West Lafayette West Lafayette Community School Community School

CorporationCorporation

Strategic Planning/School Strategic Planning/School Improvement Improvement

HistoryHistory

1999-Present1999-Present

Facilitator: Dr. Phillip Facilitator: Dr. Phillip SchlechtySchlechty

Dr. Phillip C. Schlechty is the founder and CEO of Dr. Phillip C. Schlechty is the founder and CEO of the Center for Leadership in School Reform. the Center for Leadership in School Reform.

Dr. Schlechty is one of the nation’s most sought Dr. Schlechty is one of the nation’s most sought after speakers on topics related to school after speakers on topics related to school reform. Business groups, as well as educators, reform. Business groups, as well as educators, find his perspective useful and understandable. find his perspective useful and understandable.

He serves as an advisor to a number of school He serves as an advisor to a number of school districts in the United States and Canada and districts in the United States and Canada and conducts seminars and training sessions for conducts seminars and training sessions for superintendents, school board members, union superintendents, school board members, union leaders, principals, teachers, and parental leaders, principals, teachers, and parental groups.groups.

Phil Schlechty………Phil Schlechty………

Phil Schlechty is the author of such books as: Phil Schlechty is the author of such books as:

--- --- Shaking up the SchoolhouseShaking up the Schoolhouse

--- --- How to Support and Sustain Educational How to Support and Sustain Educational InnovationInnovation

--- --- Inventing Better Schools: An Action Plan for Inventing Better Schools: An Action Plan for Educational ReformEducational Reform

--- --- Schools for the 21Schools for the 21stst Century: Leadership Century: Leadership Imperatives for Educational ReformImperatives for Educational Reform

Strategic Planning Strategic Planning Committee IdentifiedCommittee Identified

• A Strategic Planning Committee was A Strategic Planning Committee was identified that included teachers from all identified that included teachers from all three schools, Board representatives, three schools, Board representatives, and administrators.and administrators.

• The committee developed the Mission, The committee developed the Mission, the Guiding Principles, the Statement of the Guiding Principles, the Statement of Beliefs, and the Corporation Goals. All Beliefs, and the Corporation Goals. All were refined and completed by were refined and completed by September 2001.September 2001.

Leadership Initiative GrantLeadership Initiative Grant

• WLCSC was one of twelve school corporations WLCSC was one of twelve school corporations selected to participate in the Indiana selected to participate in the Indiana Department of education Leadership Initiative.Department of education Leadership Initiative.

• The Leadership Initiative meetings began in The Leadership Initiative meetings began in January of 2000.January of 2000.

• The school corporation committed to The school corporation committed to expanding the work of the Leadership Initiative expanding the work of the Leadership Initiative Committee to include all the schools to be Committee to include all the schools to be facilitated by Dr. Schlechty.facilitated by Dr. Schlechty.

Why Dr. Phillip Schlechty?Why Dr. Phillip Schlechty?

• Dr. Schlechty defines school improvement Dr. Schlechty defines school improvement by what happens in the classroom. by what happens in the classroom.

• His model identifies “teacher leaders” who His model identifies “teacher leaders” who develop instructional “work” for the develop instructional “work” for the students that inspires them to learn. students that inspires them to learn.

• There is no specific plan provided by the There is no specific plan provided by the facilitator. Instead school and corporation facilitator. Instead school and corporation goals and plans are developed to meet the goals and plans are developed to meet the needs of the specific school corporation.needs of the specific school corporation.

Why Dr. Phillip Schlechty?Why Dr. Phillip Schlechty?

• This model seemed to best fit our This model seemed to best fit our corporation of outstanding and corporation of outstanding and creative teachers, bright students, creative teachers, bright students, and parents committed to and parents committed to education.education.

• Strategic Planning Committee Strategic Planning Committee IdentifiedIdentified

Strategic Planning/School Strategic Planning/School Improvement CommitteeImprovement Committee

• Sherry AndersonSherry Anderson Teacher - Happy Hollow SchoolTeacher - Happy Hollow School• Ruth BordenRuth Borden Teacher –Cumberland; WLEA PresidentTeacher –Cumberland; WLEA President• Sheryl BraileSheryl Braile Teacher – Happy Hollow SchoolTeacher – Happy Hollow School• Brian FultzBrian Fultz Teacher – Jr./Sr. High SchoolTeacher – Jr./Sr. High School• Mona GedneyMona Gedney Teacher – Jr./Sr. High SchoolTeacher – Jr./Sr. High School• Dick MeisterDick Meister Teacher – Jr./Sr. High SchoolTeacher – Jr./Sr. High School• Linda MoriartyLinda Moriarty Teacher – Cumberland SchoolTeacher – Cumberland School• Marshall OverleyMarshall Overley Teacher – Jr./Sr. High SchoolTeacher – Jr./Sr. High School• Bonnie ShoafBonnie Shoaf Teacher – Cumberland SchoolTeacher – Cumberland School• Grace ShukleGrace Shukle Teacher – Jr./Sr. High SchoolTeacher – Jr./Sr. High School• Cindy Linda SorensenCindy Linda Sorensen Teacher – Jr./Sr. High SchoolTeacher – Jr./Sr. High School• Trudy StoneTrudy Stone Teacher – Cumberland SchoolTeacher – Cumberland School• Daniel WalbaumDaniel Walbaum Teacher – Jr./Sr. High SchoolTeacher – Jr./Sr. High School• Vera WeiserVera Weiser Teacher – Jr./Sr. High SchoolTeacher – Jr./Sr. High School• Kathy WolfKathy Wolf Teacher – Cumberland SchoolTeacher – Cumberland School• Cindy Sigurdson*Cindy Sigurdson* Member – Board of School TrusteesMember – Board of School Trustees• Karen SpringerKaren Springer President – Board of School TrusteesPresident – Board of School Trustees• Kenneth BarnesKenneth Barnes Business ManagerBusiness Manager• Bob FoersterBob Foerster Principal – Happy Hollow SchoolPrincipal – Happy Hollow School• Doug LesleyDoug Lesley Principal – Jr./Sr. High SchoolPrincipal – Jr./Sr. High School• Bob TroyerBob Troyer Assistant Principal – Jr./Sr. High SchoolAssistant Principal – Jr./Sr. High School• Ron ShrinerRon Shriner Assistant Principal – Jr./Sr. High SchoolAssistant Principal – Jr./Sr. High School• Stella BatagiannisStella Batagiannis Superintendent of SchoolsSuperintendent of Schools

MissionMission

The mission of the West Lafayette The mission of the West Lafayette Community School Corporation (WLCSC) Community School Corporation (WLCSC) is to engage all students in valuable is to engage all students in valuable academic, artistic, physical, and social academic, artistic, physical, and social experiences so that they will be able to experiences so that they will be able to enjoy a fulfilling personal life and to enjoy a fulfilling personal life and to participate as productive members in a participate as productive members in a diverse society in which global diverse society in which global competition is a reality and democracy competition is a reality and democracy is a way of life.is a way of life.

Mission …..Mission …..

We, the educators and Board of School We, the educators and Board of School Trustees of the West Lafayette Trustees of the West Lafayette Community School Corporation, in order Community School Corporation, in order to make it possible for our students to to make it possible for our students to develop into citizens capable of develop into citizens capable of participating in, contributing to, and participating in, contributing to, and benefiting from the cultural, economic, benefiting from the cultural, economic, political, and social life of the community political, and social life of the community and the larger society, do establish this and the larger society, do establish this statement of beliefs for our corporation.statement of beliefs for our corporation.

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles

• A democratic society benefits from a well-A democratic society benefits from a well-educated citizenry.educated citizenry.

• A well-educated citizenry regards learning as A well-educated citizenry regards learning as an active, life-long endeavor.an active, life-long endeavor.

• The home, community, and schools collaborate The home, community, and schools collaborate to provide the programs, services, support, and to provide the programs, services, support, and environment necessary for students to be environment necessary for students to be successful.successful.

• The Board of School Trustees, community, The Board of School Trustees, community, parents, school employees, and students parents, school employees, and students (WLCSC stakeholders) share accountability for (WLCSC stakeholders) share accountability for student success.student success.

Guiding Principles…..Guiding Principles…..• Schools and the school district focus all decisions Schools and the school district focus all decisions

on students and their educational needs.on students and their educational needs.• Shared leadership and participatory management Shared leadership and participatory management

at all levels ensure that decisions are made as at all levels ensure that decisions are made as close as possible to the point of implementation.close as possible to the point of implementation.

• WLCSC fosters open communication among its WLCSC fosters open communication among its stakeholders.stakeholders.

• WLCSC encourages, values, and supports WLCSC encourages, values, and supports educational risk-taking and innovation.educational risk-taking and innovation.

• WLCSC judges policies, programs, and procedures WLCSC judges policies, programs, and procedures by the standards of excellence, fairness, and by the standards of excellence, fairness, and impact on student achievement.impact on student achievement.

BeliefsBeliefs

• Beliefs about Curriculum and InstructionBeliefs about Curriculum and Instruction• Beliefs about StudentsBeliefs about Students• Beliefs about StaffBeliefs about Staff• Beliefs about Parents and CommunityBeliefs about Parents and Community• Beliefs about Support and InnovationBeliefs about Support and Innovation• Beliefs about GovernanceBeliefs about Governance

Goal 1Goal 1

Develop a shared understanding of Develop a shared understanding of the challenges facing the West the challenges facing the West Lafayette Community School Lafayette Community School Corporation and implement Corporation and implement strategies to address them.strategies to address them.

Goal 2Goal 2

Make decisions that maintain our Make decisions that maintain our commitment to excellence by commitment to excellence by providing authentically engaging providing authentically engaging experiences for our students.experiences for our students.

Goal 3Goal 3

Allocate corporation resources to Allocate corporation resources to foster innovations that enrich foster innovations that enrich curriculum, integrate technological curriculum, integrate technological advances, and encourage advances, and encourage collaboration that supports student collaboration that supports student success.success.

Educate Indiana GrantEducate Indiana Grant

The West Lafayette Community School The West Lafayette Community School Corporation was selected to receive an Corporation was selected to receive an Educate Indiana Grant. The Corporation Educate Indiana Grant. The Corporation was awarded the maximum amount of was awarded the maximum amount of $50,000. The grant was used to fund $50,000. The grant was used to fund the School Corporation’s professional the School Corporation’s professional development program and school development program and school improvement activities.improvement activities.

Communication ProcessCommunication Process

• BoardBoard

• StaffStaff

• CommunityCommunity

Communication ProcessCommunication Process

StaffStaff– Each school representedEach school represented– Ongoing dialogue with all staffOngoing dialogue with all staff– Opportunity to critiqueOpportunity to critique-- Members of the committee worked -- Members of the committee worked

with the principals to schedule with the principals to schedule discussion in staff meetings and to discussion in staff meetings and to arrange for the distribution of arrange for the distribution of materials.materials.

Communication ProcessCommunication Process

Board Board Representation in the processRepresentation in the process

Information to the Board PresentationsInformation to the Board Presentations

Training meetings with Phil SchlectyTraining meetings with Phil Schlecty

Formal approval of the Formal approval of the Corporation, Mission, Corporation, Mission, Principles, Principles, andand Beliefs Beliefs and of the and of the Corporation Corporation GoalsGoals..

Why Have Focus Groups?Why Have Focus Groups?

To gather thoughts and reactions of our To gather thoughts and reactions of our community about:community about:– Corporation BeliefsCorporation Beliefs

• Do you support beliefs like those we have Do you support beliefs like those we have developed?developed?

• Do the Do the Corporation BeliefsCorporation Beliefs reflect our reflect our community?community?

--What is the purpose of education and of --What is the purpose of education and of public schools?public schools?

--Are our --Are our Corporation BeliefsCorporation Beliefs and and Corporation Corporation GoalsGoals consistent with your vision of consistent with your vision of education?education?

--What do you think each goal means?--What do you think each goal means?

Communication ProcessCommunication ProcessCommunity - Fall 2001Community - Fall 2001

– Focus groupsFocus groups• ParentsParents• Parent CouncilsParent Councils• Purdue/IVY TechPurdue/IVY Tech• Business LeadersBusiness Leaders• LegislatorsLegislators• RealtorsRealtors• Home SchoolersHome Schoolers• Community Community • AlumniAlumni

– Community Interaction – Everyone was welcome to attend.Community Interaction – Everyone was welcome to attend.• With Phil SchlechtyWith Phil Schlechty• Taped Schlechty PresentationTaped Schlechty Presentation

Communication ProcessCommunication Process

Students – Two to four focus groups Students – Two to four focus groups were held in the fall of 2001 in were held in the fall of 2001 in each of the schools by the each of the schools by the superintendent. superintendent.

Addressed the Indiana Addressed the Indiana Department of EducationDepartment of Education

• The school corporation administration The school corporation administration addressed the Indiana Department of addressed the Indiana Department of Education in January 2001 and June 2001 Education in January 2001 and June 2001 concerning high-performing school concerning high-performing school corporations and how they would have corporations and how they would have been affected by the proposed Public Law been affected by the proposed Public Law 221 requirements. High-performing 221 requirements. High-performing districts were expected to improve more districts were expected to improve more than low-performing districts.than low-performing districts.

Addressed the Indiana Addressed the Indiana Department of Education…..Department of Education…..

• A team of administrators, Board A team of administrators, Board members, teachers, and members, teachers, and community members addressed community members addressed the Indiana Department of the Indiana Department of Education in September 2001. Education in September 2001.

• As a result of these meetings, the As a result of these meetings, the concerns were addressed.concerns were addressed.

Board ApprovalBoard Approval

• The Board approved the The Board approved the Corporation Mission, Principles, Corporation Mission, Principles, andand Beliefs.Beliefs.

• The Board approved the The Board approved the Corporation GoalsCorporation Goals..

Individual School Individual School CommitteesCommittees

• Each school then identified its School Each school then identified its School Improvement Committee in compliance Improvement Committee in compliance with Public Law 221, the Indiana with Public Law 221, the Indiana accountability legislation.accountability legislation.

• Each school developed specific goals to Each school developed specific goals to implement the more general corporation implement the more general corporation goals.goals.

• The schools completed the plans by The schools completed the plans by March 1, 2002.March 1, 2002.

Individual School Individual School CommitteesCommittees

• Each principal met with the Each principal met with the Superintendent and the Board to discuss Superintendent and the Board to discuss the plan.the plan.

• The plans were recommended for The plans were recommended for approval by the Board in May.approval by the Board in May.

• The final plans were submitted to the The final plans were submitted to the Indiana Department of Education in June Indiana Department of Education in June 2002.2002.

Board-Administrative Work Board-Administrative Work SessionSession

In October 2002 the Board, the In October 2002 the Board, the Administrative Team, and teacher Administrative Team, and teacher representatives of the Strategic representatives of the Strategic Planning/School Improvement Planning/School Improvement Committee met for a Work Session Committee met for a Work Session to review the community thoughts to review the community thoughts and reactions collected in the focus and reactions collected in the focus groups.groups.

Future PlansFuture Plans

• The West Lafayette Community School The West Lafayette Community School Corporation is an outstanding school corporation Corporation is an outstanding school corporation and is fortunate to have excellent staff and and is fortunate to have excellent staff and students, as well as parents committed to students, as well as parents committed to education.education.

• Each spring to satisfy the needs of our school Each spring to satisfy the needs of our school community and the mandates of the State of community and the mandates of the State of Indiana, we will evaluate the completion of the Indiana, we will evaluate the completion of the goals and plan the future goals.goals and plan the future goals.

• We are committed to on-going school We are committed to on-going school improvement to meet the evolving needs of our improvement to meet the evolving needs of our students in an evolving society.students in an evolving society.