Sustainable School Improvement: Fueling the Journey with Collective Efficacy and Systems Thinking

by Patricia Wright

Overview

The book addresses two key barriers to school improvement that are currently impacting educators and school leaders. The first is the churn of constant change in the form of multiple initiatives and compliance overload experienced by today’s educators. It is not uncommon to hear a teacher say, “I can’t focus on the kids; there are just too many things to do. I’m overwhelmed.” Has change itself become a distraction? Has it forced educators to move not toward but away from their primary focus – student learning? The second barrier is a dependency on outdated assumptions, or roadblock thinking, that cause schools to act in ways contrary to sound educational practice. This book challenges educators to embrace forward thinking. Instead of depending on the next newest innovation or program or falling back to “the way we have always done it,” the CAR provides a framework that allows educators and school leaders to equitably and coherently address student learning by engaging in the deep conversations that are vital to effective practice. The book offers a universal blueprint that coherently and strategically connects curriculum standards, student learning, professional learning, and school culture to achieve meaningful and sustainable change that directly impacts student outcomes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475862874
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/15/2022
Pages:	146
Sales rank:	605,611
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.01(h) x 0.32(d)

About the Author

Patricia Wright is the Executive Director Emerita of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. She is currently a senior consultant to the Foundation for Educational Administration working with numerous schools in the implementation of the Connected Action Roadmap.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: The CAR Framework: Fueling Connections

Chapter 2: Is Your GPS Working? Curriculum as the Master Learning Plan

Chapter 3: Supporting a Culture of Collaboration

Chapter 4: Ensuring a Smooth Journey: Collaboratively Improving School Climate

Chapter 5: Leading the CAR Journey Towards the Ultimate Destination

Appendix A: Summary of Roadblock and Forward Thinking

Appendix B: 10 PLC Conversations

Appendix C: Unpacking a Standard Worksheet

Appendix D: CAR Instructional Unit Template

Appendix E: Guide to Developing the CAR Instructional Plan

Appendix F: The Important Role of Classroom Assessments and Common Assessments

Appendix G: Clarifying Expectations

Appendix H: Group Norms Reflection

Appendix I: Individual Norms Reflection

Appendix J: The Professional Climate: What is our Current Reality?

Appendix K: 10 School Climate Team Conversations

Appendix L: 14 Dimensions of School Climate Measured by CSCI

Appendix M: School Climate Rubric

Appendix N: School Climate Improvement Plan Template

Appendix O: CAR Planning Guide

Appendix P: CAR Rubric

Appendix Q: Crosswalk: The CAR Rubric and the PSEL

Appendix R: Crosswalk: The Standards for Professional Learning and CAR

Editorial Reviews

Among many frameworks for school and district reform, CAR is unique in its embracing of forward thinking, of collaborative building with tool-kit guidance, in its commitment to shared/distributed leadership and capacity building, and to serving as a rallying call for children and educators. CAR is rooted in practice, thus making it feasible. Most of all, however, this book makes it clear that CAR rests on a shared culture that itself is scaffolded on deep inquiry, conversation, and sharing. As we look to a new educational landscape, CAR's arrival could not be more timely, or more urgent.

Given all the demands placed on educators today, it's absolutely essential we provide practical tools and resources to help teachers and leaders make sense of the complexities of their practice. The Connected Action Roadmap is exactly that kind of support! The CAR framework brings clarity to the work of educator professional learning communities while providing teachers and leaders with specific strategies and tools to make strong connections among their student standards, formative and summative assessments, and student learning. Unlike many other frameworks, CAR doesn't ignore school culture and recognizes the importance of situating this crucial work in a strong learning climate. The CAR framework will serve as an invaluable guide to those striving to improve schools and strengthen student learning.

I was introduced to The Connected Action Roadmap (CAR) Framework in 2019 in New Jersey and have been sold ever since. As a retired principal, I remember vividly those endless reform models over the years that produced minimal results. What distinguishes the CAR Framework is the collaboration, integration and coherence of the variables that determine student high academic performance, and it is now available to the masses as a published book. I am excited about the prospects for the Connected Action Roadmap for educators both nationally and internationally.

In my years as an educator, countless change initiatives have come and gone. The Connected Action Roadmap (CAR) is different. Embracing shared leadership that activates and empowers all stakeholders, and focusing on sustainability from the start, sets CAR apart from the rest. As the Commissioner of Education in New Jersey, I was happy to support implementation of the CAR framework because I saw firsthand the evidence of its success. CAR is a game changer for school improvement efforts.

The Connected Action Roadmap has not only helped me to be a more effective Superintendent, it has enhanced my practice as adjunct professor, mentor and coach of aspiring educational administrators and instructional leaders.

From the Publisher

In my years as an educator, countless change initiatives have come and gone. The Connected Action Roadmap (CAR) is different. Embracing shared leadership that activates and empowers all stakeholders, and focusing on sustainability from the start, sets CAR apart from the rest. As the Commissioner of Education in New Jersey, I was happy to support implementation of the CAR framework because I saw firsthand the evidence of its success. CAR is a game changer for school improvement efforts.

Lamont Repollet

Given all the demands placed on educators today, it’s absolutely essential we provide practical tools and resources to help teachers and leaders make sense of the complexities of their practice. The Connected Action Roadmap is exactly that kind of support! The CAR framework brings clarity to the work of educator professional learning communities while providing teachers and leaders with specific strategies and tools to make strong connections among their student standards, formative and summative assessments, and student learning. Unlike many other frameworks, CAR doesn’t ignore school culture and recognizes the importance of situating this crucial work in a strong learning climate. The CAR framework will serve as an invaluable guide to those striving to improve schools and strengthen student learning.

Frederick Brown

I was introduced to The Connected Action Roadmap (CAR) Framework in 2019 in New Jersey and have been sold ever since. As a retired principal, I remember vividly those endless reform models over the years that produced minimal results. What distinguishes the CAR Framework is the collaboration, integration and coherence of the variables that determine student high academic performance, and it is now available to the masses as a published book. I am excited about the prospects for the Connected Action Roadmap for educators both nationally and internationally.

Baruti Kafele

Among many frameworks for school and district reform, CAR is unique in its embracing of forward thinking, of collaborative building with tool-kit guidance, in its commitment to shared/distributed leadership and capacity building, and to serving as a rallying call for children and educators.  CAR is rooted in practice, thus making it feasible.  Most of all, however, this book makes it clear that CAR rests on a shared culture that itself is scaffolded on deep inquiry, conversation, and sharing.  As we look to a new educational landscape, CAR’s arrival could not be more timely, or more urgent.

Maurice J. Elias

The Connected Action Roadmap has not only helped me to be a more effective Superintendent, it has enhanced my practice as adjunct professor, mentor and coach of aspiring educational administrators and instructional leaders.

Matthew Murphy