1. Virginia Foundation for Educational Leadership Virginia Department of Education Webinar Series 2012 Welcome to Webinar 7

2. Virginia Foundation of Educational Leadership (VFEL) Webinar Faculty: Dr. Roger E. Jones Dr. Carol C. Robinson 2

3. An Opportunity to explore Eight Elements of Successful High Schools  (http://www.centerii.org/handbook/Resources/Appendix_High_school_improvement.pdf)http://www.centerii.org/handbook/Resources/Appendix_High_school_improvement.pdf Rigorous Curriculum and Instruction Assessment and Accountability Teacher Effectiveness and Professional Growth Student and Family Supports Stakeholder Engagement Leadership Development Organization and Structure Sustainability 3

4. Do Not Overwhelm Your Staff  Help them see the “big picture” and interrelations of the elements  Every school has its own DNA  Assess the elements in your school as foundation for developing a plan 4

5. Today’s Agenda 1.Welcome 2.Research regarding Element 7: Organization and Structure 3.Reflection and Next Steps 5

6. Objectives  Participants will be able to identify the defined practices in their school relative to organization and structure. 6

7. Organization and Structure (Element 7)  Organizational structures that foster collaboration among instructional staff are in place.  Schoolwide structures that support effective classroom management across all content areas are implemented.  Organizational structures to support innovative opportunities to learn through nontraditional settings are in place. 7

8. Organization and Structure  All organizations have systems by which they define roles and responsibilities, manage operations and lead change. “How do we do business around here?”  To operate effectively, the systems themselves must be clearly defined and managed. (Bolman and Deal, 1988) 8

9. Organization and Structure  An effective system has the right people doing the right things in the right way FOR THE RIGHT REASON. And that reason: We do what we do because it’s best for kids!  Students need to be engaged in learning. Instructional strategies should include those which maximize student engagement. 9

10. Organizational Structures that Support Increased Student Achievement  Common themes were found from a study of five Virginia school divisions showing significant improvement including: Planning, meeting, and training time for teachers; revised master schedule; common planning time; horizontal and vertical curriculum discussions; time to create engaging instruction. SOLs are the floor, not the ceiling (VFEL, 2011) 10

11. Organizational Structures that Support Increased Student Achievement  Professional development is provided for teachers to support instructional innovations.  Scheduling allows time for teachers to create engaging instruction.  School culture empowers teachers to control teaching and learning in the classroom. Do teachers have input into decisions that affect their practice, such as bell schedules, exam schedules, field trip approvals?  Principals develop trust by developing a formal role for gathering teacher feedback in those processes that affect instruction. 11

12. Organizational Structures that Support Increased Student Achievement  Collaboration occurs not only within content areas, but across them. Special education and general education teachers share techniques and materials for engaging instruction.  Effective teaming is established and monitored in order to meet student needs.  Schools should have a fully articulated, shared, and understood set of defined practices. Practices are reviewed, monitored, and improved on a continual basis. 12

13. Defined practices  Defined practices = the way we do things in our school (school culture). Remember, every school has its own DNA. 13

14. A “Breaking Ranks” Process for Change 14

15. 15 Sustaining Complex Change Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan Moral purpose Big picture influence Get basics right Build Capacity Collaboration Capacity building Moral Purpose Accountability – Capacity building Fiscal and Human Change

16. Kurt Lewin  Change and Culture (the institutionalized way you do things) Frozen Unfreeze Refreeze 16

17. Structural Change ≠ Cultural Change 17

18. Organizational structures that are NOT based on student needs will NOT raise your graduation rate. Administrative organizational structures Department organizational structures Feeder school organizational structures Central Office organizational structures Organizational Structures 18

19. Summary All organizations have systems by which they define roles and responsibilities, manage operations and lead change. These systems must be clearly defined and managed. We do what we do because it’s best for kids! 19

20. Questions to consider to stimulate team reflections  Practices related to scheduling?  Practices related to instructional monitoring and feedback?  Practices related to improved teaching and learning through professional development?  Practices related to teaming and collaboration?  Practices related to innovative instruction?  Practices related to classroom management? 20

21. Next Steps  What processes does your school have in place to support and sustain your non-negotiables and defined practices around the element connected to organization and structure?  What processes do you have in place for effective change? 21

22. Resources for Element 7 Bolman, L. G., and Deal, T. E. (1988). (Eds) Reframing the path to school leadership: A guide for teachers and principals. National High School Center at the American Institutes for Research. (2011). A coherent approach to high school improvement: A district and school self-assessment tool. Washington, DC: Author. National High School Center at the American Institutes for Research. (2008). Eight elements of high school improvement: A mapping framework (Rev. ed.). Washington, DC: Author. (betterhighschools.com/pubs/documents/EightElementsMappingFrame work.pdf) Virginia Foundation of Educational Leadership (VFEL). (2011). The Virginia model: Profiles and common themes. Available URL: http://www.edleader.org/Va_Model_Booklet_fini_05%2010%202011.pdf http://www.edleader.org/Va_Model_Booklet_fini_05%2010%202011.pdf 22

23. The ultimate goal in school improvement is for the people attached to the school to drive its continuous improvement for the sake of their own children and students. Dr. Sam Redding 23