Dr. Derek Mitchell on Transforming Schools Through Authentic Connection and Community

Quick take

When traditional approaches to school improvement aren't working, the answer may not be more control - but rather more connection. Dr. Mitchell reveals how transformative leadership starts with listening and building authentic relationships.

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🏴‍☠️ BREAKING DOWN THE OLD RULES

In this episode, Dr. Mitchell challenges traditional education paradigms:

Key Insight #1

• What's broken: The assumption that out-of-control schools need stricter discipline and tighter control

• The shift: Building authentic connections with students by listening and understanding their perspectives

• Impact: One principal transformed his challenging middle school by first meeting with 30 struggling students to truly hear their needs, leading to innovative solutions like stealth support systems for students in distress

Key Insight #2

• What's broken: Traditional professional development that's neither professional nor developmental

• The shift: Creating authentic learning communities that build relationships while focusing on growth

• Impact: Moving PLC meetings off-campus and sharing meals together led to vastly improved outcomes and stronger teacher collaboration

Key Insight #3

• What's broken: The "skill solution" approach to addressing performance issues

• The shift: Using the skill-will-way matrix to properly diagnose and address teacher performance challenges

• Impact: More effective interventions by matching solutions to the real root cause - whether it's skill, will, or way

✌️ YOUR DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT CHALLENGE

Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:

1. Tomorrow: Color-code your calendar based on your top 3-4 strategic priorities to see how you're really spending your time

2. This Month: Move one regular meeting off-campus to build stronger relationships and more authentic dialogue

3. This Semester: Create a system to proactively schedule regular check-ins with your supervisor where you set the agenda and priorities

✅ CONNECT AND CONTINUE

🎯 Get the full episode transcript: here
🔗 Follow Dr Derek Mitchell: Linkedin
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🤝 TODAY’S RUCKUScast IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

• IXL: Meet your students where they are and take them where they need to go. Join over 1 million teachers who trust IXL to drive data-informed excellence in their classrooms. 🔍 Learn more here

• Expressability K12: Your inbox isn't a task manager. Your mind isn't for storing mundane processes. It's time to break free. With Expressability K12 Ruckus Makers can prioritize student success by offloading time sucking tasks. Visit Expressability K12 to learn how here

• ODP Business Solutions: STEAM programs failing before they start? 

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Podcast created by Danny. Audio engineered by Dragan. Show notes written by Christina. Email sent by Soniya