Nauvoo-Colusa Junior/Senior High School, Navoo, Illinois

Creative thinking allowed first-year Principal Tami Roskamp at Nauvoo-Colusa Junior/Senior High School (Nauvoo, Illinois) to create more time for professional development for the teachers at her rural school. Because the 2003–04 calendar already had been set prior to the signing of Principal Roskamp's contract, additional time for faculty development could be gleaned only through such creativity.

Noting the frequency with which the high school band regularly left for performances—taking over half of the students with it—Roskamp quickly created professional development time using a "smorgasbord" approach for students and a focused effort for faculty. During one such band departure, the principal scheduled the second session of Appreciative Inquiry for her faculty and an afternoon of opportunities for students not involved in band. Among the sessions arranged for students were these: (1) an army recruiter ran an outdoor obstacle course; (2) a modified town meeting with students was held, and their suggestions for school improvement were gathered; and (3) an area was set up for making ice cream sundaes. During these and other sessions, students rotated through myriad experiences while teachers worked on one of their school improvement goals: a positive school climate.

Feedback from both faculty and students was positive. Principal Roskamp noted that orchestrating this use of time was more work for her, but it met the needs of both of her priorities—students and teachers. Cost to the district included the salaries of two substitute teachers and purchase of ice cream and toppings.

Explaining that there are always organizations and community groups that want an audience with students, Roskamp said she plans to give them such opportunities during future smorgasbords. Event-specific scheduling brings in the community and exposes students to various life experiences. At Nauvoo-Colusa, it was also a powerful mechanism for student input into the school improvement planning process.

The only downside Roskamp noted was that her presence with the students meant that she missed participating with the teachers. She is seeking a remedy for that in next year's schedule.