What is a strategic plan? Characteristics of an effective school district.

1. Strategic Planning

2. What is a strategic plan?
Focus on continuous improvement and alignment

3. New York State
Regents Reform Agenda
Teacher and Principal Evaluation (APPR)
Common Core Standards and Assessments
Data Driven Instruction and Inquiry

4. The principal is the gatekeeper of change.
Michael Fullan 2001
• Change is only one of the forces competing for attention
management vs. instructional leadership
• “Almost every single study of school effectiveness has
shown both primary and secondary leadership to be a
key factor”. (Sammons, 1999)
• Support and push teacher development
• Monitor commitment to the shared vision – common
culture of expectations
• Complexity of leadership – sustainable actions
• Need to change practice before beliefs are changed
• What happens in the absence of leadership?

5. Characteristics of an Effective School District
1. Focus…focus…focus
2. Data
3. Leadership
4. Resources
5. Reduce Distractors
6. Community
7. Communication
8. Esprit de Corps

6. The Principal as Leader….
• Understands the link between the strategic plan and sustainable actions
• Effectively prioritizes instructional role
• Demonstrates an understanding of teaching and learning
• Identifies and comments on common core instructional shifts in
observations
• Leads data teams
• Leads instructional conversations
• Aligns resources (financial, professional development, human resources)
to support the school improvement plan
• Takes ownership
• Effectively plans professional development aligned to the plan
• Monitors consistent implementation
• Uses teacher on