SamTastic Weekly Tip: 3/6/23 - Contact Days Update ~ Annual SAM Rubric ~ 17th Annual SAM Conference

This week’s tip: Contact Days Update ~Annual SAM Process Rubric Assessment ~ 17th Annual National SAM Conference

Contact Days Update Your school district has likely set its calendar for the 2023-24 school year. Now is the perfect time to add this information in your TimeTrack. There are two steps:

1. Go to the orange TimeTrack logo, upper left, select settings and contact days set-up. Starting with June, 2023, change to gray any day the leader is not required to work. Once you finish June, click set and advance. Repeat this process for each of the next twelve months making sure district holidays are gray. It is a great idea to label these days in the Note section, too.

2. Double check that you’ve changed to gray days your leader will be on vacation, or using leave, this summer. This will make a significant difference in your time data as TimeTrack will not count days that have been switched to gray.

Annual SAM Process Rubric Assessment Your Time Change Coach will meet with you in April or May to complete the annual reflective assessment rubric for your SAM process work. The purpose is to celebrate your success while considering next steps in using the SAM process to best meet your goals.

There are three rubrics:

All SAM teams use the Performance Rubric 1.0: https://bit.ly/3jzMlyP As you examine the rubric, consider if you are doing everything at each level. If not, consider the steps you could take as team. If you are doing everything at each of level of the Rubric 1.0 you have the option of using a second rubric, Performance Rubric 2.0: https://bit.ly/3LXe8W0.

There is a separate rubric for additional TimeTrack users at a school. For example, if you are an assistant principal there is a separate rubric for you to use. Additional TimeTrack Performance Rubric: https://bit.ly/3vkvjdI.

You can click the rubric links, in BLUE above, to view and print. You can also access the rubrics when working with your TimeTrack. Click the orange TimeTrack logo, select INFO and then Written Tools.

Many teams and Time Change Coaches report the annual rubric review is helpful in setting goals for the upcoming school year. The new rubrics are designed to deepen and strengthen this reflective practice process with an emphasis on celebrating your work.

17th Annual National SAM Conference Registration doesn’t open until Labor Day but now is the time to do four things so you can attend:

1. Be sure to budget for SAM services for 2023-24, including the national conference

2. Add in the Notes section: Monday, September 4: Register for the Conference

3. Add in the Notes section: Monday, December 4: Travel information Due for the Conference

4. Add in the Notes section: Monday, January 22: Get ready to travel to Fort Lauderdale

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 2/27/23 - What do you have scheduled today that builds trust?

This week’s tip: What do you have scheduled today that builds trust?

The SAM Process is all about being intentional. Scheduling what you will do each day, and using your time data to reflect, requires intentionality. SAM leaders know that improving teaching and learning relies on trust. SAM teams can intentionally do things to build trust each day with teachers, staff, students and parents.

The list, below, was written by Jon Sapier, Research for Better Teaching, outlining what staff members expect to see in a leader they trust. Read through the list. How many of the events you have scheduled today in TimeTrack align with one or more of the ten items, below?

1. I trust that you are competent and can keep the wheels turning by:

• Staying on top of essential operations.

• Handling crises.

2. I trust that you think I am a worthwhile person because you:

• Consistently notice and comment on the things I am doing well.

• Are interested in my life outside of school.

3. I trust that you will make it safe for us to make mistakes by:

• Making yourself vulnerable.

• Acknowledging what you don’t know and where you need help.

• Righting wrongs, apologizing, making restitution.

• Acknowledging mistakes.

• Showing loyalty by giving credit freely, acknowledging others, and not bad-mouthing anyone behind their backs.

• Holding yourself accountable and sharing how you’ll communicate how you’re doing.

• Being a constant learner with us and visibly so.

4. I trust that you will be honest, meaning you:

• Give me honest feedback about my performance.

• Talk straight, let people know where you stand, use simple language, call things as they are, and not leave false impressions.

• Create transparency, err on the side of disclosure.

• Confront reality, take issues head on, lead courageously in conversations.

• Clarify expectations, discuss, validate, don’t assume they are clear, renegotiate if necessary.

5. I trust your integrity — that is, that your motives are for the interest of the children, not your own career advancement because you:

• Stand up for important values.

• Keep your moral compass.

• Maintain urgency for what needs to be done.

• Keep your promises and follow-through on your commitments.

6. I trust that you will act courageously by:

• Protecting us from initiative overload.

• Keeping us safe from toxic behavior internally.

7. I trust that you make legitimate decisions because you:

• Solicit input.

• Explain how our input was used and why.

• Can set limits and say no.

• Make decisions for the good of the school.

8. I trust that you will deliver results:

• By highlighting small victories.

• By getting the right things done.

9. I trust you will show me respect by:

• Listening first and not assuming you know what matters most to others.

• Using active listening skills.

• Hearing out different points of view.

• Valuing my time.

• Having my back.

• Sharing difficult information because you think I can get better and deserve the chance.

10. I trust that you will act in a caring and compassionate way by:

• Showing kindness in little things.

• Being generous.

• Going the extra mile to show consideration to individuals beyond formal requirements.

You can find the article this list was taken from at:

https://learningforward.org/journal/december-2018-volume-39-no-6/lets-get-specific-about-how-leaders-can-build-trust/

You can find a great HD video featuring author David Horsager, Trust Edge:

https://www.samprocess.com/15th-annuan-national-sam-conference?pgid=l1jmos9b-0f617e9d-d243-409b-9c3d-72ff8baa8321

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 2/20/23 - Manage your Formal Evaluations

This week’s tip: Manage your Formal Evaluations

Many SAM teams check that all required formal evaluations are completed by the date their district or state requires. TimeTrack includes an automated scheduling system you can access to find open times for each of the four part of a formal evaluation: Pre-Conference, Observation, Time to do the Paperwork, Post-Conference.

Called Connected Events, this automated system asks for the names of the staff members you need to evaluate and searches your TimeTrack for open times to tentatively schedule each of the four events without conflicting with items you have already scheduled. Connected Events does this within the time frame you set. It also gives you options on the length of each event, descriptor and time of day you’d like to schedule.

You can view a short instructional video on how to use Connected Events at this link: http://bit.ly/3xA8Omp

Many TimeTrack users access and review each staff member’s TimeTrack chart/graph as a part of the formal evaluation. Some leaders print the chart and include it with the evaluation to provide evidence of the time the leader spent with the staff member during the school year. Some leaders ask the staff member to review the chart showing time spent and ask how the leader could better help.

Some TimeTrack users review their NoteTrack entries for each staff member before writing the performance evaluation. This allows the leaders to have a far broader set of information to use than a one-time observation provides.

Here’s a short video on the use of NoteTrack: http://bit.ly/3xBf6Co