Networks of Learning
and Leading
NW3 Family of Schools
Toronto District School Board
Gen Ling Chang
Superintendent of Education, Toronto DSB
QUESTIONS










Describe the network.
How did the networks get started?
What is the purpose of the networks?
Who are the participants
How is this network structured? Is there a pre-determined
facilitator? When does the network meet?
Who supports the network? (pedagogically and content-wise)
What is keeping the network going?
How do you know if the network is achieving its purpose?
Is this network improving student achievement? How do you
know?
Do you have any advice or cautions for individuals just beginning
their network experience?
How did the networks get started?
What is the purpose of the networks?





Equity and Excellence of Outcomes are complex social
change
About 11,000 students of which 7,000 are elementary
Believe in a service model of leadership
FOS EQAO data in 2004 were
Gr3 R 59%; W 61%; M 73%
Gr 6 R 65%; W 59%; M 67%
With 6/15 schools less than 49% and 1/15 at 24% in
Grade 3
Examine: who are our students? How have we been
providing for them
“What is worth fighting for is not allow our
schools to be negative by default, but to make
them positive by design.”



Question: How do I do it?
Question: How do I work to reach the
students and work with Ps; VPs and teachers
to effect a social change; to develop ingenuity
and innovation in our classrooms and
schools.
Question: How do I change the discourse?
“ ….. is about creating a new world – not one created by
someone else, but a place created for our students through
our own actions. This is the Moral Purpose with a powerful
engine.” Fullan & St. Germain
POWERFUL IDEAS
 Role of Research: theory and data
 Systems thinking and management
 Complex problems cannot be solved by linear or single
factor solutions; requires addressing multiple elements yet
integrated
 Leading is best when it occurs in the context of learning
and learning is best when it occurs in the context of leading
 The teaching-learning relationship is the most precious
resource in our schools
 Knowledge and understanding emerges in a community of
action, discourse and reflection
 The power of narratives and case studies
Why Networks?
Leading occurs while learning and learning
occurs while leading
Structure of learning: inquire, investigate,
discuss, construct and act
Knowledge emerges in a community of activity,
discourse, and reflection
Networks as Engine of Change
Level 1
Networks are the infrastructure within which the
elements of resources, protocols and leadership
intersect to support the teaching-learning
relationship. They allow for multiple points of
entry and leverage, therefore organic.
Level 2
Community of networks is the support system
within which teaching-learning flourishes.
“Successful leaders are able to be simultaneously
on the dance floor and the balcony”
Networks of learning and leading:
Key components
- Developing the context
- Preparing the networks
- Supporting the networks
- Facilitating the learning – leading congress
“The bottom line is that teachers become school-based reformers only
when they take on leadership for important parts of the school that
lie beyond their classrooms” Roland Barth
“What is worth fighting for is not allow our
schools to be negative by default, but to make
them positive by design.” Fullan & St. Germain
Developing the Context:
 understanding cultures by knowing staff in a
personal way with a high tolerance for
honesty and suspend judgement
 role of research (theory & data)
 intentional design and consultation with
critical friends
 use multiple points of entry and leverage
“The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn when
teachers themselves are taught to learn”
Bertolt Brecht
Preparing for the Community of Networks
 human resources
 learning theory & curriculum of learning
 bringing about change
 ongoing review of design and constantly ask
what might not work and why?
 Phase 1: 5 schools – 4 OFIP and 1 SoM
 Phase 2: 5 triads – 1 host with 2 member
“Active participation in the collective development
of other teachers is a critical competency of
modern teaching.”
Supporting the Networks: Intersection of 4
network models
 Teachers, literacy coach, principals, SAO and
superintendent (SOE)
 Principals, literacy coach and SAO/SOE
 Literacy coaches and superintendents
 Principals, superintendent and SAO
“The function of ingenuity is not to give new
answers, but to pose new questions”
Hugh Trevor-Roper
Facilitating the Learning-Leading Congress:
 Level 1 Evidence of Learning; Better Ideas; Next Actions & what
evidence of learning do we bring to the next session

Level 2 What is the difference that makes the difference: metacognition

Level 3 Move from models of thinking to models for thinking i.e.
push for generalizations
e.g. Do we agree this strategy will always work? Why is this so?
Could we prove it? When is it helpful? When not? Which pattern
of strategies over time can be useful generalizable models as
tools to think with e.g.TLCP?
FOS Model of Networks 2007 – 2008
REVISED as of Nov 2007
Using EQAO 4- years trend data (2004 - 2007), the following is our network of support
OFIP Team 1
OFIP Team 2
OFIP Team 3
OFIP Team 4
SoM
Glen Park (6)
Baycrest (4)
Wilmington (3)
CH Best (4)
Allenby (2)
Armour Heights
(4)
Ancaster (4)
Summit Heights
(3)
Dublin Heights (5)
JRR (2)
Rockford (18)
North Prep/APS
(4)
Flemington (9)
Ledbury (5)
J Wanless (2)
Faywood (4)
Glenview (1)
NW3 Professional Learning & Leading Teams (PLLT)
OFIP Teams
PLLT 1
PLLT 2
PLLT 3
PLLT 4
Wilmington/Summit/Flemingto
n#
Glen Park (RR/OFIP)
Allenby
Fisherville (VP)
Fisherville (P)
Glen Park/Armour/Rockford^
Rockford (EYLP/ECE)
John Ross Robertson
Glenview (VP)
Glenview (P)
Baycrest/Ancaster/N. Prep+
Armour Heights
J. Wanless
CH Best (OFIP)
Lawrence Park
Dublin Heights
Northview Heights
(EYNP/ECE)
Best/Dublin/Faywood/Ledbury*
Baycrest (RR/OFIP)
Wilmington
(RR/OFIP)
SoM Team
North Prep/APS
Flemington (RR)
Faywood
S.S. Fleming
JRR/Allenby/John Wanless*
Ancaster (EYNP)
Summit Heights
Ledbury (EYNP)
W.L. Mackenzie
Yorkdale
6 Ps; 2 VPs
6 Ps; 5 VPs
5 Ps; 6 VPS
7 Ps; 9 VPs
REVISED SCHEDULE OF PLLT MEETINGS 2007- 2008
MONTH/DATE
PLLT 1
MONTH/DAT
E
PLLT 2
MONTH/DATE
PLLT 3
PLLT 4
TIME
10:00 – 12:00
TIME
1:00 – 3:00
TIME
10:00 – 12:00
4:00 – 5:30
Tues. Oct. 09/07
Glen Park
Thu. Oct. 11/07
Allenby
Wed. Oct. 10/07
Fisherville
Fisherville
Thu. Nov. 08/07*
*LNS
*LNS
Wed. Nov. 07/07
*LNS
Lawrence
Park
Tues. Dec. 04/07
Armour
Heights
J. Wanless
Wed. Dec. 05/07
CH Best
Northview
Wed. Jan. 16/08*
*LNS
*LNS
Wed. Jan. 16/08
*LNS
SS Fleming
Tues. Feb. 12/08
North Prep
Flemington
Wed. Feb.13/08
Faywood
Mackenzie
Tues. Apr. 08/08*
*LNS
*LNS
Wed. Apr.09/08
*LNS
Yorkdale
Tues. May 06/08
Rockford
Wilmington
Wed. May 07/08
Ledbury
Fisherville
Thu. Dec. 06/07
Thu. Feb.14/08
Thu. May 08/08
How do you know if the network is achieving its
purpose? Is this network improving student
achievement? How do you know?






Changes in discourse of teachers and leaders
Knowledge creation especially at the metacognitive level
Evidence of learning & leading – staff and
students
Culture of collective action: “what do we want to
do next” and adaptive solutions
Impact on student thinking, sense of belonging
and voice, in particular in their work
Students achievement results e.g. EQAO
How do you know if the network is achieving its
purpose? Is this network improving student
achievement? How do you know?
I became Superintendent of Education of NW3 in 2004.
Our 2004 EQAO results are

Gr3 R 59%; W 61%; M 73%
Gr 6 R 65%; W 59%; M 67%
OSSLT 73% Gr. 9 Math 75%
Our 2007 EQAO results are

Gr3 R 70%; W 71%; M 77%
Gr 6 R 79%; W 71%; M 74%
OSSLT 83% Gr. 9 Math 75%
Our collective work made a difference to students
achievement. The growth is striking!
Do you have any advice or cautions for individuals
just beginning their network experience?
To quote T.S. Eliot
“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time”
So, there is no recipe or bandwagon …. But
What makes life fun and work meaningful is the
act of re-creation.