I recently spoke with Bill Runey, the superintendent of Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District in Massachusetts, about drafting strategic plans and Portraits of a Graduate. I have a new appreciation for what administrators do. Runey, and others in his role, lead school districts at a complicated time in regards to funding, politics, culture, safety, and other areas.
I imagine this can be a challenging role, but Runey’s work on his district’s Portrait of a Graduate and strategic plan has helped anchor future decision-making and provides direction for the district as a whole, which will help serve his district now and in the future. The importance of such guiding vision and systems like these cannot be understated. As Runey says, “We needed something as an anchor and I felt that being able to get horizontal alignment from elementary school to elementary school, from middle school to middle school, and also the vertical alignment for pre-K through 12 plus was something that we really needed to foster collaboration and unity.”
Runey continued to tell me about how the creation of a Portrait of a Graduate that led to those tenants being woven into educators’ goals in each school and that even students have started to live the language of the portrait. Teachers are leading professional learning, pushing this work, and creating a ripple effect to ultimately change systems.
When I asked what advice Runey had for other superintendents and administrators looking to make similar changes, he said, “The one thing that I’m going to say is you’ve got to get yourself some help.” Runey said he values the role that community can play in an otherwise challenging and lonely position. The Great Schools Partnership has been supporting the work at Dighton-Rehoboth with Runey that includes partnership and coaching that mitigates some of the feelings of loneliness. Having others that are navigating similar situations to confer with and share best practices or even be an “accountibili-buddy” (coined in a 9th grade class I observed) can help an administrator even if they are otherwise working alone. “You need someone who can provide that kind of external progress monitoring,” said Runey. “You need someone that’s going to keep that framework alive for you and keep people on task because it’s easy to instead ask which pile of papers am I going to focus on today?”
Joining a Community of Practice
Are you in a role that requires you to navigate initiatives as you try to create systemic change? What does your data tell you would be a helpful next move? Is it advisory? Shared learning outcomes? Grading systems? Then we invite you to participate in our community of practice—From Talking Points to Action Steps: Creating Bridges and Pathways Through Systems Thinking.
Leah Tuckman, a senior associate here at the Great Schools Partnership, says, “Oftentimes, when we get caught up in the nitty-gritty of technical issues or technical changes, we forget about some of the more adaptive work that needs to be done in schools. And I think what’s great about this community of practice is it gives us the opportunity to go to the balcony to see what’s happening on a larger level.” This community of practice is all about putting into place systems and structures (such as a strategic plan or a new student handbook) that can push the work forward.
Dighton-Rehoboth is a great example of this push. The work between the Great Schools Partnership and the team members at Dighton-Rehoboth has resulted in system-wide changes that include a monthly district-wide leadership team that includes Portrait of a Graduate professional learning. Work in Dighton-Rehoboth goes beyond strategic planning and Portrait of a Graduate work, extending to curriculum adoption and development. Any school or district that is trying to implement systems and structures could benefit from collaboration at this level.
Systems Thinking for Change
In this community of practice, you can expect to walk away with a phased work plan, a possible school improvement plan, community engagement strategies, an advisory model, grading system, and more. More importantly, as Tuckman said, “Some of the richest work that happens is showing and comparing and getting ideas from one another.” Isolation is our enemy in education, so come find a community.
Learn more about or register for From Talking Points to Action Steps: Creating Bridges and Pathways Through Systems Thinking.