Five Characteristics of an Effective School Team

Dear Deep Creek School Family,

This week we start our beginning of the year data days and I am so excited to see the teamwork and collaboration between our fabulous teams. We have worked on a structured standards based immediate intensive intervention plan that we hope will elevate our student proficiency scores to the next level. Our goal is to be the best elementary school so we still have lots of work to do. Change is hard but we can do it if we do it together.

If a team is effective, then people learn from each other. They accomplish far more than would be possible alone. They inspire and challenge each other. An individual's strengths can be exploited, and we don't have to do the stuff we're not so good at. Again, this is an efficient approach to undertaking a huge project (transforming a school, for example) and it feels good. I couldn't agree more with the five characteristics below:

1. A good team knows why it exists.
It's not enough to say, "We're the 4th grade team of teachers" -- that's simply what defines you (you teach the same grade), not why you exist. A purpose for being is a team might be: "We come together as a team to support each other, learn from each other, and identify ways that we can better meet the needs of our fourth grade students." Call it a purpose or a mission -- it doesn't really matter. What matters is that those who attend never feel like they're just obligated to attend "another meeting." The purpose is relevant, meaningful, and clear.

2. A good team creates a space for learning.
There are many reasons why those of us working in schools might gather in a team -- but I believe that all of those reasons should contain opportunities for learning with and from each other. I have met very few educators who don't want to learn -- we're a curious bunch and there's so much to learn about education. So in an effective team, learning happens within a safe context. We can make mistakes, take risks, and ask every single question we want.

3. In a good team, there's healthy conflict.
This is inevitable and essential if we're learning together and embarked on some kind of project together. We disagree about ideas, there's constructive dialogue and dissent, and our thinking is pushed.

4. Members of a good team trust each other.
This means that when there's the inevitable conflict, it's managed. People know each other. We listen to each other. There are agreements about how we treat each other and engage with each other, and we monitor these agreements. There's also someone such as a facilitator who ensures that this is a safe space. Furthermore, in order for there to be trust, within a strong team we see equitable participation among members and shared decision-making.

5. A good team has a facilitator, leader, or shared leaders.

There's someone -- or a rotation of people -- who steer the ship. This ensures that there's the kind of intentionality, planning, and facilitation in the moment that's essential for a team to be high functioning.

Full Article  in case you would like to read more. 

Being aware of these five characteristics will help your team grow and learn together. I know this week you will synergize to do great things. I hope everyone has been taking time to reflect daily (or as often as you can). Remember keep it simple with a "Wow" and a "Yikes" each day. This simple habit can go along way. 

Have a great week! 

Adrienne