Professional Development

Systems Thinking

The presenter will outline a powerful and easy-to-understand systems model that has helped several districts raise student achievement. The model identifies leverage points that enable organizations to focus efforts and maximize resource use. It describes how the close integration of four major areas of any system – philosophy, processes, implementation, and leadership – is necessary in order to have effective schools. Participants will be able to identify and use system indicators, accurately assess building effectiveness, and identify specific actions to improve or maintain success.

Leadership Development

It is now clear that “reform has no chance of being sustained” unless we build leadership capacity (Fullan, 2006) and help administrators with leadership and leadership development. The presenter will outline a leadership framework and provide a rubric that describes what leadership looks like across all levels of the school or district organization. He will describe specific activities and lessons to help tap the leadership potential of individuals and the entire staff. Administrators and teacher leaders will find this training useful in improving their own leadership abilities as well as those of the people they supervise or work with.

Curriculum Alignment

A viable, aligned curriculum is the most important factor in raising student achievement (McREL, 2005). The presenter will help schools and districts align the curriculum in a systemic way. Alignment includes ensuring teachers know what students need to know and conducting demonstrations of knowledge. Model instructional calendars, alignment rubrics, and templates are provided.

Instructional Feedback

More and more schools are beginning to realize that administrators and teacher leaders need to observe classroom instruction more consistently and provide effective feedback and coaching to improve the quality of instruction. The presenter will provide training to school leaders on how to provide effective feedback in a way that is supportive and improves instruction. Model parameters, rubrics, and templates for building a culture of feedback are provided.