Full Description
Collective Vision: Igniting District and School Improvement describes a school district's ten-year journey of transformation and how research was leveraged to help achieve improved educational outcomes for learners. The journey began with the creation of a district-wide shared vision, mission and values, using a unique appreciative inquiry process that engaged all stakeholders in the school district, thus establishing shared ownership and responsibility for the outcomes.
The book demonstrates how the power of a collective vision and collaborative inquiry across a system helps establish a district-wide culture of collective efficacy, leading to improved learning. All too often in the field of education promising practices are discarded before improvements can be noted. Additionally, schools are often charged with the responsibility of improvement without enough support or guidance from district leaders and governance. This story describes how a ten-year process of continuous inquiry and support led to significant district improvement and transformation.
This story will inspire educators at all levels of the system to take steps toward district and school improvement. The book is unique in that it is written through the experience of practitioners who actioned educational research to achieve results. The book serves as a practical guide that provides useful "lessons learned" and questions for self-reflectionthroughout.
Contents
Foreward
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Background
SECTION ONE: The District as a Learning Organization
Chapter One: Focus - Coherent District Vision
Chapter Two: Focus - District Support for the Vision
Chapter Three: Focus on Effective Governance
Chapter Four: Focus on Learning and Continuous Improvement
Chapter Five: Focus on Instructional Coherence
Chapter Six: Focus on Evidence Informed Decision Making
Chapter Seven: Focus on Continuous Professional Learning
Chapter Eight: Focus on Leadership Learning
Chapter Nine: Focus on Strong Working Relationships
Chapter Ten: Focus on Sharing Our Learning
Connections to Other Research
SECTION TWO: School as a Learning Organizations
SECTION THREE: Strong Learning Environments
SECTION FOUR: A Summary of What Made a Difference
SECTION FIVE: Full Circle - Where to Next?
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
REFERENCES
