This project is based on the leadership Conference I facilitated in 2012 at Nottingham. The positive results of that Conference led the Principal of the school and community support group (FACES of Nottingham) to request that I facilitate a second Conference.
The second Conference took place in November of last year (2014) and through the request of the steering committee, was focused on the theme “A Culture of Respect.” Roughly 75 students, family members, staff, alumni, community members and administrators joined together to share their love and concern for the school and it’s community using After brainstorming the primary causes for celebration in our school and the major topics of concern the participants worked in groups of six to select projects to help improve what was good or correct the problems. The only stipulations were that the projects should be important, able to be done in a week to six months and enjoyable and fulfilling to the participants.
The results? After six months the teams have developed among other things a student handbook, a staff and student survey that will be administered in the fall of this year and the results used to help develop and define policies. A Sexual harassment team connected with a local anti-abuse non-profit and has explored student training. Several recommendations have also been forthcoming as to how to deal with the abuse problem on a daily basis. A series of public service messages were created by the School’s TV station and an awards program is underway which will begin publically honoring students after the staff finishes developing the rubric for behaviors worthy of reward. An initiative for career exploration has been waiting for district approval but has begun developing input on what career information would be helpful to students and their families and what the best format should be. The last initiative on developing student mentors needs a dedicated staff member to facilitate it but has resulted in gathering input as to the programs available. Finally a group of interested students has formed an oversight committee to give input to the projects and advise the Principal and Community group as to the benefits and needs pinpointed by the project teams.