Your Tool Box? Mossi White USBA Past President NSBA Past President - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

What Counts in Your Tool Box?

Mossi White USBA Past President NSBA Past President

THE KEY WORK OF SCHOOL BOARDS IS TO INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

• Vision
• Standards
• Assessment
• Accountability
• Alignment
• Climate
• Collaboration
• Continual

Improvement

THE KEY WORK OF SCHOOL BOARDS

Improving student achievement through community engagement

COLLABORATION

Community conversations WHAT COUNTS

• Set a date for the “What Counts” meeting
• Each board member recommends 15-20

individuals to be invited. Ideal size of the group is 80-100 participants. They should include representatives from the entire community

THE PROCEDURE

• RSVP Invitations are sent and followed up with

personal contact

• Choose a group facilitator who is not employed

by the District. This person needs to be a strong communicator, strong advocate for public education, and have good presentation and facilitation skills

THE PROCEDURE

ROOM SET UP

• Computer/projector

/screen

• Name badges
• Round tables to seat

eight

• Large chart paper

tablet with easel

• Markers
• Masking tape
• Sheets of eight

marker dots for each participant

THE MEETING

• Eight people at each round table
• Each table includes a facilitator chosen by the Board

from the invitee group

• Each table includes a recorder selected from the

Board or staff. They do not participate in any discussion

• A brief training session is held with facilitators and

recorders 30 minutes before the meeting begins

DURING THE MEETING

• Have an informal

“kitchen table” conversation

• Make sure everyone

understands there are no “right” answers

• It’s okay to disagree (not

disagreeably)

• Keep the discussion on

track

• Focus on constructive

ideas

• Have fun!

QUESTION #1

“What do you value about your local public schools?”

• In your group, discuss what you value about the

public schools in your District

• Brainstorm a list that the recorder writes on chart

paper

• Come to agreement on your top six items
• Post your chart paper on designated wall

GALLERY WALK

• Pick a partner – not from your table
• “Talk” a walk around the chart gallery
• Discuss with your partner similarities and

differences in the charts

• What did you learn from the charts?

QUESTION #2

“What are the characteristics of a quality public school?”

• Brainstorm a list that the recorder writes on chart

paper

• Come to agreement on your top eight items
• Post your chart on wall

IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES

• Pick a partner – not from your table
• Take your “dots” with you as you “gallery walk”
• Review each of the charts
• Individually, use your dots to indicate your

top/priority characteristics of a quality school

• Return to original table

IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES

• The characteristics will be prioritized by the

number of “dots” they receive

• The top eight characteristics will be listed on the

computer by the group facilitator. Make sure all participants see the results

USES OF THE INFORMATION

• Basis for District goal setting
• Tie into strategic plans
• Foundation for budgeting

priorities

• Evaluation of District

programs, goals, etc…

• Publicize the results in Board

meetings, newspapers, and

• ther organizations’ meetings
• Invite people to participate in
• ngoing task forces on

specific topics

• Conduct follow-up forums to

align strategies with system priorities

WHAT COUNTS

Do not ask for community input if you do not intend to use the information