1. Teaming and Collaboration
Carey Dimmit and Reese House
School Counselor Summer Institute
UMASS, 2003

2. Collaboration
Definition = Working together toward a common goal, with shared responsibility for outcomes.
Collaboration is about building relationships.
School Counselors already have many collaboration skills because of your interpersonal skills and experience and knowledge of group work.

3. Why Collaborate? Children and adolescents have complex needs
Counselors have big caseloads and multiple job demands
Collaboration is usually more successful and efficient, even if it is initially more challenging
Collaboration builds knowledge and understanding of SC role and impact

4. Why Collaborate?
Collaborative efforts have more systemic power than individual efforts
Collaboration creates energy and common direction for change
Collaboration creates a common language about students and academic achievement

5. Collaboration
For School Counselors in a results-based educational context, a valuable goal of collaboration is the educational success of all students in the school, using data to document systemic change.

6. Collaboration Collaboration occurs most easily when:
Those involved value the collaborative style of working with others
Those involved trust one another
A sense of community evolves
The goals and desired outcomes are clearly communicated
All involved take responsibility for outcomes

7. Collaboration
School counselors can work collaboratively with others in the school (teachers, administrators, students), family members and the larger community in order to
fulfill the primary mission of the school
support development of all students in the academic, social-emotional and career domains

8. Collaboration Collaboration is based on Mutual Goals
Often the shared goal is the best interest of the student(s) involved
Collaboration is Voluntary
When defined as a style of interacting with others, collaboration is something that people must choose to do

9. Collaboration
Collaboration Requires Equal Value and Equal Power Among Participants
May have parity in one context and not in another
Collaboration Depends on Shared Responsibility for Participation and Decision Making
Responsibility for decision making is not the same as responsibility for completing tasks

10. Collaboration Collaboration Requires Shared Resources
Resources include time, availability, expertise, skills, access to other agencies, and so on.
Collaboration Allows for Shared Accountability for Outcomes
Shared accountability leads to greater effort, which creates success

11. Collaboration: Diversity Issues
Myth #1: A person of color can represent his/her whole community or people of color in general. Not true.
For example, what gets called “the Hispanic community” is really communities of people from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central or South American countries and Spain.

12. Collaboration: Diversity Issues
Addressing Myth #1: When collaborating, each person speaks for him/herself, and not as a representative of a larger community. No one person can accurately represent any complex group. We can find out what others in a community think through further conversation and research.

13. Collaboration: Diversity Issues
Myth #2: The Anglo/dominant culture is the U.S. culture. Not true.
For people reared as Anglo Americans, culturally specific assumptions and expectations are generalized to others, when they may be inaccurate. These assumptions and expectations about behavior impact on collaboration.

14. Collaboration: Diversity Issues
Addressing Myth #2: When working with others, consciousness about how one’s cultural contexts impact on assumptions and expectations helps keep communication clear.

15. Collaboration: Diversity Issues
Myth #3: Cultural competence is something we can learn through repeated contacts with people different from ourselves. Not true.
Cultural competence is a skill which takes considerable conscious effort to learn. Working with someone does not necessarily translate into an understanding of differences in expectation, assumptions and communication style.

16. Collaboration: Diversity Issues
Addressing Myth #3: In order to learn about others, we have to take the time to ask questions and to engage in meaningful dialogue about similarities and differences. An assumption of understanding without questions can lead to prolonged and consistent misinterpretation.

17. Collaboration: Creating Collaborative Schools
What gets in the way of collaboration?
Physical isolation inherent in the structure of schools (unless there are teams or learning communities)
School cultures of independence and self-reliance
Lack of resources -- time, space, materials

18. Collaboration: Creating Collaborative Schools
How can schools create more collaborative cultures?
Form optional study groups to address shared concerns and to generate solutions
Trade jobs for short periods of time to build understanding and respect for what others do
Schedule social activities so staff can develop relationships

19. Teaming
Definition: A group of professionals working together to provide students with effective educational programs and services.
Teaming is more about structure, whereas collaboration is about ways of working together and communicating. Teaming may or may not be collaborative.

20. Teaming Teaming occurs most effectively when:
Individuals perceive themselves to be part of a team.
Each team member is appreciated for the unique skills/knowledge she/he brings to the team.
Goals and desired outcomes are clearly communicated and understood.

21. Teaming Teaming occurs most effectively when:
Teaming results in outcomes which are more successful than what any individual could accomplish alone.
Members’ needs are met.
all are respected, included and valued
professional and personal needs are considered

22. Teaming Teaming occurs most effectively when:
Team members are functionally interdependent, with complementary and interconnected roles. What impacts one team member impacts all.
Members have individual accountability, so each person has responsibility for something the group needs in order to function.

23. Teaming Teaming occurs most effectively when:
Leadership is shared among group members.
Conflicts are resolved constructively.
Differences of opinion are discussed and resolved.
Members have collaborative relationships.

24. Teaming Teaming occurs most effectively when:
Teams are of reasonable size
Teams have a mission/vision and the freedom to operationalize goals
Members meet regularly
Members are empowered to be involved and to make a difference
Teams set reasonable and attainable goals

25. Teaming and Collaboration Effective Teams Collaborate!
Collaborative relationships among team members create effective teaming and successful outcomes for students.

26. Teaming and Collaborating to Promote Student Achievement
Form or become a member of:
The School Leadership Team
A School Counseling Program Design and Implementation Team
Ad hoc committees to address specific concerns
A school improvement team
Curriculum revision team

27. Teaming and Collaborating to Promote Student Achievement
How do these ideas impact on your work on behalf of student achievement?
How do these ideas impact your action plan?

28. THE END