The journey matters as much as the destination.
Driving toward equitable outcomes for each and every student is the uncompromising destination for educators in the 21st century. How we get there matters. Community that offers a sense of belonging and inclusiveness is the roadmap to the destination. Fostering practices that empower widespread leadership is the journey we all must be on to reach the destination of equitable outcomes.
Read MoreThe Fall Meeting originated with our colleagues at SRI as an annual gathering of learning with the entire community. We are pleased to bring this event back to give educators the opportunity to share and learn from colleagues all over the world.
Our Fall Meeting has always been a place for me to connect with educators from around the country who are grappling with some of the challenges that I am facing. It is a place of camaraderie and growth. It is where I feel simultaneously at home and on a new adventure. It is also where I have experienced the most elevated sense of myself as a true professional.
Read MoreWith shrinking resources and added responsibilities, educators need to think strategically about how to effectively build a process for success. Without a developed system, it can feel like initiative overload. At CLEE we have found one of the best ways to future-proof the impact of your professional development is to create a system of continuous improvement that allows innovations to stick and make their intended impact.
Read MoreData can be a powerful tool for setting direction and monitoring progress. One of our most important tools for collecting data is CLEE’s validated Learning Community Survey (LCS). The survey measures the extent to which all the educators and leaders in a school are enacting the six Core Leadership Practices that research has found to increase adult collaboration, student learning and equity. It is similar to the PLC Survey many have used, but further articulated, validated, and aligned to practices that increase educational equity.
Read MoreHow can we make learning experiences more enriching and time-effective? Like schools, CLEE looks toward ever-advancing technology to support our efforts. Recently, CLEE launched a new learning management system (LMS) to support the educators we serve. One of our biggest areas of learning is how important it is to design learning experiences in the LMS that utilize adult learning theory.
Read MoreTo advance equitable educational outcomes, educators need to have direct conversations about why pervasive, disproportionate outcomes exist for underserved students (by race, income, perceived ability, and language). That used to be a controversial statement, and in some places it may still be. However, having these conversations can transform adults. They can make identities explicit, uncover hidden biases, and help educators identify inequities and strategies to overcome them in their school. However, they cannot be transformative if they only focus on educators.
Read MoreCreating a strategic plan for my district periodically is not only a requirement, but an opportunity to make changes to improve outcomes for my students. The last time we created a district plan, we did it all ourselves. I was an Assistant Superintendent at the time, so I took on the task not only of leading the strategic planning process, but also creating a planning process for the district. It was like building an airplane and flying at the same time. It took over months of my professional life.
Read MoreWe start the school year fresh and excited to make progress on the many initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for each and every student. Then, as we begin implementing them, especially the work driving toward increased equity, we may notice in ourselves and others feelings of overwhelm and resistance.
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