With shrinking resources and added responsibilities, educators need to think strategically about how to effectively build a process for success. Without a developed system, it can feel like initiative overload. At CLEE we have found one of the best ways to future-proof the impact of your professional development is to create a system of continuous improvement that allows innovations to stick and make their intended impact.
Read MoreData can be a powerful tool for setting direction and monitoring progress. One of our most important tools for collecting data is CLEE’s validated Learning Community Survey (LCS). The survey measures the extent to which all the educators and leaders in a school are enacting the six Core Leadership Practices that research has found to increase adult collaboration, student learning and equity. It is similar to the PLC Survey many have used, but further articulated, validated, and aligned to practices that increase educational equity.
Read MoreDo you need to hire? Ideally, an amazing candidate shows up at the perfect time with the best qualifications, an equity mindset, with a background that can connect with each and every student in your district. Hiring takes time and thoughtful systems and practices to create and continuously attract and retain the best adults to support students.
Read MoreContinuous Improvement can sound like fixing something that is wrong, but it is actually a structured process to strategize for success. It fosters a growth mindset, especially toward planning, evaluating, and adopting new practices to foster equity for students in your setting. Using state assessment and other student data is an essential part of the process. An overlooked and potent form of data is student perspective data. Student perspectives can be a crucial data point, especially in making improvements for educational equity.
Read MoreAs I think about setting my New Year's resolutions and goals, I am struck by the similarities between generating a resolution and the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycle CLEE uses with schools to implement improvements. Many of us set goals - whether to exercise more, lose weight, volunteer, etc. We generate plans to reach our aspirations, take action, and evaluate if our plans work. Yet, when we endeavor to do the same in our professional work by using an intentional process - goal setting, plan development, and monitoring - it can appear overwhelming, leaving us wondering where to begin, or worse, causing our initiatives to stall.
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