UPAL Project 1 - COHORT V - Group B: Ellen, Andrea, Elizabeth (Liz), and Alison

Ellen E. Crowell

1. I created the AHA! Square.
2. I created this prompt because moments of clarity during creative endeavors are so important.  Why are they important?  The visceral feeling of an AHA moment propels us forward through the art making process.
3. Principals need to understand that student creativity requires time and in many instances, a hands-off approach from adults.  To foster creativity, the teacher needs to function as a co-learner, intervening when a sense of frustration surfaces.  Ask many questions and try to guide students to a solution as opposed to providing the the solution.  This process and experience creates ownership and a feeling of satisfaction.
4. Creativity is defined as using the imagination or origination of ideas.  In relation to the traditional principal role, creativity may not have a place.  In U*PAL, we know that creativity is our mindset and it serves as a launch pad for everything we do and the goals we hope to accomplish.    

Andrea DeVico

I created the square with a face.I thought of envision as a creative prompt because the vision, although it might change slightly or even drastically through the course of the creative process, is incredibly important. The vision grounds us and reminds us of our ultimate goals. Envisioning where we hope to end up is all part of the creative process. Especially if you think of envisioning something innovative or 21st century. Creativity within classroom and within the entire school environment is a way of thinking. School leaders should encompass this way of thinking when they approach their work, when they evaluate others’ work, and when they assess student achievement. The creative process is a much needed approach to learning in this world of endless possibilities. We as principals need to push ourselves to operate within this process, push our staff to learn in this process, and empower our students to grow in this process.  

 “Zeal” by Elizabeth (Liz) Rega

The word that I chose was “Zeal”. There is a vibrant light that emanates from Zeal in a bold horizontal space that I created. The lines that pull out from the word are helping to amplify the light source that is n omnipresent within the shape of the block letters. The word Zeal, is written bold, and clear.

I chose the words Zeal because I have a conviction to lead rather than be complacent. I have the heart to stand up and make a change and am willing to sacrifice myself for this cause. Even if I try to “hide” I cannot. Something always pulls me.

Something that I want principals to understand is that project based learning is an experience for students. Within this boundary there is a freedom for students to truly learn at their own pace and path. Why is it not important to be human? Why is it not important to engage in your own thoughts? We have a lot of work to do as a society to “get back to our roots”, and I think it is about getting “back to humanity” and away from “making the grade”. I believe in design thinking rather than telling a child how to think. I believe in the power of our individual talents and how they can contribute to the overall wellness of our society. Let’s create a society that allows us all to strengthen who we are.

Alison Saeger

Text Assignment:

My square features the word “Oops” with lettering that ranges from formal to informal as it is viewed left to right. The last letter breaks out of the letter shape to create designs from ink spots at the bottom and free-moving line designs culminating in a colorful splash and droplets at the top. I chose “Oops” as my creativity prompt because as an administrator, former arts-based teacher, and an artist myself, I find the “oops” opportunities to be the places where I get to exercise my creativity the most. This is true when I accidentally smudge a drawing and have to extend my idea to incorporate the smudge. And it is also true when I discover an “oops” in my work as principal and I have to be creative to contemplate the what if’s of possible avenues forward. The one thing I want principals to understand about the job of principal  is that problems happen. Schools are problem factories. That’s normal. If you as the principal aren’t finding the “oopses”, then you are probably not paying attention. We aren’t supposed to avoid the oops or strive to never have or find an oops. An oops for the principal is an opportunity to use strategy skills, make observations, contemplate the what if’s, and guide action. Sometimes the oops provides us with an opportunity to design a new program, create a new process, develop a new team that we would not have thought of if not for the oops.

One thing I want principals to understand about student creativity is that  critical thinking is about posing and grappling with questions. When we model that experience with our teachers - posing and grappling with questions about our school, teaching and learning, intentional creativity, etc. - we invite them to creative experiences. In reflecting on those experiences, we make our staff aware of the power of creativity in a socially constructive context, which can lead our teachers to pose and grapple with questions with their own students. Showing that we as leaders are brave enough to pose questions we do not have the answers to, that we can trust that the creative process with our staff can help us creatively approach our own school challenges can inspire the same kind of creative courage in our teachers.