The Ripple Effect and Staff Buy-In:
How to Broaden Staff Involvement Beyond the Character Education Steering Committee
Merle J. Schwartz, Ed.D, Director of Education and Research, mschwartz@character.org
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When you toss a pebble into a pond, you will generally notice a ripple effect. There is the initial splash followed by waves that circle and spread out from the landing spot until they reach the shore. You want your character education effort to be like that.
Your character education team is that pebble that has landed in the water. Your committee has jelled as a team and developed lots of enthusiasm. Suddenly your team is faced with the reality question, How do we get our colleagues to really buy-in to this initiative beyond just knowing about it? You have made the initial splash and now you want the effect to begin to spread through the school in waves.
It is a very rare school that can kick off a social-emotional and character development initiative and have everyone walk away committed. In fact, it is becoming increasingly rarer that an entire staff can participate in any full staff professional development that lasts more than a few hours.
How do you get the Ripple Effect?
We have found that for teachers to really buy-in to this climate change process that affects relationships and teaching, they need an opportunity to experience what the Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education is really about. They need the time to engage in some of the critical conversations that the character education committee has engaged in. They need to feel like they honestly understand what social-emotional and character development is.
Think strategically. Think in waves.
Other than your character education steering committee, if you had to choose 5-8 key people on staff that could support you, that you really need on your team’s side (think strategically), who would they be? This next wave is the group that you want to provide additional professional development, outside your building, where they can immerse in the meaning of effective character education, moral and performance character concepts, and application of key concepts that can improve your school.
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Send your next wave of staff to the Eleven Principles Sourcebook Institute at the 15th National Forum on Character Education in Washington, DC, Oct.16, 2008.
This is not CEP shameless self-promotion. We have been doing extended work in schools and districts around the country and have found that, in many cases, schools can only afford to train a few people at a time. If you train in “waves,” particularly if your team expects an uphill climb, it allows time to build a critical mass of folks who really “get it.” Participants who come to CEP trainings often leave with an “aha” moment and appreciation for the what, how, when, and why of a solid initiative. If your principal likes the idea of character education but has not taken the time to understand the depth of it, suggest that he or she head up a small group of next wave people to attend CEP’s Eleven Principles Sourcebook Institute happening the day before the Forum begins. Consider including department heads, assistant principals, a PE teacher, a special education educator, and a teacher’s union representative in your next wave. As you think about future “waves,” consider if it makes sense to send one or two Darth Vader types, a parent representative, and/or a school board representative.
Setting up for Full Staff Training
As your initiative begins to grow and your support base extends, you may be ready to plan for a CEP Eleven Principles Seminar at your school. You can assign table facilitators from your pebble and wave groups.
Take a deep cleansing breath and smile. Your steering committee is doing important work—well worth the time and thoughtful planning.
See you at the Forum!
To schedule a free consultation for your training needs, please call 1-800-988-8081
