Episode Details

Sam LeDeaux, principal of a K-5 school in the Chicago area, explains how a school hashtag and social media gave parents real-time access to his school. He pairs that openness with peer observations, so parent communication and teacher collaboration both stay open.

LeDeaux's school hashtag had zero parent followers when he started and about 90 now. Among his 62 staff members, accounts grew from about a dozen to 49. He also has a standing invitation for teachers: tell him where, when and how long they want to observe a colleague, and he will cover their class.

What you'll learn

• Start a school hashtag so parents can send suggestions and see what is happening in real time, not at conferences or the end of the trimester.
• Show staff the value by sharing your own experience in a meeting, then let them fit it to their own style instead of ordering it.
• Use social media as a way to collaborate when your teachers have no common planning time.
• Frame hard conversations as service to kids, not personal performance, so teachers do not shut down.
• Offer to cover a teacher's class so they can watch a colleague teach, and keep early peer observations voluntary.

Chapters

• 0:00 Why starting tomorrow is 12 hours too late
• 2:53 A K-5 school with an involved community
• 5:38 From an edcamp to joining social media
• 6:50 True transparency beyond the open door policy
• 9:46 Rolling out a school hashtag and staff buy-in
• 13:58 Staying transparent through difficult issues
• 16:14 Opening classroom doors with peer observations
• 20:06 Purpose of peer observations and growth-focused evaluation

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Questions this episode answers

How can a principal be more transparent with parents?
LeDeaux says many open door policies mean see my secretary and wait weeks. His school created a hashtag, he is on the playground before and after school, and he is on Twitter. About 90 parents follow the hashtag and add suggestions in real time.

How do you get teachers to start peer observations?
LeDeaux says it began awkward, with invitations and a handful of brave teachers. He shows the value of another set of eyes, and he offers to cover a class so a teacher can visit a colleague. Early on it is voluntary and about getting comfortable.

How do you get staff to use Twitter without making it a mandate?
LeDeaux avoids top-down orders. He shared his experience in a staff meeting, others shared theirs, and he kept showing positive results with kids. Staff with professional accounts grew from about a dozen to 49 of his 62, with about 22 regularly active.

About Sam LeDeaux

Sam LeDeaux is principal of a K-5 school in the metropolitan Chicago area.

Links and resources

• Sponsor offer link
• Sponsor Sanebox
• Transformative Principal website
• Podcast on Stitcher
• Refer a principal form
• Best Tools for Busy Administrators survey
• Tweet on the school hashtag

Working on this at your school? Get a free preview of a 10-week leadership pathway built from episodes like this one at transformativeprincipal.com/start.

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