From college quarterback to co-creating the High Reliability Schools™ framework, Phil Warrick has had an impressive career in the field of education. A decorated school administrator, author, and family man, Warrick is one of the few people to successfully lead schools under both the PLC at Work® and HRS improvement models.
During Episode 7 of Inside the Treehouse, Solution Tree CEO Jeff Jones sat down with Warrick to discuss his path to school leadership, today’s educational climate, and even some fun newfound hobbies.
A Nudge in the Right Direction
The story starts in high school. As a junior, Warrick had many interests and ideas about what career options lay ahead. Among teaching and coaching, he also considered going into the Coast Guard or pursuing business.
While taking business courses in college, Warrick became fond of his accounting teacher. One day this teacher stopped him in the hallway to let Warrick know he also served as the Director of Student Teaching for Business Education. Seeing something in Warrick, his teacher asked him if he’d ever considered education.
The answer was yes! Besides having parents who were educators, some of Warrick’s early role models were educators as well. That nudge was all it took. Warrick began his journey into the profession.
The Pathway to Leadership
His first teaching job after college was in York, Nebraska. Warrick considers himself lucky to have begun his career under such a great principal, who not only served as a mentor, but also gave Warrick early leadership opportunities.
During his time at York, Warrick taught at both the middle and high school level, as well as served as the assistant basketball coach. In his fourth year at York, the head basketball coach position opened up in a neighboring community. Warrick made the move to Aurora, Nebraska where he spent the next five years teaching and coaching…all while earning his master’s degree.
When news came that there was an assistant principal position available at Waverly High School, Warrick jumped on the opportunity, launching his administrative career. After two years as assistant principal, Warrick moved up to fill the principal role. It was during his eight years as principal at Waverly that Warrick learned about PLCs, attended his first Solution Tree workshop, and began to craft his knowledge of the PLC at Work® process.
After leaving Waverly, Warrick moved to Austin, Texas where he served as principal of Round Rock High School for three years. This was where he ramped up his PLC work to achieve major strides in school improvement. This also was where Warrick was first introduced to Dr. Bob Marzano of Marzano Resources.
The PLC/HRS Partnership
At Round Rock, Warrick was working with Dr. Marzano on implementing the New Art and Science of Teaching Framework, while simultaneously working to implement the PLC at Work® process. Marzano and Warrick began having conversations about the need to create a new framework that would allow schools and school leadership to create and sustain high levels of success. Thus, the High Reliability Schools™ framework was born!
Marzano and Warrick collaborated, bringing research and practice together. They used Round Rock High School as their incubator. During this time, they found that the PLC at Work® process was a natural part of the equation. At Level 1 of the HRS framework, there has to be a critical commitment to the PLC at Work® process so that collaboration is firmly established to elevate and feed work that will come at higher HRS levels.
Warrick believes the PLC/HRS partnership is not something that an organization chooses to do, but rather is the way the organization chooses to live. The PLC/HRS partnership provides a research-validated, systemic approach to long-term school improvement.
A Look Into the Crystal Ball
So where does Warrick see the future of education going? Warrick believes that the current reality will end and we will return to a “new normal.” However, this new normal will use some aspects from the current reality to make it more effective.
Warrick predicts that blended learning will continue, but we will never truly move away from the demand for onsite education because of the social and psychological needs of students. His core belief is that schools are the single most important organization to sustaining our democracy because they train the citizenry for the future. He hopes there are more financial incentives to join and remain in the profession, as well as can see turning to alternative certifications to fill the void.
On a Lighter Note
Always on the go and a true road warrior, Warrick was forced to slow down a bit during quarantine. As a lifelong learner, Warrick used the extra time on his hands to pick up a couple of new hobbies. In fact, Warrick has become quite the baker. While watching The Great British Baking Show, he was inspired by the quote, “If you can read, you can bake.” Challenge accepted!
Warrick, who also is an avid golfer, has always been fascinated by the science behind a golf club. So he used quarantine to take online courses to learn how to make his own golf clubs.
Warrick’s list of talents and accomplishments just keeps growing. We can all hope it continues as he leaves his mark on the field of education.
Tune In to Our Next Episode
Episode 8 of Inside the Treehouse will be available on February 12, and will feature Dr. Bob Marzano. Tune in to hear his amazing story and wise advice for educators today.
