Superintendents Action Plan 2011 12 Advancing Student Excellence

Superintendent’s Action Plan 2011 -12 Advancing Student Excellence in Academics, Athletics and the Arts A³

Overview § A 90 Day Listening Tour was conducted (over 100 interviews) § Three fundamental questions were asked: 1. What do I need to know about the BHUSD? 2. What do I need to do in order to be successful in the BHUSD? 3. If you were the superintendent, what would be the first action you would take to improve the District? § Perspectives varied somewhat. . . common themes and perspectives were identified.

What is the Core Practice of the Schools? • The Core Practice is defined as: “teaching and learning aimed at the achievement of high standards by all students. ”

Descriptions of Practice • Descriptions of Practice in this action plan were constructed so that they aligned with the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSELs). • The CPSELs are aligned to a set of national standards on leadership adopted in 1996 by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium with input from a broad spectrum of educators. • This collaborative effort also included representation from the Association of California School Administrators, California Department of Education, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, representatives from higher education, and the California School Leadership Academy at West. Ed, a research and professional development program focused on leadership.

What Are Descriptions of Practice (DOPs)? • DOPs were developed to enhance the usefulness of emerging professional standards for education leadership. They set a tone for the organization. • DOPs provide readers with common concepts, language, and examples that serve overlapping purposes. • DOPs serve as a guide for planning leadership and staff development. • DOPs serve as a basis for clarifying performance expectations, self-reflection, and goal setting. • DOPs illustrate how administrators directly and indirectly support the core practice (teaching and learning aimed at the achievement of high standards by all students)

After the DOPs. . . • One (1) Goal per DOP • Three (3) Objectives per Goal • Four (4) to Six (6) Activities per Objective

Description of Practice #1 • The superintendent and site leaders must commit to the concept of school as a rich learning environment for students and staff alike. Acknowledging that the core practice is student learning, district/site leaders will focus their attention on maintaining and improving a culture that values such work and an instructional program that supports it. Continuous improvement of instructional practice will remain the central feature of the district’s professional culture. The superintendent and site leaders will continue to develop and implement accountability systems to monitor and adjust the core practice of students and teachers.

Description of Practice #2 • The superintendent and site leaders will create and manage school organizations that are structured to support the core practice of teaching and learning. We will ensure that each school site is physically and emotionally safe for all students and adults, and we will protect the legal rights of all members of the school community. We will apply principles of organizational leadership and management to align and integrate the multiple subsystems that constitute the school so that the infrastructure supports all students in learning high standards.

Description of Practice #3 • The superintendent and site leaders must commit to the democratic principles underlying American public school systems. We must actively engage with and work to shape educational policy so it reflects a commitment to equity for the diverse communities of learners at the site, district, and state level. The superintendent will participate in ongoing dialogue and processes with a range of stakeholders and policymakers to identify, influence, and respond to issues, trends, and potential changes in the operating environments of schools.

Evaluation Tool • I have created a “summative” evaluation document which is intended to measure my effectiveness in meeting the specified goals, objectives, and activities created for each of the three descriptions of practice. The Board of Education will provide me with summative data at least once a year. At that time, I will continue to monitor and adjust my goals, objectives, and activities as appropriate.

A Working Document. . . “From Big to Small” • The vision of education leadership embodied within the Superintendent’s Action Plan for the BHUSD 2011 -12, is a vision which ensures that all efforts of the District are being directed toward the intended success of each student. • The Action Plan provides specific and measurable ways the superintendent will directly and indirectly support the core practice.