Barriers or bridges?

Instructional services staff recently participated in an activity designed to help them focus on the importance of perspective and attitude. The activity, facilitated by Patrick Rabbitt and Joe Woracek, regional administrators, also served as a reminder of the need to build relationships in order to create meaningful change. Each employee was instructed to take a single paper lunch sack and write down a barrier to their work in support of children on one side and a bridge to this work on the other. The bag was opened and a second bag placed inside this one which created a wall. "As an instructional services group we built a wall with barriers on one side and then discussed these barriers and their impact on our work," Joe said. " We then walked around the wall and discussed the bridges and how they impact our work (and the consistent bridge of the support we provide to each other). Later we allowed folks to knock the wall down and retrieve a brick as a reminder (preferably someone else's brick) to symbolize carrying each others' loads." This activity was developed by the National School Reform Faculty, adapted by John Pieper from a presentation by the Wisconsin FACETS Parent Involvement Group.