STAFF NEWSLETTER September 1, 2006
State API Scores
By now you’ve probably had a chance to reflect on the school API scores released yesterday –and take pride in knowing how well your students did last spring! While this is only one indicator of the hard work put in by you and the quality education that students receive in the district, it is certainly the most visible and something that I’m sure will give the entire community some pause for pride.
Reflections on FISH, Hubs, Superhubs, Phil Boyte, Etc.
The other night the topic of FISH came up –as in the Seattle (Pike Place) Fish Market that spawned the top business-training program in the world, along with a series of books and videos. Three years ago at this time, each site was ‘introduced’ to the FISH concept; however, there are many new people in the district since that time who may never have heard of it.
Being a ‘fish monger’ involves long, early hours; hard work hauling the fish to market, then selling the product. But a dozen years ago the small group of mongers at Pike Place decided to re-make their jobs into something special, based on the four tenets:
Play –Find joy in what you do. In schools we have that opportunity, being surrounded by
kids and colleagues.
Make Their Day –Customers who come to the fish market are treated as part of the job, part of the ‘experience’ (part of that being the tossing and catching of ‘low-flying’ fish).
Be There –In talking with a few high school seniors yesterday –who all have had experience
working in local markets, they commented about two experiences that bothered them
--customers on cell phones while waiting to be ‘served’ as well as fellow employees
who ignore the customer while at the checkstand (not at their market, of course).
Choose Your Attitude –The one and, some would say, only thing we truly can control.
Since FISH, several other companies have adopted these tenets (Fuddrucker’s Hamburgers-DC simply has a bell by the door –if you liked the food/service, ring it on the way out –great feedback!) Locally, the Deavers’ flower farm in Shenandoah Valley uses FISH training.
Many of you have heard of Doug Reeves and his research on schools –from the 90-90-90 school studies to the importance in writing across the curriculum, etc.. Last May he came out with a book titled The Learning Leader, followed by an important article, “Of Hubs, Bridges and Networks”.
Reeves talks about schools, school districts and other organizations and how people in leadership roles seldom succeed in getting across messages –well, messages like this. That is, a message like this is seen as hierarchical and has little chance of being taken to heart.
However, instead of a hierarchy to rely on, there are networks that exist –within each school. Reeves notes that in each school, within those networks are “islands of excellence”. These are trusted teachers who others look to for cues (Malcolm Gladwell –focus of 2005 ‘Welcome Back’ and author, The Tipping Point, calls these people ‘mavens’).
Within the school network, these teachers are also ‘hubs’ or even ‘superhubs’. These are teachers who (“Amador Jones and the Lost Curriculum Map”, Welcome Back 2004) others may have sought out to ‘see’ their curriculum maps. These ‘hubs’ are often the ones who have and still embrace FISH, etc.,
Reeves also dismisses somewhat the hierarchical impact of presenters like Phil Boyte. But that was part of Phil’s message, too –the importance of learning to lean on other colleagues (the ‘hubs”)! Reeves would say that as administrators are most important job may be to scout out the hubs throughout the district and schools and see how those ‘islands of excellence’ (and we have some Hawaii-sized islands out there) can be noted, recognized and spread.
Any comments, as always, appreciated!
Best Fishes,
Mike
Amador County Office of Education
217 Rex Avenue, Jackson, CA 95642
209-257-5353
WebMasters: Gianna Pinotti (Amador High School) and Katie Ball (Argonaut High School)