PLANS (Plan, Lead, Act, Network, Sustain) is an evidence-based program funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This comprehensive program brings school leaders, staff, students and families together to dream big, examine data, identify root causes of their challenges, and develop actionable strategies that strengthen teaching, learning, and student experience.
During the recent community assets and needs mapping sessions, participants moved from looking at challenges as something outside of their control to finding ways they could all influence and take action. When they kept conversations centered on what matters most – learning and teaching – together they saw new places where they could lead meaningful change.
Stepping into the learning zone (or as we call it ‘the risk zone’) emerged as a key practice for exercising agency. One participant wrote, “I was in my risk zone when we talked about chronic absenteeism and its root causes openly and honestly at a table with students and parents .” Another reflected on “difficult conversations on what is needed to move the school forward.” A community member named the challenge of navigating “collaborative disagreement” and balancing sharing a perspective and listening to others as a form of growth.
Participants also recognized the power of collaboration. One parent noted, “If we all work together as a team I think it will make a great impact.” Another shared, “The more parents are involved in our students’ education, the better our school will be.” A participant described the session as transformative, saying, “Putting students, teachers, administrators and parents in one room allows us to see that for the most part we all have the same values and ideas at heart.”
These reflections show that participants did more than identify strengths and needs. They discovered agency in the work. They named what they can do, how they can grow, and how the school community can strengthen learning and teaching through shared action.
If you want to deepen this work in your own school or district you can take the next step.
- Join the next PLANS cohort to build widespread leadership and momentum to reach your goals
- Join the Principal Residency Network (PRN) to lead for impact and strengthen your principal pipeline
- Build capacity to facilitate impact through CLEE’s Facilitator Training
- Engage Your Community in Mapping Your Assets and Needs with CLEE