Chapter 2: Creating a Vision for Learning

Dr. Rob AndersonSpring 2011

Agenda• Tallahassee update• Chapter Two: Creating a Vision for Learning• Developing a Vision: Lake Nona High School• Case Study

Major Themes• The importance of a vision and it’s

relationship with success• Developing a systemic vision• Mission and goal statements• Strategic plans and school improvement

Florida Principal Leadership Standards

• Standard 9: Communication. Effective school leaders practice two-way communications and use appropriate oral, written, and electronic communication and collaboration skills to accomplish school and system goals by building and maintaining relationships with students, faculty, parents, and community. The leader:

• Actively listens to and learns from students, staff, parents, and community stakeholders; • Recognizes individuals for effective performance; • Communicates student expectations and performance information to students, parents, and

community; • Maintains high visibility at school and in the community and regularly engages stakeholders

in the work of the school; • Creates opportunities within the school to engage students, faculty, parents, and community

stakeholders in constructive conversations about important school issues. • Utilizes appropriate technologies for communication and collaboration; and • Ensures faculty receives timely information about student learning requirements, academic

standards, and all other local state and federal administrative requirements and decisions.

The Systemic Vision• Dependent upon the

relationships between– District vision, mission and

goals– School vision, mission and

goals– School strategic action plan

(School Improvement Plan)– Considered values of the

principal, teachers, staff and community

District

SchoolCommunity

Creating a Vision• Connecting where the

school has been, where it currently is and what the school desires to become

• Dependent on reflection and commitment

Conditions to Grow a Vision1. What does the principal believe and value?2. Students’ diverse backgrounds must be valued.3. Principal must be student centered4. Genuine commitment from the principal5. The principal must be able to clearly articulate the

vision.6. Continuous and repetitive dialogue – everything

must be centered around the vision

Shepherding the Vision

Vision Detractors Vision Maintainers

Tradition Ownership of the vision

Scorn Focus on long term benefits

Naysayers Seek Input from Stakeholders

Complacency Build Confidence that the vision is attainable

Weariness Stay with the vision - consistency

Short-Range thinking Stay focused – communication

Connect successes to the vision

Connection – Vision to Reality

Mission StatementProfessional

Development

CurriculumStudent Data/School Improvement Plan

School Vision

Vision/Mission Statements• When is it appropriate to revisit a vision and

mission statement?• What processes should be followed?• Who should be included?• What should the outcome look like?

Studying Mission Statements – Fortune 500

• Which mission statements resonate with you? Why?

• Does your schools mission statement evoke the same reaction from you? Why or why not?

Steps to developing a Mission Statement

Evaluate the current state of the organization – where it has been and what it has been through

Solicit input from stakeholders on group values and goals – what is the vision?

Develop a mission statement that includes values and goals and inspires the organization.

Mission Statement• Mission or Purpose is a precise description of

what an organization does. It should describe the business the organization is in. It is a definition of “why” the organization exists currently. Each member of an organization should be able to verbally express this mission.

Example: Lake Nona High School• Opened in 2009• New community – not many established

traditions and values from previous schools• Changing landscape throughout the area– Medical City

Step One: Evaluate• Seeking input– What was the district’s vision for

the school– Survey the community – what was

their vision– The vision of Tavistock and the

Medical City community

ChallengesOrange County Public Schools

Fall into a system of schools – “One Vision, One Voice”Implement district initiatives with fidelity

Existing Community

Want a community schoolMany opted for private schools/magnet schools because former zoned school did not meet expectations

Medical City Community

Want a world class school that will help them attract top talentFocus on Innovation and partnershipsWant to have a level of control

Aligning the Community• Everyone wanted a

successful school with– Strong Academic Programs– Innovative classrooms– Latest in technology– A “Winning Team” for their

community

Starting with Core Values• Established Collaboration,

Innovation and Leadership as the core values of Lake Nona High School which would lead/guide the development of the school

A Clear Vision• Key to developing a clear vision is keeping it in

the forefront• Established a communication plan to share the

school vision and develop a commitment from all stakeholders– Cottage Meetings– Engaging the feeder pattern– Staff meetings

Developing the Mission Statement• Involved key stakeholders– PTSA/SAC– Teacher leaders– Community leaders and partners

• Facilitated a process that developed draft versions with revisions until a mission statement was developed

The Result• A community

committed to fulfilling the mission of the school

• A clear statement of what we are all about

Vision/Mission – Lake Nona High School

• Vision– Our vision is to be the top producer of college ready graduates in

Central Florida• Mission

– Our mission is to provide all students with a world class education.• Values

– We believe through the power of collaboration, innovation and leadership we can work together with our community to provide rigorous and relevant educational opportunities for all students.

– We believe that through the diverse backgrounds of our students and community we can provide a wealth of perspectives and opinions that will promote and hone students’ critical thinking and problem solving abilities.

Next Question: Are you fulfilling your mission?

• Define the quantitative and qualitative measures that answer this question

• Develop strategic plans to stay the course

Connection – Vision to Reality

Mission StatementProfessional

Development

CurriculumStudent Data/School Improvement Plan

School Vision

Setting Quantitative Indicators• Once a mission statement is

established, how do you connect where you want to go to your results?– What data can you collect?– How do you manage it?– How does it all tie together?

Lake Nona High School - WSR• Weekly Service Review– Identify weekly indicators measured

towards a goal– A sense of where we are each and

every week.

Balanced Scorecard: A real life Case Study

• Atlanta Public Schools– Beverly Hall– 2009 National

Superintendent of the Year

Questions to Ponder• What happens when your school’s mission is to raise

your FCAT reading scores?• With such a focus on test results will schools stay

true to the vision and mission or compromise this in desperate efforts to increase test scores “at all costs”

• How are these behaviors encouraged by the DOE– District Rankings– School Rankings

Review• Developing a school vision and mission needs

to be a collaborative process that involves and respects all stakeholders

• The vision and mission should drive a school’s strategic plan – not test scores

For Next Week• Read Chapter Three• Presentations– Michelle – Ahead of the Curve by Doug Reeves– Gwen – If you Don’t Feed the Teachers They Eat

the Students: A Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers by Neila Connors

– Sabrina – Motion Leadership – The Skinny on Becoming Change Savvy by Michael Fullan