valley Schools. We were promoting the TQP project and "recruiting" or "courting" the faculty to consider joining as one of our ten partner districts.

When we entered the building we found this sign welcoming us and directing us to where the meeting was being held. This impressed me so much that I got out my iPad and snapped a photo.

TQP Team Retreat

Our TQP Team met recently to look at our goals in light of the changes on the horizon at our state level. We chose to revise our goals with actionable terms in essence allowing us to proceed with our work in a more guided way.

Here are the goals of the UNI TQP project:

• systematize a culture of effective teaching through continuous professional growth
• integrate the qualities of effecting teaching into pre-service programs
• utilize reciprocal networds to support effective teaching (the relationship piece)

The discussion was rich, the food was good and the setting peaceful as we got ourselves off campus and out of the hectic routine where we could work undisturbed by phone, email and the casual visitor. Although our work necessitates having phone, email and visitors, the moments when we can remove ourselves from these distractions and reflect on the meaning of our tasks are to be treasured.

Here is anticipating the next one!

Keys for Successful Project Leadership

Today I read a blog by Mike Figliuolo of ThoughtLeaders. I really liked how he suggested that project management is really not the matter at hand, rather project leadership. It made me wonder if I had been giving the leadership demanded for the TQP project. Sometimes it is good to touch base on progress.
He shared four key ideas for successful project management.

• Define Success
• leaders set the direction and set the bar as well as determine the metrics for success
• Procure Resources
• listen to what the team needs
• negotiate to get everything they need to be successful
• Dress like a Fire Fighter
• leaders manage change
• leaders advocate
• leaders fight fires should to shoulder with team members
• Sing Their Praises
• be there when team members are successful and make sure people know about it
• team members see their hard work is recognized, valued and rewarded

From these four points I can see that I have growth to attain in my leadership of the UNI TQP project. My strengths are not goal setting and measuring success but I will work to change this. The other three areas I feel I do quite well. Fortunately, as a grant project we have many of the resources necessary already. Listening and advocating come naturally to me as does encouraging and celebrating successes.

A new development created by team members is that of a recruitment video. This piece was created to get the message out about student perspective about our experiences of Level 3 students including reflective conversations with cooperating teachers & immersive field experience that may include community home stays. If you have 5 minutes, please take a look at the video. You will learn quite a bit about our approach this Fall 2011 semester.   TQP Promo Video