Dear WAB Community Members,
Greetings from Prague.
Since my appointment as the next Director of WAB, my final year in Prague is flying by. I have lost count of each “final” event, project, concert, sports tournament or regional conference. The emotions related to saying farewell to Prague are balanced with the excitement I’m feeling about our move to WAB.
Throughout my career, I have tried to create and maintain a leadership style based on remaining strategic, collaborative, proactive, and respectful. Moving to a new school allows any leader to analyze where he or she can make necessary adjustments and improvements in both style and practice.
According to the change “guru”, Michael Fullan, “Change is an uncertain balance between stability and excitement - a self-organizing process making sense of things as ones goes along - leaders need to develop the schools and individual teacher's capacity to do this together. To be successful all involved need to feel a common stake in the future.”
In a few short weeks I will be visiting Beijing. I want to capitalize on my “one chance to make a first impression.” It is my goal to begin my tenure at WAB as a collaborative, thoughtful, strategic, and respectful leader.
In the spirit of proactive planning, I am proposing the formation of a Transition Management Committee. I believe that I’ll have a better chance of success if transition and change is managed in a planned and reflective manner.
I have written a one-page introduction to this idea, which is attached. During my visit there is a slot on my schedule (Thursday, April 17 at 3:30 in the Lotus Lounge) where I would like to invite anyone interested in exploring the roles and responsibilities of this committee. Your presence does not commit you to join, as we’ll need an appropriate and manageable number. I am looking for those who are simply intrigued with helping me create and sustain a successful transition to WAB.
My primary goal, as stated by Wiggins and McTighe is to be “guided by a constant focus on the meaning of school mission and the analysis of that mission into aligned policies, structures, and practices.”
I look forward to meeting with all interested colleagues during my visit to Beijing.
Best regards,
Robert
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