In this #coachbetter episode, we’re chatting with Tim Lauer, Director of Digital Learning (EdTech) for Evergreen School District in Vancouver WA. This episode starts with an in-depth discussion on the power and purpose of sharing and connecting using social media as an educator, and then how we can use those very same tools to build a coaching team to support and work with all teachers in a school district. Tim’s experience as a classroom teacher, building principal, and now district-level administrator highlights the value of iteration in the learning process, and how sharing can deepen both professional and personal learning for both teachers and students.

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Show Notes

Educational Experience: Current: Director of Digital Learning (EdTech) for Evergreen School District in Vancouver WA, previous Principal at Lewis ES for 13 years, prior to that Kinder teacher. Teaching in the early 90’s when the internet was just coming into being.

How do you help teachers today understand the power of sharing?

Working with Kristin Zimke to tie info lit and tech. Shared an author’s book with students, Kristin tweeted out that they were talking about the book, within 30 mins the author has responded, share that with the student. It’s pretty effortless to make these kinds of connections today.

How do you help teachers understand the value of sharing student work?

Working on iteration. Doesn’t have to be perfect. Takes the pressure off. Valuable to see student learning over time. TOSAs model lessons (program called “Infuse”), with a follow-up de-brief for teachers to discuss the experience. Different every time, just have to get in and try, iterate every time. Showing that what happens in classrooms is a continuum.

Finished Not Perfect (video)

Design of new building: lots of glass, transparency. Bring in the belief that it’s ok to make mistakes. As a Principal, during observations, questioning wasn’t a “gotcha”, it was to help the teacher keep growing and iterating.

How do you build a growth mindset in your building?

Be in classrooms continually. Over time teachers realized that Tim was just interested in what’s going on with kids. Over time, there was less stress about observation. Be in classrooms on a daily basis, and then able to connect teachers to each other about what they’re doing. Visits are not judgemental, but informative for Tim as a principal. As he saw interesting work in the classroom, he would tweet it out. It’s not about followers, it’s about documenting your work. When he shared tweets, it would give teachers something to talk about it with others.

How do you scale this up to a whole district?

Encouraging his team to actively share on Twitter, and be in buildings on a daily basis. If we’re not sharing, there might be people out there who think the work is not happening. Communications department has discovered that TOSAs (Teachers on Special Assignment) have Twitter, which is helping them share stories.

Was there any resistance to have TOSAs share?

Initial question: “Why would anyone want to see what I’m doing?” These technologies allow you to find your tribe, and the people who are interested in the work that you’re doing.

Resistance to photographing students: start by asking which students can not be photographed. Photographs are to give parents a “slice of life” of what’s happening in school. It’s not to highlight specific students. Gives you an insight into what’s happening at school. Be respectful of how you take photographs, doesn’t have to full face on. 

As a building principal: An initial workshop would be: Social Media: Why you want to do it? How to do it well?

If you went back to a principalship, what would you do differently?

Workshop about social media: not just a PR thing, professional learning community, sharing with others, connecting over a distance and then meeting that person like they’re an old friend. More deliberate in explaining that process for people. Fortunate to work with Kristen Zimke and Jennifer Lagarde. Examples of people who come into the district who are willing to share.

Students, as they get older, start following the school feed. Now there’s another platform for a much wider reach, including alumni. Share things that are important to you and tell who you are, without having to get up on a soap box. Always thought about it from professional learning, but now can see other potential for influence.

How do you build your TOSA team so that they work well together? And then how do you help them work successfully in their buildings?

Budget challenges in the district. Having time to establish yourself so people can see the value of the work you’re doing is critical. Getting in front of staff. Need buy in from the central office to tell buildings they must make time for this work. Lunch and Learn on Wed, PD days that they connect to, use a tool called Teams (like Slack) to connect with each other. Bring in consultants to work with the team for their professional growth. Social media really helped them connect and share. Approach it from the fact that they’re there to support teachers. Important to be able to say “I don’t know”. Being open, teachers appreciate that.

How do the TOSAs work in individual buildings & how do they level up teachers in each building?

Main point of contact is teacher-librarian, use them as the conduit out to the rest of the building. Also work with academic coaches in each building. Email newsletter, targetted to each building. Technology Specialist is one step above TOSA, she writes the email, individual TOSAs contribute and then customize for their building. All TOSAs contribute to a blog. Ongoing process of communication and visibility. Being pro-active, knocking on doors, and cold calling.

What do you appreciate the most about the TOSA team?

A deep commitment to student learning, to support teachers. Very respectful of classroom teachers. Professionalism and how they see tech can be a benefit for all students. Included in Curriculum Dept meeting.

How do you support your TOSAs in moving from the classroom to a larger scale support?

Some coaches specifically support academic coaches in buildings, tap into them for PD. There are methods and tools to support teachers. Big effort to tie edtech to curriculum department

Inspirational Resources

Jennifer Gonzales podcast: Cult of Pedagogy

Kristin Zimke’s book: Amplify

Twitter to stay connected with people and see the work they’re involved in. Find people to follow who are smart, and then follow the lists that they curate.

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