Collaborative Leadership – Staging
(80-100%)
Element: A Shared, Forward-Thinking Vision for Digital Learning
Description: The district recognizes that, to prepare their students to thrive in today’s connected, fast-paced society will require an education that engages students in evidence-based, deeper learning through smart uses of technology and new pedagogies. The district has engaged students, teachers, administrators, parents, and the community in the envisioning of a transformed education system that personalizes learning for all students through the effective uses of technology.
Possible Next Step: District leaders have engaged students, teachers, administrators, parents, and the community in the envisioning of a transformed education system that provides personalized, deeper learning through the effective uses of technology. The vision has been formally adopted, communicated internally and externally.
Element: A Culture of Collaboration, Innovation, Capacity Building, and Empowerment
Description: The District leadership team has established a collaborative culture of innovation in which leaders at all levels are empowered to innovate. The capacity of leaders to innovate is maximized through a culture of trust and respect, providing leaders with the flexibility and adaptability they require to lead. This culture leads to sustainable change, informed by research and facilitated by digital leaders.
Possible Next Step: The capacity of leaders to innovate is maximized through capacity building within a culture of trust and respect. This culture provides leaders with the flexibility and adaptability to innovate, which in turn leads to sustainable change, informed by research and driven by the district vision for digital learning.
Element: High Expectations for Evidence-Based Transformations to Digital Learning
Description: Across the district, teachers, administrators, and students are expected to show progress toward the district vision. The district has established metrics for gauging such progress and is working across the district to monitor progress and to use evidence-based decision making to ensure that technologies are implemented in ways that advance the vision.
Possible Next Step: District leaders set high expectations for the district, schools, and classrooms to adopt the types of digital learning shown to be effective in meeting the learning needs of all students to achieve academic and 21st Century learning goals. To ensure success, the district provides the conditions essential for local, evidence-based decision making related to digital learning.
Element: Transformative, Coherent Thinking, Planning, Policies, and Implementation
Description: The district’s forward-thinking vision is advanced through leaders’ transformative thinking. Leaders have ensured that the district’s policies are coherent with the philosophy underpinning the vision (e. g., personalizing professional learning for education professionals, just as they personalize learning for students). They have developed strategic plans that map potential pathways to the district’s preferred future, and have created the tactical and financial plans and dedicated budget necessary for implementation. As they implement they monitor, adjust, build capacity, and incrementally improve.
Possible Next Step: District leaders work with policymakers to adopt the strategic plan as a way forward to attaining the vision. While working toward coherence across the district, the plan is implemented in ways that empower district and school leaders and teams with the flexibility to think and innovate as they make decisions that meet the needs of learners.