FY12 District Reforms to Better Support Schools Andrés A. Alonso, Ed.D.

1. FY12 District Reforms to Better Support SchoolsAndrés A. Alonso, Ed.D. DRAFT

2. Understand how the District Office reforms will/should impact your work. Know how to access services in the transition period of the summer and when major milestones in the reorganization are occurring Provide feedback about the new structure that will help to guide the development of roles, processes and structures Objectives DRAFT

3. IF the district office’s culture, processes and structure: are rooted in deep and direct knowledge of schools; provide responsive, integrated, and easily accessible support for school operations; establish clear guidance for schools; create clear standards and processes for accountability for schools with direct support for school leaders; create clear standards and processes for district office accountability to schools… THEN: schools will have a single point of entry for integrated and cross-functional support that meets their unique needs; the instructional and operational capacity of school leaders will expand rapidly empowering the best decisions to be made for our students; the service and support capacity of district offices will continuously improve in response to school needs; and many more students will succeed at a higher level. Theory of Action Driving this Reform DRAFT

4. Reforms Reflect Input from School Leaders What we heard… • Clear lines of accountability • Coaching/leadership support from credible people who know my school • Clear outcomes, tools and processes for the evaluation of schools and school leaders • One point of entry for school support needs, and resourced to actually be able to get the work done • Supports driven by school need, not by district mandates • District staff that ask “Why not?” instead of “Why?” DRAFT

5. Key Changes in the FY12 Reform Executive Director • Tailored leadership support • Ratio of school leader ED improved • Network Teams • Expanded • Redefining the work of the district District & School Performance Clear outcomes, tools and processes for schools and district in support of schools DRAFT

6. School Support Network Roles • A single point of entry for integrated and cross-functional support that meets schools’ unique needs • A structure guided and supported by parallel functions in the district office, but with the ability to provide direct support services and get things done on behalf of schools • A source of information between schools and the core district that shapes district policies and practices • School Support Network Officer Team Facilitator DRAFT

7. School Support Networks Structure • Approximately same number of schools per team • Set number of standard and specialty support positions per team • Standard supports positions assigned to each support team, services differentiated by school need • Specialty support positions and services selected by school, and work across teams to meet school needs • Academic Content Liaison- Math • Student Support Liaison- Attendance • Academic Content Liaison- Literacy • Student Support Liaison- PBIS • Academic Content Liaison- Humanities Principals Choose! Principals Choose! Principals Choose! DRAFT

8. ED & Facilitator work jointly to support school leader in meeting the needs of the school • Shared Knowledge • School strategy • School data & needs • Qualitative and contextual factors • Support activities • Shared Accountability • School performance factors in all evaluations • Principal to provide feedback on the development and supports received DRAFT

9. Proposed Network Structure for SY11-12 * Rapid response tool rates schools to their peers on a range of indicators, ranking schools between 1 and 4, with 1 being an indicator of high need schools. DRAFT

10. How Will Schools Assigned to Networks? After grade level configuration (ES, K-8, Secondary) and some targeted needs (e.g. Turnaround schools)… • Lead with Principal Development Need • Self-identified (using key elements of effective leadership during work sessions tomorrow) • Principal demographics related to leadership need (e.g. Principals in their first 3 years, etc.) • Controls/Considerations • School performance indicators (heterogeneous) • Looking at similar specialty supports (academic and student support) • Geography DRAFT

11. How Will Staff be Assigned to Networks? 1.) Executive Directors will be matched to leadership needs of the network (e.g. Turnaround experience with Turnaround Network) 2.) Facilitators will be matched to Executive Directors to complement skill set so as to provide a more robust set of expertise to principals 3.) Specialty Supports (academic/student support) will be matched to teams based on identified needs (e.g. MS Math support) 4.) Standard Supports will be matched to teams with facilitator input DRAFT

12. What is Happening Right Now with the Work? • School, school leader and teacher frameworks and evaluation systems being built • Performance management of district offices and staff to be rooted in school outcomes • Role clarity and authority mapping among EDs, Facilitators, Networks and Departments • Departments reorienting meeting and reporting structures and mindset around school need and being “in service” to schools • Network processes for sharing information to and from schools • Reporting (informal and formal) being developed to gauge school progress • District re-orienting processes to be about “How can I help you get this done?” vs. “Justify why it’s necessary” or flat out “No” with no just cause. DRAFT

13. How Will I, as a Principal, Experience the Work Differently? You should… • Receive more meaningful and regular feedback on your practice • Understand clearly the outcomes (student outcomes and transactional/compliance) and standards (Leadership Framework) that you are responsible for and where you can go to access supports • Spend less time having to contextualize your requests to the district, providing data about your school, and responding to last minute district requests DRAFT

14. How Will I, as a Principal, Experience the Work Differently? You should… • Feel that the transactional services and processes are expedited (e.g. budget amendments) and the networks are truly your “1-stop shop” • Be able to spend more time in classrooms because your operational and leadership needs are being met • Feel advocated for and supported with a sense of urgency and more often hear, “Why not?” then “Why?” from the district • Have a bigger voice in the district and feel that your experiences and feedback are shaping district policies and procedures DRAFT

15. Implementation Timeline DRAFT

16. Summer Transition DRAFT

17. What Should I Expect Over the Summer? Until new network teams are announced (mid-July), your network transition contact will act as: • A source of information for summer needs • A point person at the district to ensure your request can move to resolution quickly and with adequate feedback Be mindful they will not have the full support of the team behind them, so direct services/support will be limited for a short window of time. Core functions will, of course, continue. DRAFT

18. Any Questions About the Reorganization or Feedback on District Supports • Email schoolsupportnetwork@bcps.k12.md.us or Dr. Alonso directly. • You will receive a response within 24 hours. • Requests will be monitored to ensure that the transition does not impact your ability to achieve resolution. We are committed to providing school supports to you even through this transition. DRAFT

19. What Are You Still Wondering About? Use the note cards you were given to write the things you are still wondering about in terms of: • Structure • Process • Roles We will be able to use this data to inform the work we do internally to ensure that roles are clear and expectations managed, so principals are receiving the highest quality service and support. PLEASE GIVE TO THE SUPPORT STAFF ON YOUR WAY OUT. DRAFT

20. Take Care of Yourself This week is about taking care of your professional self, remember to take care of your personal self this summer too. We need you rested, charged and ready for our kids next year! DRAFT