Building+Systems+and+Structures+Around+What+You+Believe

Session Description:
The myth of the single teacher, bucking the odds to be that one great teacher in a school may make for a great Hollywood movie, but it rarely -- if ever -- leads to lasting, effective change. We must examine the manner in which our schools and classrooms are set up so that the greatest number of students, teachers and even principals can thrive and learn and feel valued. This session is focused on looking at institutional change, so that attendees can explore what they value and then examine the systems in their districts, schools and classrooms that must change to reflect those values.

You will learn 1. To set goals that affect both the school-wide culture and the individual classroom. 2. To examine the change necessary to achieve sustainable innovation. 3. To build a consensus-driven community to sustain change.

Presenter Bio: Chris Lehmann, Philadelphia, PA
Chris Lehmann is the founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy, a progressive science and technology high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Chris returned to his native Philadelphia after nine years as an English Teacher, Technology Coordinator, and coach at the Beacon School in New York City, one of the leading urban public schools for technology integration.

Chris was an honoree for the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development's 2009 Outstanding Young Educator Award and was named one of the "40 Under 40" by Philadelphia Business Journal in 2009. He has spoken at educational conferences all over the world and has worked with many schools and districts in the U.S. and England as a consultant. Chris writes for LeaderTalk, Grant Wiggins' Faculty Room, and is the author of the education blog Practical Theory.