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The School Improvement Specialist Field Guide
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The School Improvement Specialist Field Guide

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November 2012 | 256 pages | Corwin

Improve student achievement by transforming schools as an SIS expert!

As a current or transitioning school improvement specialist, you are entrusted with helping schools turn around their performance. Now there is a proven process that can strengthen your effectiveness as well. Deb Page and Judith Hale, SIS authorities, guide new and transitioning SIS professionals in applying high-leverage practices that result in systemic, sustainable, school-wide improvement. The School Improvement Specialist Field Guide offers the voice and counsel of a trusted coach while addressing how to:

  • Establish enduring interventions with viable tools and methods
  • Use time-tested processes to teach 21st century skills to educators and students alike
  • Seamlessly align improvement practices to the updated Institute for Performance Improvement Standards
  • Transition smoothly into the school improvement specialist role

With easy-to-use tools and protocols—both in the guide and online—you'll have the support you need to facilitate improvement. Follow the improvement process that leads to success for you, your students, and your school!

"Purposeful, intentional facilitation of the school improvement process builds a school staff's capacity and skills for continuous improvement that lasts beyond the consultant or leader. This book provides a framework, tools, and strategies for effective facilitation."
—Bess Scott, Director of Elementary Education
Lincoln Public Schools, NE

"There is an abundance of ideas from which an improvement specialist could develop and implement a successful school improvement process. It was great to see facilitation strategies as part of the resources provided."
—Gayle Wahlin, Educational Consultant
DuPage Regional Office of Education


 
Preface
Audience for this Book

 
 
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments

 
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
Applying Human Performance Technology to the Certification of School Improvement Specialists

 
How the Certification for School Improvement Specialists Evolved

 
How this Field Guide is Organized

 
The Ten Standards

 
Standard 1: Analyze and Apply Critical Judgment

 
Standard 2: Facilitate Deriving Meaning and Engagement

 
Standard 3: Focus on Systemic Factors

 
Standard 4: Plan and Record

 
Standard 5: Organize and Manage Efforts and Resources

 
Standard 6: Guide and Focus Collaborative Improvement

 
Standard 7: Build Capacity

 
Standard 8: Demonstrate Organizational Sensitivity

 
Standard 9: Monitor Accountability and Adoption

 
Standard 10: Implement for Sustainability

 
Application for Certification

 
CSIS Performance Foundations

 
Mission

 
Vision

 
Values

 
Performance Criteria

 
 
1. Analyze and Apply Critical Judgment
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 1

 
Standard 1: Analyze and Apply Critical Judgment

 
Facilitating the Collection and Interpretation of Data

 
Demonstrating Deep Knowledge

 
Presenting Evidence That Supports Conclusions

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 1

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 1

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
2. Facilitate Deriving Meaning and Engagement
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 2

 
Standard 2: Facilitate Deriving Meaning and Engagement

 
Creating Meaning

 
Identifying Systemic Performance Factors

 
Categorizing Performance Factors

 
Comprehending Implications

 
Building Supportive Relationships

 
Establishing Norms

 
Developing Agendas

 
Facilitating Group Communication

 
Building Commitment

 
Using Stories

 
Gaining Commitments

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 2

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 2

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
3. Focus on Systemic Factors
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 3

 
Standard 3: Focus on Systemic Factors

 
Identifying Systemic and Interdependent Factors

 
Selecting a Suite of Aligned Interventions

 
Building Higher Order Skills

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 3

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 3

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
4. Plan and Record
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 4

 
Standard 4: Plan and Record

 
Recommending What Works

 
Developing the Plan

 
Communicating the Work Ahead

 
Documenting the Decisions

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 4

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 4

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
5. Organize and Manage Efforts and Resources
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 5

 
Standard 5: Organize and Manage Efforts and Resources

 
Chunking the Work into Manageable Steps

 
Distributing the Work

 
Coordinating and Orchestrating

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 5

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 5

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
6. Guide and Focus Collaborative Improvement
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 6

 
Standard 6: Guide and Focus Collaborative Improvement

 
Starting with Your Inner Circle

 
Reaching out to a Wider Circle

 
Aligning Performance Foundations and Targets

 
Providing Relevant Information

 
Modeling the Right Behaviors

 
Taking on the Hard Decisions

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 6

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 6

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
7. Build Capacity
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 7

 
Standard 7: Build Capacity

 
Using Effective Adult Interventions

 
Coaching and Giving Feedback

 
Asking Questions

 
Facilitating Study

 
Facilitating Sharing

 
Facilitating Adoption

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 7

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 7

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
8. Demonstrate Organizational Sensitivity
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 8

 
Standard 8: Demonstrate Organizational Sensitivity

 
Establishing Credibility

 
Following Accepted Rules

 
Demonstrating Professionalism

 
Valuing Others’ Positions and Views

 
Keeping People Engaged

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 8

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 8

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
9. Monitor Accountability and Adoption
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 9

 
Standard 9: Monitor Accountability and Adoption

 
Paying Attention Purposely

 
Taking Corrective Action

 
Addressing Underperformance

 
Recognizing and Communicating

 
Aligning

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 9

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 9

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
10. Implement for Sustainability
Real World Challenge -- Bailey’s Story Part 10

 
Standard 10: Implement for Sustainability

 
Ensuring Continuity

 
Transferring Ownership

 
Facilitating Evaluation

 
Gaining Commitment

 
Improving Continuously

 
An Example of an Effective Application of Standard 10

 
An Example of a Less Effective Application of Standard 10

 
Reflection

 
Power Points

 
Summary

 
 
Appendix
Readiness Assessment

 
 
References
 
Resources
 
Index

Supplements

"Purposeful, intentional facilitation of the school improvement process builds a school staff's capacity and skills for continuous improvement that lasts beyond the consultant or leader. The School Improvement Specialist Field Guide provides a framework, tools and strategies for effective facilitation."

Bess Scott, Director of Elementary Education
Lincoln, NE

"In The School Improvement Specialist Field Guide, there is an abundance of ideas from which an Improvement Specialist could develop and implement a successful school improvement process. It was great to see facilitation strategies as part of the resources provided."

Gayle Wahlin, Educational Consultant
DuPage Regional Office of Education, Downers Grove, IL
Key features
Numerous cases, data analysis examples, Tips and Techniques sections, and figures as well as Tools to Help Capture Data or other needs such as Self-Assessment. The book also features and is built around The Certified School Improvement Specialist Standards that outline the steps and knowledge needed to become a certified school specialist or improve the reader's work as an improvement consultant.

For instructors

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