Robyn Jackson Brings Tons of Experience to FocusED Listeners

Robyn Jackson is passionate about building better schools. As the CEO of Mindsteps Inc.®, she has helped thousands of K–12 administrators and teachers develop the clarity and confidence to turn their classrooms and schools into success stories.

Jackson combines her experience as an English teacher and middle school administrator and her work in thousands of schools and districts to help teachers and administrators develop rigorous instructional programs that provide students with the support and motivation they need to reach or exceed the standards and helps refocus vision, mission, and core values to build better schools.

She is the author of 10 books, host of the School Leadership Reimagined podcast, and an internationally recognized keynote speaker and consultant.

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FocusED Show Notes with Robyn Jackson

Robyn talked about the failed leadership models that we all learned but that aren’t working since they are designed to maintain.

Don’t miss what she says about doing the work of leadership in schools without a new program, without firing people, without adding…by building.

Don’t miss the 4 things that Robyn teaches in her builders’ lab.

Robyn talked about vision statements being promises for our students.

There’s great power in the way that Robyn describes teacher development, growing them one level in one year. Picking one thing to develop and targeting that area.

We need to know the most critical areas of instruction to set as our focus for teacher growth.

Robyn talked about this mantra: Bosses say “you go.” Leaders say “let’s go.” Builders say “come.”

The leader dictates the vision but that staff should put boundaries around their own behavior by setting the core values. This is the purpose stage that Robyn teaches.

Don’t miss what Robyn says about every teacher becoming a master teacher.

Listen to what it means to interrogate your teacher evaluation system. What’s one thing that teachers need to do to get to the next level?

Books mentioned by Robyn Jackson on FocusED

Never Work Harder Than Your Students by Robyn Jackson

Robyn mentions books outside of education, including the book Upstream by Dan Heath. She talked about trying to solve problems at the source.

Robyn Jackson Quotes

Being successful is boring. Being really successful is really boring. ~ Robyn Jackson

The best gift you can give every student is a master teacher in every classroom. ~ Robyn Jackson

We need staff to grow in both their skillset and their willset so that they’re not just better teachers but also that they feel safe to try new things, take risks, and improve practice. ~ Robyn Jackson

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FocusED is your educational leadership podcast where our mission is to dissect a particular focus for teachers and school leaders so that you can learn to lead better and grow faster in your school or district with more knowledge, better understanding, and clear direction on what to do next.

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