Leading with an Equity-Based Strategic Plan
Dr. Maxfield and Dr. Klein congratulated Dr. Dania Bazzi on being named 2022 Michigan Superintendent of the Year, by the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. Mentioned in the nominating materials was the fact that her district earned the Equity Innovator Award for 2019. Dr. Bazzi discussed the district’s commitment to equitable learning opportunities for all students, the current initiatives, the importance of teacher leadership, teacher recruitment and retention, equitable school funding, and concluded the conversation with advice for current superintendents and school leaders.
Her leadership journey included employment at Ford Motor Company as a project manager, followed by a teaching position at John Glenn High School in Westland. She pursued her doctorate and served as a School Improvement Consultant at Jackson County Intermediate School District; Director of Teaching and Learning at Hamilton Community School; Superintendent of Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools. Securing the superintendency in Ferndale “was like winning the lottery, having the same goals, values and really dedicated to always doing what's best for students.”
“We’ve been committed to really transformative change within the district, providing an equitable experience for every student within the district. We partnered with Great Lakes Equity, out of Indiana University, as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion. That partnership has really been so impactful to the Ferndale Public Schools, examining if our policies match our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, whether it is board policy; student codes of conduct; dress codes. Are these equitable policies that ensure all students have the ability to pursue their life's passion? “
“It catapulted us into creating an equity-based strategic plan. To achieve the goals of our strategic plan there has to be equity that runs through the veins of each of those pillars of our strategic plan. The partnership with Great Lakes led to policy change; to an equity-based strategic plan; to the creation of our district Diversity Committee and Equity Task Force; and most importantly it led to curricular changes to ensure that our curriculum is aligned and represented by our student body.”
"One metric used to measure the success of the systemic approach to equity is the growth and achievement of our students. Our focus was student participation in A.P. and honors classes. Students who identified as black were not represented in those courses, so we made systemic efforts to ensure that students have the opportunity and the support needed to be successful in those courses. In a matter of a year we increased student participation in A.P. classes by 14%, of which 95% were successful in those A.P. courses. So again, it comes down to access, and removing any barriers that prevent students from taking advantage of the opportunities that we have within our schools.”
“One thing that's unique about Ferndale is our commitment to our social-emotional learning curriculum, recognized at the state and federal level. We prioritized time integrated into our PreK-12 school day to work on the five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and reasonable decision making. People may call these 'soft skills'; these life skills are essential. Content skills are important as it relates to being college and career ready, however, to be a student who is ready to make an impact on the world both content and ‘soft skills’ sets are needed.”
When asked what might have been learned over the last 18 months which has challenged schools, teachers, families and students, Dr. Bazzi commented on the digital divide; access to technology and the Internet. Fortunately the district’s Technology Director applied for and was awarded a grant providing a Chromebook to every student to keep at home. What also came to light was the reliance that some families had on their students to work to help the family make ends meet, thus impacting students’ virtual school attendance. The importance of in-person learning was also highlighted during the pandemic when everyone missed just being together. The pandemic did allow more flexibility with parent meetings, which were typically done in the evening, and now can be done virtually.”
Dr. Bazzi also reflected that during the pandemic “the human connection piece is key and the government and public put so much responsibility on public education.Along with the role of educator, teachers also assumed the roles of nurse, confidante, and social worker in order to support students in all ways, taking on that responsibility with great pride.”
The district has developed a career ladder that recognizes and encourages leadership roles. Dr. Bazzi expressed her support for teacher leadership. “It is important that teachers take on leadership as experts in the classroom in terms of teaching and learning. We really need instructional leaders leading our buildings. Building management is really important but it’s not focus of what we ask of administrators in today's times. We're asking people to be teacher leaders, to be teaching and learning experts as superintendents, as principals, and various other administrative roles. In my career taking teacher leaders into administrators positions have been my most successful hires. If they're an authentic teacher leader, people will follow them because they have trust and belief in that person, they know who they are, and they know that they have the expertise to lead them.”
In response to how Ferndale will recruit, hire, retain and develop the next generation of leaders, Dr. Bazzi referred to their efforts to grow their own teachers from within their student body. “The district is participating in Wayne State University’s Urban Educator Path. Students can be dual enrolled to take collegiate education courses, held on site at the high school, leading toward a teaching degree at Wayne State. Students graduating from Ferndale can take a teacher education path and then are able to come back.”
“The second piece is that Human Resources revamped the hiring process to clearly articulate the district vision and mission throughout the interview process so candidates understand our commitment to social equity, social justice, and our celebrated pride in our diversity. We want people who are committed to us for the long term, because teacher tenure and administrator tenure have an impact on student achievement. Our HR approach is really to continue to build partnerships that let people know what Ferndale is about and highlighting the great work that we do, and telling our story. If we don't share what we're doing how will anyone know? So I really urge districts to tell your story and celebrate your success to create that school family atmosphere and let people know what you're about.”
Returning to the topic of the high school students who are dual enrolled in college classes for teacher education, Dr. Bazzi advises the students “that as teachers you help students achieve their goals and every year you hear of successes of your former students. As a secondary teacher you are having an impact on 150 kids a day and as an elementary teacher, you are creating really strong bonds with 25 to 30 students in a particular year. Having that impact has intrinsic value that money just can’t buy. And there is a sense of familial community that you just don’t get in the corporate world. I always tell people you do have to be a patient person, an empathetic person, a strong person to be an educator but your impact will go on far longer than you're even here on this earth.”
In closing, Dr. Bazzi pointed out an additional issue that arose from the pandemic, which was the need for school funding to be addressed in Michigan. "I think the funding of schools has come out and people have really put in the time and effort and study to show the why behind this. Equitable school funding has to be addressed, especially with what we have been able to do with our COVID relief funds."
Her final advice was for superintendents and school leaders. “Every decision you make has to be rooted in what's best for kids, not based on outside pressures. Adult problems are adult problems and shouldn't impact kids.Ultimately you have to be able to explain the 'why' of your decision making. I will say that as a superintendent another piece of advice that is important for all of us, have a mentor. I still reach out to colleagues when I have a complex situation. Always seek to understand. Lastly, as a superintendent it's very important that the community knows you and knows you care about their kids, and you are visible at school events. Seeing students outside of the classroom is vitally important for the superintendent role. My goal is to have as many students know who I am and know that they have access to me for whatever it is that they might need. It’s important to be visible, be honest, and be accessible.”
https://www.ferndaleschools.org/
dania.bazzi@ferndaleschools.org