COLLECTIVE WORK & RESPONSIBILITY: Show Me a DISCONNECTED Staff and I’ll Show You a MISERABLE School!

Note - As today is the 3rd day of Kwanzaa, I decided to look at each of the "7 Principles of Kwanzaa" and examine how each correlate with CLASSROOM TEACHER SUCCESS. Today's principle is Collective Work & Responsibility (UJIMA in the East African language, Kiswahili). Take a read and feel free to comment.

Somewhere in America, there’s a school where once the morning bell rings, students are in their assigned little worlds called classrooms along with their teachers ready to learn the day’s lessons. At the elementary level, they will spend the bulk of their entire day and year in that same little space preparing for a later time in their lives that is probably quite inconceivable in the present moment. At the secondary level, the students will travel from classroom to classroom but like the elementary classroom, they will be preparing for a later time in their lives that is quite inconceivable in the present moment.

At this same school, the teachers are working diligently every day to help the students turn their dreams into their reality. There’s one big problem in this school however….and when I say big, I mean major! In a previous blog post entitled, Unity in the School Community, I stated,

“There's nothing like walking into a school where staff not only know one another, but they like one another, they appreciate one another, they care about one another, they respect one another, they collaborate with one another, they support one another, they learn with, from and for one another, and they're excited about what they do and who they do it for...the students. I call this a "BAM" learning environment. There is UNITY amongst the staff and the learning environment is therefore healthy, vibrant and optimistic. There's energy, excitement and enthusiasm for the work, the students and one another. It's an environment where the entire staff wants to be there daily...because they have a common purpose, mission and vision for their work...they are ONE...they are unified. UNITY abounds through the staff and the overall school community.”

In other words, I was talking about unity amongst staff…harmony amongst staff…a sense of family and community throughout the building. In this essay on Collective Work & Responsibility, I want to take it a step further. It is one thing to be in harmony with one another – that is a good thing. But it is an entirely different thing when that harmony has a purpose. What an advantage for children when the purpose of harmony amongst staff is effective collaboration between staff.

Going back to the school I referenced above, there was unity in the building. They got along well, but it stopped there. They spoke to one another, they had small-talk with one another, they ate lunch with one another, but they did not collaborate with one another professionally. The entire school suffers as a result because the staff is disconnected on a professional level.

Through my work, I have come to know that there are schools out there where collaboration amongst staff either doesn’t exist or it’s minimal at best. This is particularly troublesome because those same schools are comprised of so many brilliant, extraordinary educators, both veteran and new. When they hold all of their pedagogical knowledge within themselves, no one else on staff benefits from their presence. Each have their own unique experiences in the classroom and in their preparation. Each have something special and unique to share. For example, in any given school, there are staff members who are trying to resolve an issue, whether it be instructional-related, content-related, data-analysis-related, lesson planning-related, climate / culture-related, relationships-related, parental engagement-related, etc., but within that same school, there are staff members who resolved these issues years ago. The problem is that they are not talking to one another professionally. Since this sort of collaboration is not occurring, the staff cannot benefit from the presence of one another and in the end, children suffer…the school suffers due to a “disconnected staff” and the consequence is a “miserable school.”

As today is Day 3 of Kwanzaa, today’s principle of Collective Work & Responsibility is absolutely crucial. Teachers cannot confine themselves to their classrooms. They must work collectively and collaboratively with one another to reach common goals. The challenges that so many of our children face in their lives is quite overwhelming for them, which requires constant collaboration by staff. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) must be standard practice in all schools. Optimal student performance across the building cannot occur when staff is not functioning as a team….as a cohesive unit. I happen to be an avid football fan for example. Not only do I watch the games through the lens of a fan, I also watch the games through the lens of an educator. I am watching the unity, harmony, interaction and collaboration between players on the field. That unity, harmony, interaction and collaboration on the field are crucial to being victorious. Well it works the same way in the school amongst staff. When the unity I discussed in a previous blog post along with harmony, interaction and collaboration between teachers is present, the effects of Collective Work & Responsibility are more than apparent in the school.

An Afterthought on Why I Didn't Reference the Role of School Administrators
After reading this blog post some have inquired on social media why I didn't reference the role of school administrators toward initiating the process of collaboration. The answer is simple....I deliberately left any mention of school administrators out because I am speaking directly to teachers and their roles. The unfortunate reality is that schools do in fact exist where staff collaboration does not exist BECAUSE it has not been initiated and led by the administration for whatever the reason. When this is the reality of a given school, it doesn't resultantly dismiss the need for collaboration between staff members....the need is still there. Teachers must therefore take the initiative despite the absence of leadership in this effort and begin the process nevertheless.