Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year!Meet Our Team
Shared Leadership, Shared Responsibility
At SLLIS we are committed to creating opportunities for shared leadership and shared responsibility throughout our schools, administration and governance bodies.
What is shared leadership?
Shared leadership stems from the belief that each leader « is not the chief, but [is] leading a group of able peers and colleagues. » – Robert Greenleaf. Shared leadership at SLLIS means that every decision-making body is faithful to the same mission and vision. Shared responsibility means that each decision-making body is accountable for their role in our students’ success.
Why do we practice shared leadership?
At SLLIS we believe that the most impactful learning experience is one in which all shareholders have a real voice. In the classroom that is reflected through our commitment to constructivist pedagogy—students build meaning out of their learning experiences. In leadership that is reflected in the understanding that parents, staff and board members are all founders of our schools. They share the investment, commitment and ultimate responsibility for our students’ success.
What does it look like in our network of schools?
We identify decision-making authority at each level of the organization:
- Board of Directors set and approve policy for every campus in SLLIS. The Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for the financial and academic success of all of our schools.
- Central Office Staff identify academic, operational, budget implications of the policies for every campus in SLLIS.
- The French School staff and The Spanish School staff define and refine procedures for their specific school.
- School Advisory Council provides a needs assessment for the procedures and policies of their specific school.
- Parents Assembly provides support for parent volunteer opportunities, outreach and fellowship, street safety, fundraising, uniform access, and green space. While the schools are co-located, there is one Parents Assembly. When the schools move to separate facilities, the Parents Assembly will elect new school-specific officers.
Why doesn’t each school have the exact same procedures?
A key element of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program curricular framework is the respect that it affords teachers to be the authors of their curriculum. In our organization and in our classrooms we purposefully craft space for collaborative work, authorship and ownership. This means that a school staff has the opportunity and responsibility to craft systems and experiences, within the SLLIS construct, that are a reflection of their best work and team strengths. In the same way that we don’t expect each of our children to be cookie-cutter versions of their peers, we provide our school staff the professional respect to implement systems and programs that best meet the needs of their community.
For example, all schools have the same uniform policy and pieces. Each school selects the day for their Formal Dress based on their school schedule. Each school selects their positive support and recognition for uniform compliance based on teacher and parent input. The teacher and parent input may come from the School Advisory Council or an ad hoc committee. The Parents Assembly supports parents from both schools to access the uniform subsidy, purchase lightly used uniforms, and donate uniforms.
We encourage you to get to know how each group functions, attend their public meetings and consider your role in leading our schools to greatness.