A Step In The Right Direction

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Step In The Right Direction

Learning walks build a bridge between central office and schools

By Learning Forward

Categories: Collaboration, Leadership, Learning designs, System leadership

What does an effective classroom look and sound like? What does it mean to have students engaged in learning? What is high-quality instruction? To answer these questions, the Greece Central School District in New York created a common language around teaching and learning as a way to support student achievement. The district developed a five-year strategic plan to implement a standards-based instructional program, a viable and guaranteed curriculum, and a progress-monitoring system to accelerate student achievement. The strategic plan lays out key goals, strategies, targets, and initiatives that mobilize the district to ensure all students are college- and career-ready. The whole-system reform identifies drivers — “those policy and strategy levers that have the least and best chance of driving successful reform” (Fullan, 2011, p. 3).

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Authors

Barbara Deane-Williams, Shaun Nelms, and Sheila B. Robinson

Barbara Deane-Williams (barb.deane-williams@greececsd.org) is superintendent of schools, Shaun Nelms (shaun.nelms@greececsd.org) is deputy superintendent of schools, and Sheila B. Robinson (sheila.robinson@greececsd.org) is a teacher on special assignment for Greece Central School District in New York.

References

City, E.A., Elmore, R.F., Fiarman, S.E., & Teitel, L. (2009). Instructional rounds in education: A network approach to improving teaching and learning. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

Fullan, M. (2011). Choosing the wrong drivers for whole system reform. Centre for Strategic Education Seminar Series 204. East Melbourne, Australia: Centre for Strategic Education.

Harvard University Public Education Leadership Project (n.d.). Coherence framework. Available at https://pelp.fas.harvard.edu/book/export/html/13389.

Honig, M.I., Lorton, J.S., & Copland, M.A. (2009). Urban district central office transformation for teaching and learning improvement: Beyond a zero-sum game. Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education, 108(1), 21-40.

Sparks, D. (2005). Leading for results: Transforming teaching, learning, and relationships in schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press & NSDC.

Steiner, L. & Hassel, E.A. (2011). Using competencies to improve school turnaround principal success. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia’s Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education.

University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership (2013). Central office transformation toolkit: Strengthening school district central offices in the service of improved teaching and learning. Seattle, WA: Author.

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Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.