1. Superintendents’ Network Instructional Rounds
IASB Convention
November 18, 2010

2. This is the Bonnie and Elmore clip

3. Presenters Chris Armstrong, Superintendent – Highland CSD
Greg Ebeling, Superintendent – Spencer CSD
Cathy Molumby, Superintendent – Valley CSD
Dennis Wulf, Superintendent – Norwalk CSD
Mary Delagardelle - IASB

4. School Administrators of Iowa
Sponsors:
AEA system
School Administrators of Iowa
Collaborative Partners:
Iowa Association of School Boards
Department of Education
Higher Education
Iowa State Education Association

5. Iowa’s National Recognition Only state with statewide “network of networks”

6. Statewide Participation
115 Superintendents
16 AEA Leaders
2 Department of Education Representatives
5 Professional Organization Representatives (SAI, IASB, ISEA)
1 Higher Education Representative

7. Goals of Instructional Rounds
Build skills of network members by coming to a common understanding or effective practice and how to support it.
Support instructional improvement at the host school by sharing what the network learns and by building skills at the local level.

8. What is a network? It is: It is not: A learning community
A method to examine the system
It is not:
Learning in isolation
A method to evaluate teachers or principals

9. What is an “Instructional Rounds” visit?
Inquiry process Disciplined practice
Components:
Host identifies
Theory of Action
Problem of Practice
Focusing Questions
Network conducts classroom observations
Network debriefs generates questions or suggestions for Next Level of Work
Host and network follow-up

10. Benefits to superintendent
Network Participation:
Enhances skills for leading district instructional improvement
Deepens knowledge of instruction and student learning in the district
Provides evidence, not assumptions, regarding instruction and student learning
Contributes to Individual Professional Development Plan
Models collaborative learning
Provides collegial network focused on teaching and learning
Provides structure to work closely with leadership team on improvement of student learning

11. This is the clip of Anne, the board member

12. Benefits to district Participation provides:
Insight to learning at the classroom level
Insight to learning and instructional trends across a building or district level
Considerations for “next level of work”
Opportunity for frequent superintendent- board conversation about student learning

13. Systems, not individuals, must steward the core.
“If you haven’t organized every part of the system to relentlessly focus on and support the core, the best you’re going to realize is some learning for some students, and it will often be in spite of the system, not because of it.”
- Curtis and City

14. What’s the Role of the Board in all of this??

15. Role of the Board. . .
Spend time learning about the purpose and importance of the Network
Decide what you want to accomplish
For the superintendent
For the district
Provide support for participation
Regularly monitor progress
Consistently communicate about the network

16. Questions? Contact: AEA Chief Administrators
Bonnie Boothroy, School Administrators of Iowa and Director of Iowa Leadership Academy,