Conversation #40 with Donna Lucy-Lender, Chief of Secondary Schools in Rochester City School District in New York really drove home the power of consistent messaging from leadership regarding professional learning objectives as a key driver of school improvement. When that alignment is not there from district to classroom, or when leadership transitions cause delays in establishing vision and messaging, this puts more onus on building leaders to create consistency and build strong culture.

"As a teacher at heart, I believe that only when teachers actively participate in their own growth will we achieve our key goals for improving student experiences and achievement.

Our current professional learning model involves a combination of external vendors, district-level middle managers, and teachers on special assignment serving as instructional coaches. We do send staff out for professional development, but this varies depending on the specific school.

Many of our schools have new leadership and are establishing their culture, making the principal's role in leading professional learning crucial. Principals who lead with integrity and passion can model effective practices and identify influential individuals within their staff for professional learning leadership opportunities. Creating a culture where it's acceptable to make mistakes and where staff trust in the support of their leaders is essential for innovation.

A large urban district like ours succeeds when we focus on meeting the diverse needs of our students through consistent actions that resonate within each unique school community. For example, at our arts school, students are actively creating art that fosters a strong sense of belonging. In schools where we're adopting EL curriculum, we are committed to ensuring students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, supplementing the provided materials to personalize and address specific cultural and experiential backgrounds. Storytelling plays a vital role in connecting with our students and communities.

Our teachers are exploring the potential for AI usage in our schools. Our district cabinet provided resources and created a 'tool sandbox' for collaborative learning and exploration. A formal AI policy will be developed under our new superintendent. In the interim, our focus is on empowering building leaders and establishing effective protocols to guide responsible AI integration.

We are fortunate to have strong partnerships with the City of Rochester and our mayor, who share a deep commitment to making our schools more engaging. Our partnerships with the University of Rochester, St. John Fisher University, and Monroe Community College provide ongoing collaboration and open up unique community-based learning opportunities, blending traditional lessons with real-world experiences. Our dedicated grants department is great and continues to secure valuable resources to enrich student learning."

Thank you for making the connection, Dr. Donna Vallese!