Summary: Join C.T. and guest Dr. Linda Rosenbury, Superintendent of Port Townsend School District in Washington, as they explore how Port Townsend is redefining what it means to truly listen and respond to students, families, and staff. This insightful conversation delves into the district’s innovative use of student and community voice to guide decisions on everything from school calendars to technology policies.

Key Takeaways:

• Authentic leadership involves deep listening and responding strategically to the voices of students, families, and staff through comprehensive surveys, focus groups, and committees.
• Building trust is foundational and is cultivated through one-to-one interactions, transparent communication, and owning mistakes by apologizing and engaging in open dialogue.
• Creating a culture of psychological safety encourages learning from mistakes without blame, fostering stronger relationships and continuous improvement.
• Student and family input directly inform major district decisions, such as school calendars, technology policies, and facility upgrades, ensuring decisions reflect the community’s needs.
• Survey timing and question design are critical; repeated surveys help track changes over time and focus on actionable topics aligned with current district priorities.
• Sharing survey results openly with the community promotes transparency and helps manage expectations, especially on contentious issues like cell phone policies.
• Leadership today requires humility and relationship-building, recognizing that students have access to abundant information and that adults must shift from being sole experts to collaborative partners in learning.
• Emphasizing relationships sets the foundation for effective learning, where academic outcomes are a byproduct of strong connections and supportive environments.

0:00 Introduction

1:30 Overview of Port Townsend School District and Community

4:15 Importance of Engaging and Amplifying Student Voice

8:40 How Student Voice Informs Day-to-Day Operations and Strategic Plans

12:30 Building Trust as a Foundation for Leadership

17:45 Creating Psychological Safety and Forgiveness

22:50 The Impact of Role Modeling and the Changing Information Age

28:30 Survey Design and Data-Driven Decision Making

33:45 Using Survey Data to Inform Conversations About Controversial Issues

Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Dr. Linda Rosenbury: linkedin.com/in/linda-rosenbury

Music Credit: Shake it Up - Fesliyanstudios.com - David Renda

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