1. Input survey from faculty
Though not many have been turned in, some patterns are appearing. Could everyone encourage colleagues to turn them in?

2. Operation Academic Excel
ILT teacher members are supposed to mention the mentoring effort so it doesn't feel like it's being sprung on teachers at tomorrow's faculty meeting.
Administrators have drafted the pairings, created protocol question sheets, piloted the questions on several students.
At tomorrow's faculty meeting, administrators will review some tips on academic advisement and do a demonstration role play.

Key items for effective academic coaching:

Start with something positive, something they succeeded at whether it's little or big. If they start with something that feels defeating, it'll be hard to rise to a challenge.

Focus on specific goals, specific next steps. (If they say, "I want to pay attention more in class," ask, what one or two steps might help them pay attention? Maybe it's sitting next to X instead of Y, or eating breakfast, or taking notes, or asking themselves silently: am I paying attention? Etc.) Another way to think about this is to focus on strategies rather than outcomes, that is, "I want to keep track of my homework" is a strategy; "I want to get a B is an outcome." Focus on the strategies and the outcomes will follow.

Focus on the short-term; you'll know if you're on track in the next day or two, can try something else if it's not working, or add to it if it is working.

Help students identify supports so they don't feel alone or without a safety net.

Encourage a sense of agency. It's not someone else's fault they are late or lost their homework, and it's disempowering to think so. What can they do about it? What step can they try?

3. Faculty morale
Recent steps to improve morale included t-shirts and the get together on Friday. Challenges remain: stress, the need for transparent procedures. Editorial note from Rachel: a congenial culture is necessary for creating a collegial culture, but it is not sufficient. Consistent procedures, support systems, opportunities to learn together,...

Future topics:
Mid-terms, big vision, expanding advisory, special ed schedule. What did I miss?