Students might notice some exciting changes in the classroom this spring. Innovative instructional initiatives inspired by Convocation keynote speaker Ron Clark are sweeping the district, thanks to a recent inspirational road trip.
Encouraged by Clark’s energetic, motivational presentation, Garland ISD organized a two-day trip to the Ron Clark Academy last fall. Director of Professional Development Nelson Orta helped coordinate this life changing experience.
“After Ron Clark spoke at convocation in August, we began planning a group visit,” Orta explained. “The Professional Development Department designed an opportunity that not was only about experiencing the Ron Clark Academy, but also reflecting on learning and our practices in GISD.”
Campus principals were tasked with choosing one teacher who routinely goes above and beyond—known as a “runner” in Clark’s philosophy. Those 71 runners, along with 28 principals, two area directors and three members of the Professional Development team, loaded two busses headed to Georgia at 5:30 a.m. Oct. 9.
“There was a lot of singing, cheering, chanting and collaboration on the busses,” Orta said. “We arrived in Atlanta at 8 p.m. Over the next two days, GISD educators observed Academy teachers and students in their classrooms. They also met with Academy teachers to discuss their philosophy, and had access to students and Ron Clark himself throughout the visit.”
When these educators returned to GISD, they started sharing—and practicing—what they learned during the remarkable outing.
“That magical place changed me in many ways. It changed me as a parent, teacher and even as a person,” said Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence teacher Fernando Loaiza. “You look at yourself, and you say, ‘I am a good teacher.’ But being a good teacher is not good enough. You have to strive to become a great teacher. And that is one of the things that fired me up.”
Loaiza now features cheers, music and movement in his classroom—mediums that excite and motivate his students. Fellow runners are also incorporating ingenious methods of instruction, such as simulating a surgery to teach the mathmatecial order of operations.
These fresh techniques were on full display during a Jan. 5 staff development training called Design Your Own Learning. The teacher-led affair kicked off the spring semester, equipping educators with novel ideas to jumpstart their classrooms in 2015.
“Teachers have been challenged to be ‘life changers’ by Ron Clark,” Orta commented. “Our educators are still influenced by what they observed in Atlanta, and are affecting others at their campuses. We are excited to see the transformations happening in classrooms throughout GISD.”
Photo courtesy of Ron Clark and GISD staff