ABSTRACT

In this chapter, the authors provides examples of walkthrough feedback that can be improved with candor. They point out when the observer is being offensive and how to fix that with more direct and actionable advice to the teacher. The authors describe what the observer actually saw and what she thought when she visited the room. They describe what was said to the teacher and how that is often different from what the leader saw and thought. The authors show how simple fixes can make a difference, how being more candid can actually prevent offensiveness. Candid feedback, in a culture of compassion and support, represents a push toward continuous improvement, something that our best teachers strive for on their own but genuinely welcome from others. There has been a great deal said about building trust as a leader, but we contend that trust can only occur through candor.