Campus Visits

Purpose: Campus visits to fine arts spaces serve a variety of important purposes for the Director of Fine Arts in contributing to both effectiveness of individual programs/instructional environments and the overall district programs including:

• Instructional leadership and support:

  • Observe teaching practices and student engagement, gaining insights into effective and less effective approaches.

  • Provide feedback and coaching to teachers, identifying strengths and areas for growth in instruction and program leadership.

  • Monitor the implementation of district and school priorities related to curriculum, assessment, and student support strategies.

  • Understand the challenges teachers face in the fine arts classroom and identify opportunities for providing resources or professional development.

  • Learn about innovative practices and models implemented in different schools within the district or even in other districts through site visits.

  • Remember, the Director of Fine Arts is a Trainer, Coach, Mentor, Consultant, Content Expert, Resource Provider, Catalyst for Change, and Master Organizer.
    
    

• School culture and climate:

  • Gauge the overall school environment and culture, including the level of collaboration, support, and inclusivity among staff and students within fine arts.

  • Observe interactions between teachers and students, identifying positive learning environments and areas needing improvement.

  • Gain a deeper understanding of the real-world impact of district policies and decisions on the school community.
    
    

• Relationship building and collaboration:

  • Foster meaningful collaboration between central fine arts leadership, school leaders, teachers, and staff.

  • Break down silos and encourage knowledge sharing and peer collaboration.

  • Build trust and demonstrate care for the work happening at the school level.
    
    

• Data collection and insight gathering:

  • Collect evidence and analyze the work of fine arts leaders and staff related to improvement goals.

  • Gather student perspectives through focus groups or interviews to inform improvement efforts.

  • Understand the impact of policies and programs in real-time, gaining context that might be missing from reports and data analysis alone.

  • Identify strengths and potential areas needing refinement, offering an unbiased and expert perspective to school teams. 

In essence, fine arts leadership's school visits are crucial for moving beyond data and reports to gain a firsthand understanding of the complexities and successes within school fine arts programs, ultimately strengthening fine arts leadership, promoting collaboration, and driving student achievement.

Visits: I will usually notify faculty of a visit based on their teaching schedule, special event or conference/planning period.  Typically, I will send a calendar invite so you know I plan on stopping by your teaching studio.  Please note sometimes, I may just drop by to say “hi” and check in quickly because I am in your building for another reason, so there will not be advance notice.  

What to Expect: I will quietly enter the space, maybe sit in a corner of the room and watch what is happening.  Please do not feel obligated to stop instruction.  In fact, I would prefer you to continue as if I am not present to better see what your normal practice looks like.  If students ask who I am, feel free to introduce me or just say I am another fine arts teacher here to see what interesting things are happening.  I will usually slip out quietly during a transition in instruction.  Know that if I see anything that concerns me, I will connect with you for a conversation later. 

It is important to remember that I have over three decades of teaching experience at elementary, middle, high school alongside adult learning.  I know and understand the normal and also recognize a “bad day” in school life.  Relax, I am here to support, grow and celebrate your work.

Always let me know if there are questions or concerns.  I look forward to seeing what you are currently doing with students!

Tim-