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In this episode, Daniel Rock and Jason Adair delve into the remarkable journey of Bryant Park Elementary, an SREB Pacesetter School in Jefferson County, Alabama. 

We talk to Principal Cortney Slaughter and teacher Alex Wilson about how they built a thriving school from the ground up since its opening in 2020.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Embracing the "Why" and Building Ownership: Discover how Bryant Park Elementary went beyond checklists, fostering deep teacher ownership and rich conversations, allowing for productive struggle that led to a much richer experience.
• Arts Integration as a Core Strategy: Explore how the school successfully integrates the four art forms (theater, dance, music and visual arts) with core curriculum standards to promote student engagement, retention and confidence. Hear examples like using tap dancing for math fluency and Tableaus for reading comprehension.
• Recognition and Achievements: Learn about Bryant Park's impressive accolades, including being a Class School of Distinction for arts integration, an Alabama Reading Initiative Spotlight School, and a Marzano High Reliability School (level one).
• Creating a Culture of Shared Leadership: Understand the importance of a collaborative, shared leadership approach where the principal is not the sole decision-maker. Find out how leadership teams, including the Continuous Improvement Leadership Team and the Design Team, ensure every grade level has a voice and opportunities for growth.
• Intentional Professional Learning: Discover Bryant Park's robust professional development model, including a partnership with Arts Now for quarterly 3-day arts integration training. New teachers receive foundational training, and the school intentionally schedules time for learning during the school day, respecting teachers' time.
• Teacher-Led Instructional Rounds: Learn about their unique approach to instructional rounds, where teachers observe peers to identify strengths and areas for improvement, focusing on specific instructional practices like vocabulary and explicit instruction. This process provides purposeful feedback that is debriefed in professional learning communities.
• Key Advice for School Leaders: Gain insights into the most important considerations for leaders piloting new programs, emphasizing shared leadership, valuing every voice (even critical ones) and balancing shared decision-making with clear expectations and boundaries for growth.

This episode offers practical strategies and inspiring examples for any educator or leader looking to transform their school through innovative practices and a strong culture of continuous learning!

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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