The Evolution of Collaboration

1. The Evolution of Collaboration Alabama Department of Education

2. Meeting the Challenge!

3. History of School Improvement Support • 1996 • Five teachers of the year! • Independent support from sections. • 1997 – 2000 • Cross-functional teams • Intervention/school take-over • 2001 – 2004 • Peer Assistants • Independent support from sections.

4. History of School Improvement Support • 2005 – 2007 • Accountability Roundtable • Guidance Team • Statewide System of Support • Oversight Committee • 2008 – Present • Steering Committee • Coordinators’ Group • Statewide System of Support

5. The Journey to Collaboration

6. What prompted the change? • Mixed messages from sections. • Confusion among the LEAs. • Duplication of effort. • Multiple requests for similar documents.

7. Accountability Roundtable State Support Regional Support District Support LEA

8. In the beginning…. • Accountability Roundtable • Representatives from each section of Instructional Services Division • July 2005 – July 2006 • Met two days per week (8 days per month) • July 2006 – July 2007 • Met two days per week (4 days per month) • July 2007 – June 2008 (Name change to LEA Support Roundtable) • Met two days per month

9. Other Support Structures • Guidance Team • Connected work of Roundtable (SDE staff) to work of State Support Team (Contract staff working in LEAs). • Met one day per month • State Support Team • Met two days every 6 weeks • Regional School Improvement Coaches • Peer Mentors • ARI Reading Coaches • AMSTI Math/Science Coaches

10. Other Support Structures • Oversight Committee • Directors of sections within Instructional Services Division • Met occasionally for updates on the work of the Roundtable

11. Success • Sections more knowledgeable of other section work • Districts modeled the collaborative style • Increased communication among SDE and field staff • Districts approved of increased communication among sections • Minimized duplication of effort (plans, support, messages)

12. Barriers • Directors did not like “learning” about work from their members serving on the Roundtable • Coordinators of ALL major initiatives were not members of Guidance Team • Some resentment from SDE members not serving as part of the Roundtable

13. The Solution • Steering Committee • Purpose: Guide the work the Instructional Services Division to ensure collaboration, promote a single message, and minimize duplication of effort. • Directors of each section of Instructional Services Division • Meet two days per month • Review current LEA needs based on data • Prioritize tasks/assignments • Analyze level of support • Addressed by specific section • Addressed through collaboration among multiple sections • Addressed by steering committee

14. The Transformation • Coordinators’ Group • Purpose: Coordinate field support to ensure collaboration, promote a single message, and minimize duplication of effort. • Coordinators of each major program within Instructional Services Division • Meet one day per month

15. Success! • Statewide System of Support • Purpose: Provide field support to ensure collaboration, promote a single message, and minimize duplication of effort. • School Improvement Leaders, Regional School Improvement Coaches, Peer Mentors • Reading Coaches, Principal Coaches • Math Coaches, Science Coaches • Graduation Coaches • Meet two days every six weeks