End-of-Year Thoughts and Reflection as we Conclude Another School Year

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As we know, there are only several more months until the end of this z’man (school year).

Upon returning to our Jewish day schools and yeshivot following the Pesach break, we now have our sights set on this summer.

The summer season which is just around the corner provides many with time to recharge, rejuvenate and re-envision. For others, it’s about anticipating special summer projects, catching up on desperately needed sleep, enjoying travel, camp and vacation and an opportunity for academic recharge – whether it focuses on limudei kodesh or chol.

For those who work in our schools, especially as classroom teachers, and rabbeim, we observe, like clockwork, significant changes in our student’s demeanor, behavior, focus, and attitude upon their return after Pesach to the classroom.

I can vividly recall how as a student, when returning to school following Pesach, it was so difficult for me and my classmates to focus or concentrate on our studies. We were all preoccupied with end-of-school year activities and programs, while eagerly looking forward to summer vacation. In fact, this was the time of year when more students than ever were sent to the principal’s office for misbehaving or disrupting class than anytime during the school year. It is just a reality. As a result, our teachers needed to acclimate and learn how to cope and navigate these classroom distractions. And for those teachers and rabbeim that could not, it was a most challenging and difficult way to conclude the school year.

Interestingly enough, many of my students over the years never really required “content resetting” upon their return from a break. But, it did take a week to ten days to recalibrate in order for students to fully recall the material taught prior to the break.

Some of my teacher colleagues felt that I was lucky in this regard  – that I did not need to re-teach my students nor did my students need to relearn the material I imparted to them prior to the break. I attributed my good fortune to several factors  –  they were very bright students; I was an effective teacher; or more likely that it was the combination of the two. Bottom line, I knew full well that there would be a drop off  in retention and skill after the break, so I ramped up my review in class several weeks prior to the break. This was a relatively simple method I learned from my teaching coach in graduate school.

The Pesach break represents a prelude to summer vacation which in more cases than others, creates a student attitude and mindset that focuses on final exams, grade point averages, making it on to the dean’s list, graduation, year-end BBQ’s and parties.

It is important to note that these student reflections include questions they have about whether they will return to the same school next year; will they acclimate and enjoy their freshman year in college or study in Israel next year; will they be required to attend summer classes in order to compensate for a failed grade or will they be required to engage in a summer reading program and/or remediation classes/tutoring; and finally, to finding a well-paying summer job.

These are just a few of the normative student challenges and concerns many of our students think about and face between now and the end of the z’man or school year.

For teachers, rabbeim and faculty, the challenges are a bit different but nevertheless just as challenging.

This time of  the year, many teachers and faculty look forward to the long-awaited summer respite; especially after having experienced a year of productive and effective teaching and student learning – keeping in mind that effective and dynamic teaching requires high energy levels, focus, staying on task and momentum.

Ironically, teaching personnel also ask themselves –  do I really and truly want to return to the same school next year or should I begin to explore other educational venues, options or opportunities? (this usually happens right before the break); am I growing  as a professional in my current job or am I stagnating? Will I receive a positive performance assessment from my supervisor? Will I be granted that long awaited salary increase? How can my unit and lesson plans be more inspiring for my students? And finally, do I still feel positive, energized, inspired and challenged by my teaching assignments and school workload?

These and many other questions are posed by our teachers, rabbeim and faculty this time of year. It is totally expected, normal and logical.

Finally, it is critically important for teachers rabbeim and faculty to reboot and refresh themselves during the summer break so that irrespective of where they decide to teach next year, they are fresh, prepared and motivated to inspire, motivate and stimulate our students.

From a leadership perspective, there are host of different questions, challenges and concerns which principals and heads of school are addressing as the wind-down the academic year.

They may include the following but are not limited to:

• Did I provide my faculty with high quality ongoing supervision, guidance and direction in order to ensure their effectiveness?
• Did I encourage educational excellence?
• Was I clear and consistent in my directives?
• Was I accessible to teachers, students and parents?
• Did I implement school policies in accordance with the school’s standards?
• Was I a Jewish role model and exemplar of good middot?
•  Was I able to ensure that all of my faculty were heard?
• Was I able to motivate my faculty and staff to be the best they can be?

These are just a select few of the end-of year self assessments reflective questions which principals and heads of school should be asking or addressing.

Not unlike 360 leadership performance evaluations, these self assessment questions are beyond invaluable. They help the principal and head of school align and realign their leadership goals, objectives and  style; and, by doing so, greatly benefit themselves as professionals and enhance their professional standing, standards, and relationships with staff, teachers, faculty, students and parents.

Retrospect/Prospect

End of school year reflections whether one is a teacher, school leader, administrator or student, are cathartic, healthy and extremely valuable. To this end, it is essential that we finish strong with an eye towards the future.

Several years ago, I adopted an end of school year protocol which has always benefited me tremendously as a teacher.

Upon returning from the Pesach break or just prior to Chag Shavuot, I engage students in a series of reflective questions. They are usually the same three questions; what did you like, value or enjoy most about the course? What did you like least about the course? And, if can introduce changes to the curriculum or how the material was taught, what would it look like?

The benefits of this process are obvious: they provide the teacher with candid, invaluable student feedback; and they indicate to the students that the teacher cares about their perceptions and concerns.

The one caveat regarding the effectiveness of this protocol is that students must be high school level in order to ensure mature responses.

In the final analysis, any reliable or authentic feedback regarding teacher impact and/or effectiveness should always be welcome.

Parenthetically, on the topic of teacher effectiveness, although this suggestion does not necessarily relate to end-of -year teacher performance reviews or assessment (which is the responsibility and role of the teacher’s supervisor), I have always suggested (not required) that teachers invite other teachers into their respective classrooms in order to observe and provide collegial  feedback about what they observed to the teacher.

Most teachers embrace this concept and sincerely appreciate the feedback coming from a peer colleague.

End Note:

As we conclude another school year of rich content and skill, we all hope and pray to HaShem for a healthy and safe summer, and for an upcoming (next) school year imbued with renewed energy, wisdom, knowledge and insight….in the pursuit of educational excellence.

Have an amazing summer!