School Meetings

The GLISI module that focused on conducting effective meetings was very beneficial. My school is known for LONG meetings. When agendas are created and a time limit is set, it is almost laughable because we never get everything done. Typically we spend so much time on the first agenda items or talking about things that are off task that by the end we are rushing over the remaining items. We usually never end meetings on time. This has caused teachers at my school to absolutely dread meetings.

When I studied the module I found the steps very helpful. During my school's leadership meeting this summer my principal handed out an eight page agenda. The leadership meeting was scheduled from 9 am to 4 pm. Everyone seemed a little overwhelmed and defeated when they look at the never ending agenda. Our principal began by asking us to create norms for our leadership meetings. I used the opportunity to suggest meeting audits and everyone was really open to it. We ended our meeting 40 minutes late and my principal pointed out that if we were doing a meeting audit we would not score will on time management. I hope that our team truly tries the audits so that we can improve.