School Administrators: Increase the Impact of Your Virtual Classroom Visits

I am going to admit something that you need to know…I have not supervised teachers in a virtual environment. I recognize and honor the incredibly difficult work you are engaged in right now. I do not take for granted that you are truly doing the best you can to support EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY at your school.

Experience I Do Have

I do support administrators who are currently supervising teachers in a virtual environment and have noticed that while there are marked differences in how you get into classrooms, what you do before, during and after has not changed. In fact, what makes classroom virtual visits impactful is the same thing that made in-person classroom visits impactful…your time, attention and follow-up conversations with your teachers.

Right now, the best way to increase the impact virtual classrooms visits is to BE THERE EVERYDAY! Teachers and students need to see their instructional leaders taking an interest in what they are doing and how they are being impacted by instruction. Your everyday presence in classrooms communicates that you care about what is happening and want to encourage everyone’s progress. This does not mean in every classroom everyday, it means being in classrooms everyday.

How I Increase My Value to You, a Current Administrator

By following the instructional supervision greats (Kim Marshall and Doug Reeves, just to name two), I stay current with the challenges and mid-course adjustments that educational leaders are making in real-time. Each of these educators regularly post articles on social media in which they share their experiences in working with school administrators across the country. There is great value in their stories, which I am finding in many ways parallel with my experiences in supporting current school administrators. 

Here is an article posted by Doug Reeves about Classroom Visits in a Virtual Environment. He makes reference to Kim Marshall’s recommendations about classroom observations being short, frequent, and unannounced. Marshall (yes, he also is responsible for the amazing weekly K-12 education article round-up, The Marshall Memo) authored Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation: How to Work Smart, Build Collaboration, and Close the Achievement Gap was a game changer for me as I began my doctoral journey.

Reeves closes his article referenced above with a powerful statement that continues to motivate me to share my experiences and offer support to site administrators who are charged with what appears to be impossible. Read it, then read it again, and then read it a third time:

“But quality teaching is more important now more than ever, and it is not possible to pursue the goal of educational equity without a focus on effective instruction”

For me, this means that being in classrooms daily is a no debate. It will be a challenge and for some, there will likely be discomfort with the navigation of virtual classroom platforms. It is worth the effort because without your presence in classrooms, you will be unable to provide effective instructional leadership and therefore educational equity at your school will suffer. I want to be a resource for you in making classroom visits happen daily. 

Stay tuned for the 4-part series on Building a Learning-Focused Culture at Your School!

Amy