Dr. Jim Flynn
Superintendent
Simpson County Schools
In what ways are you a connected educator?
A wise person advised me long ago that in education,
it’s the people, not the programs that make a school… That advice is deeply ingrained into my leadership vision and work to get our staff, students, parents, and community engaged in advancing the vision and mission of the school system. Our vision in Simpson County schools is to be a world-class educational system empowering all students to graduate LIFE-READY - academically and socially prepared for college and/or careers!
Our mission is to develop each child to their fullest potential and prepare them for the next level of life! Our mission is driven by five fundamental guiding questions:
- How do we develop positive, professional relationships with our students, their families, and one another?
- How do we ensure all students are taught the standards and skills needed to be college and/or career ready in the 21st Century?
- How do we measure the progress of our students to these standards and skills?
- How do we provide interventions for students who are struggling to achieve our learning goals?
- How do we enrich and stretch the learning of our students who are meeting or exceeding our learning goals?
In our school system, I have worked hard with our team to create systems, structures, and logistics to bring folks together to learn, collaborate, and work on the guiding questions of our mission. In addition to our 4 professional development days, we have 4.5 learning community days spread throughout our school year which provides time for professional learning community (PLC) work; follow-up training; vertical teaming and collaboration; and time for other school or district initiatives. Additionally, our schools are creative with their use of time to create other opportunities for staff collaboration and development. For example, while the staff works in PLCs from 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM, the Central Office team will come to a school to help with supervision and a school-wide assembly. Time is a precious asset and we harness it for collaboration and connectedness among our students and staff!
Technology has become an important tool that allows our folks to connect and grow! All of our unit plans and pacing guides are posted on our website. Our teachers are leveraging CIITS for classroom and common assessments, units and lesson resources, along with many other resources including PD360. The PD360 has been instrumental in our LDC/MDC work for example. We’ve been able to set up PD Groups to learn and share through this amazing resource. Also, we use GoogleDoc walkthrough forms that are tailored to specific initiatives and help us provide immediate feedback to our staff as progress checks. For example, we have “chunked” the learning on the PGES framework with our teachers and then use GoogleDoc walkthroughs aligned to the part of the framework being studied to give our teachers specific feedback. It’s been a powerful model for rolling out the PGES framework!
I have worked with our principals and teachers to expand on-line learning resources as well. We have leveraged on-line learning courseware and programming to help students at all levels in our school system to support both struggling students, as well as those who are meeting or exceeding our learning goals. Programs like Odysseyware, Achieve 3000, Read 180/System 44, Carnegie Learning/Cognitive Tutor, Math Whizz are some examples of resources that have helped our students learn and allow for 24/7 anytime learning! Other on-line programs like Edmodo, Wikispaces, and Facebook are being used with students and staff to facilitate engagement in learning and collaboration. Remind 101 is an app staff are using to send text reminders to students, parents and staff to keep them up to date on important activities, dues dates, and assignments.
I have used both Edmodo and Wikispaces to facilitate staff development and to model the use of technology. Twitter, Zite, and LinkIn are some tremendous resources for keeping abreast of educational news, innovations, and advancements. Additionally, both KASA and KASS support online professional communities that I can use to learn from and share with other Kentucky superintendents. Also, I utilize Lync for meetings and collaboration, especially with external partners across the state. Finally, I have utilized Vimeo for online videos used for training and communication.
Finally, I use tools like Twitter, facebook, our website, OneCall Now and School Reach to communicate with a wide array of stakeholders. These tools are effective in sharing best practices, student and staff successes, along with events in our schools and districts. It also helps set the bar for excellence as I am constantly sharing examples of best practice in pictures, videos and words. People love the pictures and videos!
How does being connected impact your practice?
Achieving our vision and mission requires the efforts of many people. All of the tools, structures, and systems in place allow me to be more intentional in leading, serving, and supporting our stakeholders in advancing our vision. The tools and strategies I shared above help keep me in tune with what’s working, what’s not working, and possible solutions to help us continuously improve. Again, it’s the people, not the programs that make the school and school system. My ability to be in tune and engaged with what’s going on is critical to our success. Using some of these tools allows me to expand my ability to understand and influence what’s going on. It also lets people know that I am out and about being close and curious with what’s going on in our schools! This enhances credibility and a level of accessibility that is beneficial.
How does being connected impact you as a professional?
The old adage that it is lonely at the top can be very true. However, using the resources I have described allows me to connect with other superintendents across the state and nation. Additionally, I can connect with educators all over the world! I find it invigorating and empowering to have these connections. It breaks down isolation and opens a realm of support, collaboration, resources, and learning that was once not possible. The results we are attaining in Kentucky are not accidental. Regardless of geographic location, all of us have access to the knowledge, skills, resources, and supports needed to help every child achieve college and/or career readiness by graduation. We simply need to get connected, roll-up our sleeves and take it!
What advice or resources would you recommend to colleagues interested in becoming connected?
My best advice is just simply start doing something! Dive in and learn! For example, I didn’t understand how Twitter could help me as a superintendent. Now that I started using it, I realize the power this tool has for communication, collaboration, and professional development! Amazing!
Be intentional in leading and supporting school system stakeholders in becoming connected themselves. Besides being a role model – remember that actions speak louder than words – plan and implement the systems, resources, structures, and logistics that bring people together…
Finally, have fun with it! Learning is stimulating and often fun! Take the challenge and learn something new that will allow you to be a more connected educator! It will benefit you and the folks you serve!
Dr. Jim Flynn is in his 11th year as superintendent. During his tenure, Simpson County Schools has successfully implemented a common vision that focuses on empowering all students to graduate life ready – prepared socially and academically for college and/or careers.
Dr. Flynn is the President of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents. The Kentucky General Assembly appointed him to serve on the Local Superintendents Advisory Committee. He also serves on the Superintendents Advisory Committee to the Commissioner of Education.
Twitter handle, links to blog, website, etc: Twitter - @jflynnfswildcat; website – www.simpson.kyschools.us; facebook page – Simpson County Schools; LinkedIn – Jim Flynn, Ed.D.; Vimeo – James Flynn
