Strategic Goal Team Chairs’ Training

1. Strategic Goal Team Chairs’ Training December 17, 2010

2. Session Objectives SGT Chairs and Co-Chairs will: • Review ofstrategic plan components and process. • Understandmission and tasks of Strategic Goal Teams (S.G.T.) and chairs. • Have a process for identifying “Best”Ideas • Learn what your “end product” should look like • Have a handbook of tools to do the job.

3. Overview of TSD Strategic Planning • Five-Year Strategic Planning and CEASD Accreditation Planning Team • What has been accomplished: • TSD Vision • TSD Mission • TSD Belief Statements • External and Internal Analysis • TSD Five-Year Strategic Goal Areas and Draft Goals • Where are we going from here?

4. Education is a responsibility shared by the students, family, school and community. • All students thrive and excelin a community that values diverse abilities, needs, and interests. • Treating people with dignity and respect is essential to a healthy and productive environment. • The development of the whole person socially, physically, intellectually, culturally, and emotionally is imperative to life-long success. • Involving people in decisions that impact their lives promotes ownership, commitment, action and a sense of value and pride. • A strong language foundation is essential to students’ success. TSD believes that…

5. Deliberate and collaborative American Sign Language (ASL) and English language planning fosters language acquisition and learning. • Immersing students in Deaf Culture promotes a sense of belonging and acceptance, which in turn enhances positive identity and self-worth. • An interdisciplinary curriculum that focuses on creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration is essential to prepare students for life in the 21st century. • Students have the right to an education by motivated and engaged faculty and staff who apply current best practices. • Proficiency in 21st Century technology skills and tools is a requisite for success in a global community. TSD believes that…

6. We believe that equal partnerships built on mutual respect and cultural responsiveness among families, school and community are essential for student success. • We believe that effective, individualized early childhood and family education, starting at birth, is a critical foundation for language acquisition, cognitive and social development. • We believe that all staff share responsibility for providing educational, social, and cultural experiences that support student growth and learning. • We believe that transition is an ongoing process of preparing all students to become engaged and responsible citizens who are productive and self-directed. TSDbelievesthat…

7. Vision Texas School for the Deaf is the innovative leader providing exemplary and comprehensive ASL/English bilingual education empowering students to be engaged, life-long learners. We are a welcoming, dynamic, and diverse community collaborating with the global community.

8. Mission The mission of the Texas School for the Deaf is to ensure that students excel in an environment where they learn, grow, and belong. We support deaf students, families, and professionals in Texas by providing resources through outreach services.

9. TSD Five-Year Strategic Goal Areas • Staff Support/Allocation - Claire & Sean • Technology - Mari & Sharee • Changing Demographics/Diversity – John & Johnett • Curriculum and Instruction – Stella & Joey • Healthy and Safe Climate – Russell & Gloria • Outreach Expansion - Diana & Kenny

10. SGT Chair: Mission The mission of the Strategic Goal Team chairis to guide the team toward the fulfillment of the team mission through the building of team understanding and agreement using an effective process of team problem solving and consensus decision making.

11. SGT ChairResponsibilities • Be prepared. • Guide the team using group process. • Provide the same information to all team members. • Build team agreements. • Remember that team consensus is more important than any individual. (Don’t allow one to dominate.) • Resolve conflicts. • Always check the alignment of team decisions with theschoolbeliefs, mission, vision and the assigned strategic goal. Tab 2, Handbook, page 9

12. Strategic Goal Team: Choosing/Editing the Goal The first step is to write the Strategic Goal. Behind Tab 3 of your binder are suggested Strategic Goals for each area. These are suggestions and your SGT may choose to re-write the goal. The goal should be “true” ideas/issues generated by the School Community Planning Team in the “Critical External/Internal Issues”.

13. Strategic Goal Team: Once your goal is written, the mission of the Strategic Goal Team is to identify the “best program idea” or “program ideas” to accomplish the assigned strategic goal through an effective team problem solving and consensus decision-making process. Tab 2, Handbook, page 7 & 8

14. Strategic Goal Team Responsibilities • Honor the goal as written. • Show commitment by attending and participating. • Honor agreed upon team guidelines. • Strive for team consensus. • Stay in touch with chairs and team members. • Share in the team’s success in identifying the “best” idea/s. • Use the S.O.L.V.E.D. Process

15. S.O.L.V.E.D. • State and clarify the goal. • Obtain and analyze information and data. • List possible “best” program options. • Verify consequences of each “best” option. • Evaluate each “best” option. • Determine the “best” option / s. Tab 2, Handbook, pages10-11

16. What is a “Best” Program Idea • Is “research-based”: • Has met proposed objectives in the past • Has had a positive impact on targeted population • Has been duplicated • Has district-wide impact • Is broad in scope and addresses growth, stretch, change not day to day business • Is a set of activities or tasks correlated to program goals / objectives

17. Example of a Best Program Idea Strategic Goal: H.I.S.D. will prepare all student to be critical thinkers and ethical citizens “Best Idea”: Character Education and Leadership Development Program, K-12 Objectives: • Teach students ethical principles • Teach students critical thinking skills • Decrease student discipline problems, K-12 • Train teachers to develop self-managing classrooms • Train teachers in use of “_______” problem solving model Success History: Used successfully in 200 public and private school districts for 2-10 years with a positive success rate of 80%-98% on all program objectives. (See Attachments A – E)

18. Group Processes - Tab 2, Handbook • Brainstorming, pages 12-13 • Consensus Decisions, pages 14-15 • Prioritizing Options, page 16

19. Meeting Management – Tab 2, Handbook • Meeting Planning, pages 17-18 • Positive Meeting Management Tips, page 19 • Sample Meeting Agenda, Meeting #1, page 20 • Other tools for building unity, pages 22-26

20. Final Product: “Best Program Idea” Executive Summary • Asummary ofyour SGTs best program ideas • Content based on information gathered in problem solving process. (S.O.L.V.E.D.) • Provides the team’s rationale for recommending the “best program ideas”. • Provides evidence as to why the team’s recommendation is the “best”. Tab 2, Handbook, pages 28-29

21. Executive Summary Example • Strategic Goal • Team Members • Key Information from Internal and External Analysis (not a repeat of the entire work presented to School Community Planning Team) • Best Ideas Related to the Goal • Research, discussion, best practices related to the idea • Summary with Recommendations to implement your Strategic Goal

22. Texas School for the Deaf: 2006-2011 Strategic Goal #3 • TSDwill prepare all studentsfor life after graduation. • Examples of TSD SGT work from previous Strategic Plan behind tab 5

23. Questions?