Creating Buy-In and Consistency: Using Workgroups to Create Change in a National Non-Profit

Generating Buy-in and Consistency Using Workgroups to Create Change in a National Non-profit Heidi Erbe, Director of Instruction, Breakthrough San Francisco

Do Now
Pair Share
Think of a time when a new program was rolled out at your organization. What was your reaction to the process and the end result?

Objective
Today, we will discuss how workgroups can be a model for building buy-in and developing best practices.

Mission of Organization
Founded in 1978, Breakthrough Collaborative has a unique dual mission to:
Increase academic opportunities for highly motivated, underserved students and put them on the trajectory of a successful college path; and
Inspire and develop the next generation of teachers and educational leaders.

History of Organization 1978: First Breakthrough site started 1989: First Breakthrough replication site started 1991: National office opened to support replication- range of roles- fundraising site start-up, coaching, training, branding affiliation 2009: Improving Teacher Training Initiative started

History of Challenge
Breakthrough is a distributed network of affiliated programs
National office does not hire local site directors who are employees of independent schools or independent 501(c)3 organizations
Mandates are an unsuccessful vehicle for standardization and excellence

History of Challenge
Affiliate employees express desire for:
Professional Development
Career Pathways
Codified Best Practices
Increased Pass-Through Funding Tied to Training
Enhanced Accountability from National and Each Other
Mandates do not consistently produce…
excellent student outcomes
director longevity
best practice codification

History
Compare/contrast your organization with Breakthrough in terms of history, influence, and impact.

Pilot Plan
“ Improving Teacher Training Initiative”
Gap + Breakthrough
2 days vs. 2 weeks of teacher training
New way for national office to work with local sites
Research + Breakthrough Reality
High-impact, transferable teaching skills—teaching residency
Breakthrough teacher = standard definition

Model Selection & Development

Model Selection & Development
Research-based model that works for all students
Comprehensive model
Collaborative conversation
Cycle of developing, testing, refining— excellence through collaboration

Model
What are some of the strengths and potential weaknesses of this model?

Data
Preparation
6 of 9 indicators—ITTI teachers reported feeling better prepared; average of 7% higher scores than non-ITTI sites
Curriculum development
Lesson planning
Instructional techniques
Leadership training
Classroom management
Development of a community of young educators
Summer Session Support
9 of 9 indicators—ITTI teachers felt better supported by an average of 5% higher scores

Data
25 US sites will implement ITTI during summer 2011
22 sites (88%) will have a full implementation
16 US affiliates will pilot curriculum during summer 2011, representing 64% of the Collaborative

Anecdotal Data
The work I have done with ITTI, both at working retreats and over the phone/internet, has been the most productive professional development I have ever had, including the 5 years when I was a classroom teacher and routinely attended in-services and conferences. Please keep this going!

Anecdotal Data
The "package" that we have created over the past two years is solid, and maintaining momentum by continuing to meet and refine is important. This is the best collaborative work I've seen come out of Breakthrough; I hope similar models continue to thrive in the Collaborative.

Data
How might a similar replication model affect your organization?

Critical Attributes Professional development for directors Increased standardization Excellence through collaboration

Challenges
Sustainability
Framing pass-through funding
Time commitments and Executive Director buy-in
Over-reliance on key site leaders

Implications
Pilots vs. workgroups
Ongoing need for training, support, and evaluation
Extending best practices to all areas of work

Closure
What are two ways you might apply the practices of Breakthrough’s teacher training replication model to your organization?

Questions

Creating Buy-In and Consistency: Using Workgroups to Create Change in a National Non-Profit

by National Partnership for Educational Access

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