PowerPoint Presentation

Collectively Building Leadership and Mentorship CapacityDenise Johnson, Director of Instruction, Vancouver School Board

Dr. Hartej Gill, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, UBC

An overview of the presentation:A review of the process involved in co-creating, implementing and researching a social justice mentorship and leadership initiative between the Educational Leadership and Administration program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Vancouver School Board (VSB).

Bringing the Initiative to Life:Envisioned collaboratively between UBC/VSBGoal to bring current site based administrators and leaders into a formal Leadership and Mentorship role with a cohort of UBC graduate studentsFocus on Social Justice

Institutionalizing an approach to Mentorship and LeadershipFocus area: Social JusticeFinding a way for mentor-mentee relationships to be sustainedTo build capacity in social justice leadership

The Agenda:Institutionalizing the Mentorship InitiativeThe Partnership and Selection of MentorsFeedback from the Graduate studentsBrief video clip of InitiativeVideo debriefFuture directions of this InitiativeQuestions/Discussion

Institutionalizing the Mentorship Initiative UBC/VSB Pilot Initiative- CollaborationHow we came together (Our Story)The Design and Organization of the Course - Inquiry driven - Social Justice focused curriculum- Relevant research/leadership topics for both graduate students and administrator mentorsMentor and Mentee Selection and PartnershipsSelection of Mentors- Pilot initiative, build from strength- Six mentors, 3 principals, 3 vice principals, secondary and elementary- Administrators who had previously demonstrated knowledge and interest in social justice issues and professional growth

Mentor and Mentee Selection and PartnershipsMentorship matching - graduate student input- social justice curriculum focus areas- mentors background and passions- Areas of learning needs in the district Aboriginal education, 21st century learning spaces, special education, etc.

The Leadership and Mentorship Cohort Course DesignExpectations of the students and mentorsCourse meetings and inquiry leadership projectsSchool visitationsGuest presentersFormal and informal mentor/mentee working timesFormal sharing of leadership projects

Video UBC Graduate student production by Vincheth SenFocus on reflections from the mentors

Debrief Some key reflections from cohort participants on the UBC/VSB mentorship aspect of EDST-532How (if at all) was the mentorship component of this course valuable for you personally, professionally or academically?

Reflections from Cohort ParticipantsValue of complicating praxis (theory/practice) I valued the depth of conversations when social justice theory and practice are complicated through the literature and lived leadership experiences. (5)

Reflections from Cohort ParticipantsReciprocal Teaching/Learning

The social justice focus of the course was crucial for me/us personally, professionally, academically. I learned so much about my own location of privilege/marginalization and my responsibilities for advocacy and activism. I think the administrators also valued this aspect and learned a lot it was great to see them talk about their learning in this area. Made us feel like we werent the only ones who had so much to learn about social justice leadership. Such a complex area everyone needs more support in this area. (6)

Reflections from Cohort ParticipantsCapacity Building I was able to meet some pretty inspirational people who were able to show a more human side to leadership.I gained a lot of experience and insight and a very different perspective of the role. I never thought of really going into administration, but because of the experiences, comments and thoughts, they have made me reconsider. (4)

Key Finding From Both Mentors and Cohort ParticipantsSystemic issues with regard to institutional absences: It would be important to include more administrators with social justice and aboriginal education/leadership locations, experience, and backgroundsTo see more administrators from marginalized groups. (7)

The Continuation and Evolvement of this InitiativeThe Gift that keeps on givingWhat has transpired since this pilot initiative:- conference presentations and opportunities- presentations to UBC / VSB with an interest in expansion of this model- expansion and growth of the mentors and graduate students in terms of diversity and social justice work

The Second Cohort PartnershipWhat will continue?What has changed?The research involvedGoal: To continue to be mutually beneficial

Our Hopes.We hope that the research from this initiative will provide an important model for social justice mentorship and leadership as well as share the value of such a model for social justice action within schools.Questions/Discussion