School leaders in northwestern Montana have just completed a two-year consortium entitled “Leadership that Supports Teaching and Learning”. This work, sponsored by the Northwest Montana Educational Cooperative, provided superintendents and principals the tools and strategies to become more intentional in their focus on high quality teaching, learning, and student engagement.
The six two-day sessions focused on improving student achievement through the development of professional/intentional learning communities. To put it simply we focus on a safe and orderly environment first, leadership teams with high collective efficacy, top-notch instruction, professional learning communities, effective monitoring, and the intentional building of a positive, relationship based culture.
During the final year, participants gained an understanding of K-12 high leverage strategies for reducing drop out rates and discipline issues, and raising graduation rates.
Central Montana:
School leaders in central Montana have completed the first year of a two-year consortium entitled “Leadership that Supports Teaching and Learning.” This work, sponsored by School Administrators of Montana (SAM), is providing superintendents and principals the tools and strategies to become more intentional in their focus on high quality teaching, learning, and student engagement.
The content of the six-day sessions will mirror that of Northwestern Montana, listed above, with a strong focus on K-12 high leverage strategies for reducing drop out rates, discipline issues, and raising graduation rates.
Eastern North Carolina:
Roanoke Rapids, NC
School leadership teams in Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, a small district in the eastern part of the state, have worked for two and a half years with Focused Leadership Solutions. This project has seen an increase in test scores at the district’s elementary and middle schools and new energy on the part of high school teachers toward working in a more collaborative and results based manner.
A large part of Roanoke Rapids’ success is due to the fact that the district office sent a leadership team to each and every learning session attended by building level teams. This participation reflects the belief of Superintendent Dennis Sawyer and FLS that if change is to happen in a school district, it must be addressed systemically. By learning alongside school teams, the district models the importance of organizational learning, and discovers firsthand the challenges that the district and schools need to address together.
Rockingham County Schools, Eden, NC
School and district leaders in Rockingham County Schools, a large and diverse district of 25 schools, have worked with Focused Leadership Solutions since January 2008. This work began with school leadership teams and intensive site work at some of the lower performing schools. The focus of the work was on developing professional learning communities and improving instructional strategies and practices throughout the district.
South Central Colorado:
Calhan, Colorado
Calhan Schools began working with FLS in the fall of 2009. As a smaller school district with a four-day school week, Calhan and FLS were able to design common learning experiences for the entire staff, augmented by specialized leadership support for school and district leadership teams. These learning experiences helped the school district develop a more accurate perception of their current reality and work toward a future of increased achievement and student responsibility.
Of special note at Calhan is the district’s determination to improve the learning at its high school. FLS has designed and carried out special student forums that help high school students communicate their ideas on how the school can help them become better learners.
Colorado Springs, Colorado Community Preparatory School
Community Prep is an alternative charter high school within District #11 for students who have not achieved success in their previous schools. FLS consultants, beginning in January of 2011, worked with the school faculty to learn how collaboration across departments and grade levels can help the school achieve its goals. In addition, CPS and FLS have embarked on an exciting project to help students develop performance character traits such as accepting responsibility for their own learning and understanding the attitudes and emotions of classmates and teachers. CPS will be examining the rigor of its program and expectations for students during the 2011-12 school year.
Falcon School District: Sand Creek Innovation Zone
FLS is assisting the leadership of the Sand Creek Zone in building a shared definition of the work at all levels of their feeder based system (three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school) and ensuring that their reform efforts are implemented and monitored with fidelity. FLS provides an “outside set of eyes” that helps school leaders maintain a consistent focus on actions that lead to increased student learning; find ways to use resources wisely; and build high performing teams at all levels of their system.
Winston Salem, North Carolina:
FLS worked for two years with middle school principals in Winston Salem, addressing issues of shared leadership, effective monitoring and accountability, instructional leadership, and standards based instruction. Each school that FLS has worked with has been designated either a school of progress, a school of distinction, or a school of excellence by the state of North Carolina.
