Culturally Competent Collaboration for student Achievement

1. Developing a Culturally Competent Model of Collaboration to Impact Student Achievement Donna Elam, Ed.D. University of South Florida Jesus Jara The College Board Lynn Fell Hillsborough County Public Schools

2. Partnerships • Tampa Bay Educational Partnership (TBEP) • Anchin Research Center, COEDU, USF • Hillsborough County Public Schools • College Board • Florida Partnership • EXCELerator schools

3. Why do we partner? • Collaboration is a valued activity for partnering organizations. • Shared resources, as well as shared responsibilities, can lead to reduced costs and positive outcomes for all members of the partnership.

4. Key Components to Successful Collaboration • Shared Vision • Mutual Trust • Distinctive Goals

5. Factors Affecting Success in Collaboration • History of collaboration or cooperation • Group seen as legitimate leader • Favorable political and social climate • Appropriate cross section of members • Members see collaboration as in their self interest • Members share a stake in both process and outcome • Multiple layers of participation • Unique purpose Shared Vision

6. Factors Affecting Success in Collaboration • History of collaboration or cooperation • Group seen as legitimate leader • Members share a stake in both process and outcome • Flexibility • Adaptability • Open and frequent communications • Established formal and informal relationships • Skilled leadership Mutual Trust

7. Factors Affecting Success in Collaboration • Group seen as legitimate leader • Appropriate cross section of members • Members see collaboration as in their self interest • Ability to compromise • Multiple layers of participation • Development of clear goals and policy guidelines • Appropriate pace of development • Concrete attainable goals and objectives • Unique purpose • Sufficient funds, staff, materials, and time Distinctive Goals

8. Elements of Shared Vision • Meet regularly to determine goals and vision • Build relationships – takes time • Identify needs, strengths of each organization

9. Elements of Mutual Trust • Shared vision builds trust • Trust produces camaraderie, camaraderie produces trust • Similar values and norms

10. Challenges • Lack of time, lack of strategies for time management • Lack of sustained motivation, loss of interest • Poor informal and formal communication • Impersonal or infrequent communication • Changes in leadership • Changes in personnel

11. Examples: Project A • Large, state-wide grant • Four major partners, each with key role • One partner consistently fails to meet timelines, attend teleconferences, follow procedures set by group at beginning of project

12. Project B • K-12, content specific project • Additional community partners • One partner consistently requests changes to project activities • Internal communication challenges within one organization

13. Project C • Inflexible Project Director • Personnel within organization have own agenda • Resistance to Change

14. Project D • Higher leadership of organizations unable to fulfill responsibilities in a timely manner • Some personnel unwilling to follow project goals, organizational leadership

15. Project E • Project Director flexible, meets regularly with partners, has sense of humor • Needed changes discussed by group, decided by consensus • Communication is clear and personable

16. Next Steps…….. • Partnership fit • What is your mission/vision? • What are your priorities? • What is your commitment to partnering?

17. Contact Information • Donna Elam • Elam@coedu.usf.edu • Jesus Jara • jjara@collegeboard.org • Lynn Fell • Lynn.Fell@sdhc.k12.fl.us