This #coachbetter episode features Nneka Johnson, Director of Innovation at the International School of Dakar in Senegal. Relationships are key to coaching with impact and Nneka shares how she has made great strides in her school because of the relationships she builds. She also discusses her expectations for teaching and learning this academic year during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are working on building deep relationships with our colleagues – in a virtual or face to face setting, this episode is for you!

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Show Notes

Education background

When I was growing up I always wanted to do something with computers and technology. Tech was always a passion of mine. Somehow shifted to social work, and then came back to technology and learning. Grad school: masters in IT, internship with Atlanta public schools, in a PD session, and recognizing that’s what I want to do. Lead IT Specialist and private school. 

When I applied it was Director of Tech, director of the school changed the title because I had so much more to offer.

What’s the difference between these two jobs?

Budgeting, hardware purchases

When I applied teaching wasn’t part of the role. Director wanted someone conversational in the tech stuff, don’t need to be fluent. Tech is the easy part. Pedagogy and the learning is the most intricate and important part of my role.

New job: no technician questions.

How do you manage the technical stuff?

Big staff with specific roles – Nneka is over all of that. I bring the educator perspective.

At the end of the day, we’re there to support learning.

Tell us about how you’re building relationships in your school?

I have an excellent memory, I remember things about people. People just want to know that you care, and I really do. Going back and remembering the small things. 

Showing gratitude. Thoughtful and detailed. Sincere.

Speed of response, if I don’t have an answer, I let them know that I’ll come back

Builds a positive culture around me, people feel that Nneka is there for us.

Going into classrooms. Show interest in me in my craft and what I do.

Body language, demonstrating I’m listening, builds trust.

Consummate learner, shadowing ELL teacher, there to learn, low stakes interest to learn because I’m not her boss. You can always learn something from the person you’re coaching. 

What’s coming up for this academic year?

Completion of the innovation center. Process of completing this: research, present to board, build.

Education is shifting, teachers have to learn how to use different tools. New normal is forcing education to take a step back and figure out how to do things differently. More project-based learning, think about how we do assessments.How can we be innovative with the context that we currently have? How do we manage asynchronous learning and synchronous?

Creating positive momentum. Teachers were forced to learn and now they have them in their arsenal and can pull them out at their leisure. The knowledge is not going anywhere.

What is the academic year looking like for ISD this academic year?

AAIE has a page of 37 reopening plans and considerations. I went through all 37, and found which ones included actual plans. Common thread: cohort models to minimize the spread of COVID, students who are not in the country are also part of the cohort so you have a community. Days off, no school on Wednesday for catch up. All hybrid, swap days. Ensure that everyone, even kids who are not in the country, have the same experience.

Professional learning?

Part of AISA professional learning team. Conference is not in Cape Town because of COVID. Virtual event, 5-6 weeks of deep dives, online deep dives. In the middle of that six weeks is the actual conference with various workshops.

Still PD funds for PL. Not being able to fly somewhere is not going to be a deterrent to learning. 

PL is the most important thing a school can do for their faculty members is to provide PL during this new normal.

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