Building & Sustaining

Teams
2005 Talent Development High Schools
Polytechnic High School, Sun Valley, Ca

Guy Lucas Tara Madden

TDHS Regional Manager
TDHS Instructional Field Manager
Former Ninth Grade Success Academy Team
Leader
Philadelphia, PA
“Our schools, are in a sense, factories in
which the raw materials (children) are to
be shaped…”
William T. Harris
Why Organize a
High School
Into Teams?
 The Talent Development model
was designed to address apathy
and anonymity.
Apathy – Relevance
Career connections

Anonymity –
Personal relationships
A sense of community
 Decentralized Leadership in a
Talent Development High School

Central Administration

Business Hospitality
Freshmen Academy FAME
Centre
Academy
Academy Principal Principal
Academy Principal
Academy Principal TL
TL TL Travel TL
Team A Team B Culinary
TL TL
TL TL Arts
TL Technology Entrepreneurship
Team C
Teamwork is the fuel for common
people to achieve uncommon
results. – Einstein
A THINK – PAIR – SHARE Activity

What is a TEAM?

Where do you find TEAMS?

What characteristics do you find

in an effective TEAM?
What
characteristics do
you find in an
effective TEAM?
Effective teams are willing to
help others who are less
effective.
 Characteristics of effective
teams:
Discussions that involve all members.

Active listening demonstrated by all.

Free expression of feelings and ideas is encouraged.

A cooperative, friendly, supportive climate.

Everyone understands and is committed to the

achievement of the goals.
 TDHS Data Results:
The Impact of Teams at a Philadelphia High
School
Simon Gratz High School
Attendance
Before teams 99-00 58.1%
After implementing teams 00-01
70.2%
Suspensions
Before teams 99-00 48.8%
After implementing teams 00-01
33.4%The size of the 10 th
grade rose from 424
students in the fall of 2000 to 613 students
in the fall of 2001.
How to Build
Your Team
A foundation
for effective
teams
“To build trusting relationships, we need to
communicate with the intent to learn from
others, not control them.

Trust is the glue that makes effective

collaboration and teamwork possible.

Without trust, people become competitive or

defensive, and communication is distorted and
unreliable.”
Where trust is lacking
Would you:
Reveal your weaknesses?

Feel
comfortable Acknowledge a
about “True” desire
collaborating? to improve?

Be able to be critical about the

performance of the organization?
Where trust is present
There is:
-less stress
-more willingness to commit to goals
-no feeling of manipulation
-easier to anticipate behavior
Willingness is a function of:
1. Confidence – the person’s feeling
that, “I can do it.”
2. Commitment – the person’s
feeling that, “I will
do it.”
3. Motivation – the person’s feeling
of,
In what ways can you build trust
among your team?
Building a TEAM

Step One:
Identification
 Step Two:
Moving from a list of names to a TEAM
Get to know each other (Formally and Informally)
Share experiences
Pedagogy
Motivations
Expectations
Identify strengths and assets
 Step Two:
Moving from a list of names to a
TEAM
• What is the value of spending some time
creating group identity at the start of the
school year?
• What is the cost?
– HOW can we move from a list of names to a
TEAM?
A Team Building Activity
 Teacher Team Resume
• Share your name and the position that you
currently hold within your school.
• Share some of your work experiences outside
the field of education.
• Share the number of years you have served in
the education. Note the total number of years
served for the entire team.
• Share some individual strengths that you
bring to your team.
• Collectively, determine a creative way to share
your resume with the other teams in 60
seconds.
 Step Two:
Moving from a list of names to a
TEAM
• Examining values
– What do I (WE) want in life?
– Similarities/Differences Checklist
Teaching beliefs and practices
• Problem solving
• Brainteasers
 Lunch: An opportunity to
Build Relationships
Informal lunch meetings
Formal lunch meetings
Eat with students
Invite Parents
Invite Administration
Invite Community Partners and Stakeholders
 Step Three:
Set Ground Rules
Playing by the same set of rules avoids
unnecessary conflicts.
Some topics to consider when creating ground rules:
Attendance
Promptness
Meeting place & time
Participation
Basic conversational courtesies
Assignments
Goal Setting Activity
At your table, develop 3
Realistic and Defined Goals,
how you will measure them,
and how you will communicate
them to your team.

Climate, test scores,

attendance, promotion, etc…

Be prepared to share your best

with the group.
 Step Four:
Develop a Team Goal /Vision
How will you get there…if you don’t know
where you are going????
Some things to consider when developing team goals:
Limit your goals to 4-5 realistic and defined goals
Attendance %
Passing Rate %
Increased Parental Involvement

How will you reach these goals

How will you communicate these goals
 Step Five:
Defining Roles and Responsibilities
An effective team leader knows how to utilize
the strengths of each team member.

Defining team roles and

responsibilities creates a sense of
purpose and direction for each
team member.
 Step Six:
Lead by Example
A Team Leader can’t do it alone…you must
involve all members of your team to reach
SUCCESS!!!
 Step Seven:
Recognize Team Accomplishments
Celebrate Often

Be sure to
recognize the
accomplishments
and contributions
of your
teachers and
students
Assessing your Team
Individually, how are you communicating
with your team members?

How are we doing at building consensus

and decision making?

What are our strengths and areas where

improvement is needed?
 Self Assessment –
Are Your Teachers Hungry?

Are your teachers…

Satiated?
Satisfied?
Hungry?
Famished?
Emaciated?
What are your strengths?

What are your

opportunities for growth?
Semester Team Assessment

Teaming Check-up
Questions/Concerns
What Makes a Good Team Leader?
Listening Skills
Flexibility
Knows When to Get Out of the Way
Resourceful: Knows Where and When to Get Help
Collaboration Skills
Motivator for Adults
Organized
Leads by Example
Firm but Fair
Consistent
Strong Communication Skills
Recognizes and Celebrates the Skills of Others