The Evolution of Collaboration Alabama Department of Education

Meeting the Challenge!

History of School Improvement Support 1996 Five teachers of the year! Independent support from sections – 2000 Cross-functional teams Intervention/school take-over 2001 – 2004 Peer Assistants Independent support from sections Five teachers of the year! Independent support from sections – 2000 Cross-functional teams Intervention/school take-over 2001 – 2004 Peer Assistants Independent support from sections.

History of School Improvement Support 2005 – 2007 Accountability Roundtable Guidance Team Statewide System of Support Oversight Committee 2008 – Present Steering Committee Coordinators’ Group Statewide System of Support 2005 – 2007 Accountability Roundtable Guidance Team Statewide System of Support Oversight Committee 2008 – Present Steering Committee Coordinators’ Group Statewide System of Support

The Journey to Collaboration

What prompted the change? Mixed messages from sections. Confusion among the LEAs. Duplication of effort. Multiple requests for similar documents. Mixed messages from sections. Confusion among the LEAs. Duplication of effort. Multiple requests for similar documents.

In the beginning…. Accountability Roundtable Representatives from each section of Instructional Services Division July 2005 – July 2006 Met two days per week (8 days per month) July 2006 – July 2007 Met two days per week (4 days per month) July 2007 – June 2008 (Name change to LEA Support Roundtable) Met two days per month

Other Support Structures Guidance Team Connected work of Roundtable (SDE staff) to work of State Support Team (Contract staff working in LEAs). Met one day per month State Support Team Met two days every 6 weeks Regional School Improvement Coaches Peer Mentors ARI Reading Coaches AMSTI Math/Science Coaches

Other Support Structures Oversight Committee Directors of sections within Instructional Services Division Met occasionally for updates on the work of the Roundtable

Success Sections more knowledgeable of other section work Districts modeled the collaborative style Increased communication among SDE and field staff Districts approved of increased communication among sections Minimized duplication of effort (plans, support, messages) Sections more knowledgeable of other section work Districts modeled the collaborative style Increased communication among SDE and field staff Districts approved of increased communication among sections Minimized duplication of effort (plans, support, messages)

Barriers Directors did not like “learning” about work from their members serving on the Roundtable Coordinators of ALL major initiatives were not members of Guidance Team Some resentment from SDE members not serving as part of the Roundtable Directors did not like “learning” about work from their members serving on the Roundtable Coordinators of ALL major initiatives were not members of Guidance Team Some resentment from SDE members not serving as part of the Roundtable

The Solution Steering Committee Purpose: Guide the work the Instructional Services Division to ensure collaboration, promote a single message, and minimize duplication of effort. Directors of each section of Instructional Services Division Meet two days per month Review current LEA needs based on data Prioritize tasks/assignments Analyze level of support Addressed by specific section Addressed through collaboration among multiple sections Addressed by steering committee

The Transformation Coordinators’ Group Purpose: Coordinate field support to ensure collaboration, promote a single message, and minimize duplication of effort. Coordinators of each major program within Instructional Services Division Meet one day per month

Success! Statewide System of Support Purpose: Provide field support to ensure collaboration, promote a single message, and minimize duplication of effort. School Improvement Leaders, Regional School Improvement Coaches, Peer Mentors Reading Coaches, Principal Coaches Math Coaches, Science Coaches Graduation Coaches Meet two days every six weeks