Building Strong Leadership in Corona-Norco Unified
In order to step up the district's efforts to raise test scores and help more students graduate, Superintendent Kent Bechler of Corona-Norco Unified turned his focus on a basic concept— student engagement. "Student engagement is really the key to student achievement," said Bechler. "If students are engaged, they are going to learn."
To turn this goal into a reality, Bechler needed the support of his principals. "Leadership is so much about providing a vision for what night be," said Bechler. "Student engagementis something that principals could identify with and then model and teach at their schools."
Bechler brought in Pivot Learning Partners to strengthen the principals' leadership skills. The Pivot Learning team provided Corona-Norco not only new tools and strategies about student engagement, but also training on how to implement change and build capacity at their schools, resolve conflicts and, most importantly, model what they learned with their staff. "Principals have to be able to connect with the staff so teachers can take it back and connect with their students," said Bechler. "As leaders we have a responsibility to develop ourselves. As we develop our own leadership skills, we are able to pull out the best in others."
| "When our kids leave us, they are ready to go — to be successful and prepared to lead productive lives." |
A former high school principal himself, Bechler also strives to improve his own leadership capabilities by attending workshops alongside his principals and staff and by working closely with his Pivot Pivot Learning coach, Judi Gutierrez. "Kent really sets the tone that this is important work," said Gutierrez. "He knows that the work is not just about developing our skills as administrators, but that we are here to work together. This is not just a solo job."
As a result of their work with Pivot Learning Partners, Corona-Norco Unified has produced real change. Classrooms look and feel more energized as traditional and direct teaching strategies have now been transformed into more collaboration among students and improved instruction. According to Bechler, "The benefit is really for the kids. I'm seeing more students actively engaged in their learning than a year ago." Of course, change is a journey, and Corona-Norco has not yet reached its destination. But the goal is clear: "When our kidsleave us, they are ready to go —to be successful and prepared to lead productive lives."