We are excited to announce that Phil Price is Matchbook Learning's new Principal over Michigan Technical Academy's elementary (PreK - 4) campus in Detroit. Here's our interview with Phil.
What led you to Matchbook Learning?
The imagination to integrate 21st-century learning using a blended learning model to teach common core power standards in a city that's reinventing itself.
Describe your journey here.
Two decades of educational experiences from opening schools in big cities; Detroit, Baton Rouge... to moving into existing schools, and helping them turn the corner on progress in St. Louis, Las Vegas, and Buffalo.
What most attracted you to the position? What do you think would be the biggest challenge of serving as a Matchbook Principal?
Moving to a completely blended learning model is a paradigm shift in the way we teach in the United States. It's a continuum of growth. I think the biggest challenge is to get other educators to see the vision.
What are the keys accomplishing school turn around?
Keep your master list short, and your area of focus shorter. For example; my first order of business going into an existing school, is to assess conditions, the morale of the students, the parents, and the teachers. It will usually indicate what was working, and where the areas of improvement are needed.
What are your goals for next school year? What are your expectations a year from now and how will you be different?
First of all it takes 3 to 5 years to move your school from good to great.
There are three areas of focus; School leadership Instructional leadership Administrative leadership
Here's a quick overview of the three areas of focus;
School leadership, dealing with culture, climate, and vision.
Instructional leadership, deals with curriculum, data assessment, feedback, and staff development.
Administrative leadership, dealing with the resources, facilities, safety, community out reach and stakeholders.
When you build your team with this formula it can move you from good to great. This is not a new process, I picked up these strategies from three different states; Michigan, Texas, and Nevada. They have served me well over the past 18 years.
Why should gifted educators consider working for a Matchbook school? The freedom of range offered within 21st-century learning environment where you can take the student who's never been out of their own community and through the blended learning model go from morning language arts to Jupiter in the afternoon and back home with mom and dad by 4 PM. That's the real draw that will make an extraordinary educator want to join the journey and be on fire at Matchbook. (Editor's note: see our jobs page for possible positions)
Lastly, what do you like to do in your spare time? Offer a glimpse of who you are or what you like outside of the working day.
To be outside working with my roses and other flowers is a beautiful day. To go to Oregon, and visit a wine vineyard with my wife Sharon, overlooking the rolling hillside... now that is a beautiful thing!
