Oakland Schools Creates a School Improvement Network

by Larry Thomas, Director, School Quality, Oakland Schools

In addition to the state school improvement efforts, many intermediate and local school districts support school improvement needs. For example, for the past four years, Oakland Schools has offered school improvement teams the opportunity to participate in a School Improvement Network. The Network meets for four all-day sessions, two in the fall and two during winter/spring. The purpose is to enhance the capacity of teams leading their school improvement efforts. Network members explore various school improvement models in-depth and develop skills using a group process and facilitation. System components essential to the success of improvement, such as school culture and climate, establishing a shared mission and vision, the strategic use of school data, and leveraging school improvement research for change, are also explored. The Network provides ample opportunity for teams to interact and share challenges and successes with teams in schools throughout Oakland County. Network facilitators model practices the district hopes to promote by creating a hands-on, interactive experience and using evaluation data to direct future planning.

In addition, Oakland Schools provides on-site school improvement training and coaching for individual school staffs. Educators gather data about the current state of their curriculum, instructional strategies, assessment tools, and the learning environment. Data analyzed include a combination of achievement, process, demographic, and perception information. The staff spends study time creating its preferred future or vision of the best school district it might become. This is accomplished by examining internal current best practice as well as external research and models from other schools. Then, the staff creates and signs commitment statements that declare what staff members are willing to do to move from their current state to their vision of the best they can be.

Finally, the staff determines and implements goals or action plans that move the group forward. Once this step is reached, Oakland Schools helps the staff design evaluation tools to help members reflect on where they are on this continuous improvement journey and to determine their next steps.

These school improvement support services are intended to build capacity within schools. They provide opportunities for adults to learn and share a variety of tools and processes while using data to have meaningful conversations that help make school improvement effective. Teachers and principals find these services responsive to their needs as they strive to meet the needs of each student in a systemic way.

For more information on these services, contact: Jennifer Davidson at (248) 209-2272, Mike Gallagher at (248) 209-2234, or Jan Callis at (248) 209-2596.

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