Raise Your Hand Texas Sends Enthusiastic Educators to PPE

This summer, Raise Your Hand Texas (RYHT) -- an education coalition composed of business and community leaders, parents, and tax payers dedicated to strengthening and improving Texas public schools -- sent 125 educators from throughout the state to four leadership institutes at the Programs in Professional Education.

As one of the largest initiatives of its kind in Texas, the RYHT Leadership Program invested $750,000 to send the principals to the institutes and kicked off a new initiative focused exclusively on leadership for the state. "The leadership skills of our principals are imperative to the performance of our students and the success of our schools. If a school is doing well, has a reputation of excellent teaching, [and] is engaging and motivating its students, its achievement almost always stems from the successful leadership of its principal," said Duncan Klussman, RYHT program volunteer chair and superintendent of Spring Branch ISD. "The Harvard Summer Institutes are widely recognized as the gold standard of academic training, but it's simply beyond the means of most school districts in our state to send their principals."

RYHT received 400 applications from educators throughout the state eager to attend the Harvard summer programs. The Texas educators attending came from nearly 70 communities throughout the state representing a mix of rural, urban, and suburban districts as well as elementary, middle, and high school principals. The educators participated in four institutes: Redesigning High Schools for Improved Instruction, Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership, Leadership an Evolving Vision, and National Institute for Urban School Leaders.

"We were delighted that Raise Your Hand Texas chose to support these accomplished educators," said Jennifer Stine, managing director at PPE. "We hope that, through the intensive engagement with Harvard faculty they experienced in the institutes, they will bring back useful concepts and frameworks that strengthen them as educational leaders and, as a result, positively impact the lives of many children."

Damon Trainer, a principal of a fourth and fifth grade campus at Oak Crest Intermediate School in San Antonio, attended Redesigning High Schools for Improved Instruction because he was interested in learning more about what he calls good instruction. "No matter the grade level, we must all work to improve instruction," Trainer said. The five-day institute examined the profound challenges facing American high schools and provided theories, knowledge, and practice needed to make lasting powerful changes. "As a young administrator, I'm constantly working on improving myself as an educator.  My professional ambitions include the thought of being a high school principal one day.  The knowledge learned will allow me to begin practicing now in the hopes of making an impact at the high school level one day," Trainer said.

Many of the institutes underlying goals are to teach educators strategies and guidance on how to establish priorities and build a base of support in the school, as well as how to become a stronger leader.

Julissa Alcantar-Martinez, a third-year principal at Galena Park ISD in Houston, discovered a common thread in purpose and communication among principals at the Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership.

"It's important that everyone knows your purpose and your communication of this is clear to everyone involved: parents, teachers, students, community, etcetera," she said. In particular, two speakers at the institute brought home this idea for her. "Lorraine Monroe [founder and executive director, The Lorraine Monroe Leadership Institute] stated, 'You have to put their feet where you want them to go' referring to our students. This really made me reflect on all that we do: Are our field trips doing this? Do my teachers think this way? Are we showing kids more than what is offered in their community? It is up to us? If not, then who?" she said. "Jeff Howard [founder and president, The Efficacy Institute] asked, 'Do your parents, students, [and] teachers know what the goal is and why we are learning what is being taught?' I will ensure everyone [at my school] will know our common purpose, our goals, and the reasoning for knowing these skills."

Although the institutes offered new administrators an opportunity to grow comfortable with their position -- it also strengthened experienced leaders like Noemy Renee Garcia whose dual role as superintendent and principal of Kennedy County-Wide Common School District in Sarita, Texas. She participated in Leadership an Evolving Vision, where she refined her leadership and management skills, as well as revitalized her ideas of leadership. Through plenary sessions, group discussions, and personal reflection, Garcia examined the components of a good school and learned how to enhance the quality of the school experience for everyone.

"Again and again I realize how it is the people -- not so much the programs -- that make a difference in others lives," Garcia said. "The passion and enthusiasm of people helping people is such a tremendous factor for success, no matter what the level of education. It is true for elementary, junior high, high school, and college/university levels."

As the summer comes to a close and RYHT participants in the summer programs return to their schools, Klussman anticipates a year filled with many improvements to Texas schools. "Their exposure to outstanding educational scholars and the strong relationships established with school leaders across the country will enhance their ability to provide strong school leadership," he said.

Later this fall, the RYHT participants will convene at a statewide event to share their knowledge and experiences from the institutes, but many are already sharing their experience statewide.

"I'm telling administrators I come in contact with that this is a must for professional improvement," Trainer said. "I was able to establish contacts from around the nation to continue the professional development that Harvard began. Also, the institute covered so many areas critical to educational improvement. We looked at the business end of education to the psychological end of communication. All the while, the focus was on instruction. Where else can you get that package?"

"I am returning to my school with new tools to make a difference," said Alcantar-Martinez. "And I am so excited to share all I have learned with those I care about -- my TEAM."