Teacher Autonomy- Teachers as individuals

Designing Learning to allow for the needs of all our students requires teacher trust and autonomy.  A message that rang clear at Groton-Dunstable and other UDL symposiums and conferences I have attended is that administration needs to trust teachers to make decisions based on the needs of children.  

I feel like we have a good environment overall, as a district that does not require all our schools to look alike, teach alike, etc.  Our principals range in experience and I am certainly not an expert on the kind of leadership and expectations are happening in each school.  But I do feel like the overall tone in district from my tiny perspective is of trust.  

I have worked in other places where a Superintendent or administrator might have very specific ideas about what “should” be happening in classrooms, and some of those aren’t in line with current research on learning or the brain, and most definitely aren’t in line with making sure all kids have access to learning.  Instead I have seen some focus on one way they think most kids will succeed, or one program we all must use with fidelity.  Some insist Three classes of fourth graders should be all on the same page at the same time, and focus on that becomes a measure of good teaching.   That kind of leadership is debilitating, and creates an atmosphere where teachers are afraid to take risks.  UDL requires we take risks, try new things,  reflect, adjust anD try again.

So I wonder how as our district exposes our administration to more workshops and training on UDL, how they might begin ( if not already) to think of individual teachers and styles, and learn to help us grow from where we are into individuals with individual styles who are trying to make sure all our kids can access the curriculum.   Some teachers are naturally engaging, some naturally organized, some sing, some have a passion for the outdoors, some tell amazing 
stories and capture kids attention.  As a new teacher in district, I wonder, How will our district leaders nourish the rich community of teachers we already are, while helping us work toward the goal of reaching and teaching all our kids?  I wonder what that will look and sound like...