I’ve been spending a lot of time working with a low performing Junior High, including a recent stint of four straight days of direct support and coaching. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows that the students on this campus are significantly behind their peers, that instruction is typically sub-par and this is crunch time before the state accountability test. However, in the span of four days I have observed the following:

1. One entire tested grade went on a district planned field trip.

2. Core content teachers from two tested grades were pulled from the campus for an entire day, to attend a district mandated training.

3. “No Homework” passes and “Free Time” passes were freely distributed to students as rewards.

It’s hard to improve a campus when we shoot ourselves in the foot repeatedly, reload and start shooting again.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn…