TRUE GRIT: GOING
BEYOND GOOD TO
G R E AT N E S S
M S B A / M A S A FA L L C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 1 6
DR. GEORGIA JARMAN & DR. KRISTEE LORENZ
WHAT IS GRIT?
• “An individual passion for a particular long-term goal or end
state, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their
objective.” –Angela Duckworth
WHAT IS GOOD?
• “Having the qualities required for a particular role.”Merriam-Webster
WHAT IS GREAT?
• “Exceptionally high quality.”-Merriam-Webster
KIMBALL, JARMAN, AND LORENZ STUDY IDENTIFIES SIX
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCHOOL BOARDS THAT LEAD TO
INCREASED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
• Focused Vision-What do we want to create?
• Knowledge-Board members are active learners and seek
new knowledge.
• Teamwork-The board is learning, experimenting, and
advancing the school district together.
KIMBALL, JARMAN, AND LORENZ STUDY IDENTIFIES SIX
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCHOOL BOARDS THAT LEAD TO
INCREASED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
• High Standards and Expectations-Shared work of the
school board becomes a larger purpose focused upon
products and service. (Products are polices and practices
that support student achievement.)(Service is the
representation of the community.)
• Collective Accountability for Student Learning-Board
members focus on the responsibility of how to better
support teachers in the classroom.
KIMBALL, JARMAN, AND LORENZ STUDY IDENTIFIES SIX
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCHOOL BOARDS THAT LEAD TO
INCREASED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
• Strong Communication-The community is the owner of
the school district and the board speaks on the behalf
of its owners. A shared vision connects the community
with the school to support student achievement.
FOCUSED VISION
• What is vision?
-Imagine, Inspire, and Innovate
-What do we want to create?
• What is your school district’s vision?
-Road Map to Success
• Why is focused vision important?
-Energy, Momentum, and Grit to Guide the Journey
FOCUSED VISION
Vision Statement Examples
• To Be the Best School District in Our State
• To Be a Model for Student Success in the Global Community
• Foster Lifelong Learners, Productive Citizens, and
Responsible Leaders for an Ever-Evolving Society*
GOOD VS GREAT BOARDS OF EDUCATION
• The good board has a district vision.
• The great board uses the district vision to guide and monitor
the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) and for
sharing outcomes and progress with all stakeholders.
KNOWLEDGE
• Board of Education members need to be active learners and
continually seek new knowledge.
• Guiding Documents: Vision Statement, CSIP, Budget, and
Policies
• Board of Education Self-Evaluation*
Board of Education Professional
Development Plan
Name: My Board of Education
2016-2017
District Goals (CSIP Goals) Building Goals (BSIP Goals)
Goal 1: Increase student
achievement by 6-10%
growth annually in all
content areas with focus
on Math and English
Language Arts.
Goal 2: Recruit, attract,
develop, and retain highly
qualified staff to carry out
the district mission, goals,
and objectives.
Goal 3: Promote,
facilitate, and enhance
parent, student, and
community involvement.
Indicator(s) to be
Addressed
1. Increase student achievement Leadership Standards
2. Increase communication with 1. Vision, Mission, and Goals
all stakeholders
2. Teaching and Learning
3. Every person in the district
3. Management of
will grow including the board
Organizational Systems
of education
4. Collaboration with Families
and Stakeholders
5. Ethics and Integrity
6. The Education System
7. Professional Development
B. PD Activities
Sequence of PD Activities
Goal 1A-BOE Members will participate in a workshop with MSBA and
review results of the board member study on how effective school boards
impact student achievement.
Goal 1B-BOE Members will develop an understanding of the NEE Model
for professional learning and growth.
Goal 2A-BOE Members will review community survey results to complete
needs assessment.
Goal 2B-BOE Members will develop 3 initiatives to engage stakeholders.
Goal 3A-BOE Members will attend MSBA regional meetings.
Goal 3B-BOE Members will review and complete activities to attain MSBA
advanced level certification.
Research Base for PD Activities
MSBA research studies on impact of school boards (The
Lighthouse Study)
Good to Great-Jim Collins
NEE-Kim Marshall research
John Hattie and research on effective instructional practice
D. Prior Related PD
MSBA initial training
MSBA Board of Excellence Award activities
Board Member Self-Evaluation and work sessions
GOOD VS GREAT BOARD OF EDUCATION
• The good board attends the required board meetings.
• The great board develops a professional development plan
and continuously learns about boardmanship and the
diverse needs of the learning organization.
TEAMWORK
• A commitment to building a team is the first step.
• Teamwork means that people will try to cooperate, using their
individual skills in providing constructive feedback despite
any personal conflict between individuals.
• The combined action of a group of people, especially when it
is effective and efficient. *
TEAMWORK
• Grow and Nurture Board of Education and Superintendent
Relationship
• Board Weekly Update
• Board retreat
• Strategic planning
• Identify district alphas and deltas
• Review guiding documents
• Commitment to team growth as a board
GOOD VS GREAT BOARD OF EDUCATION
• The good board has conversations with other board
members.
• The great board invests time in meaningful conversation,
problem solving and developing unified commitment in
order to speak with one voice.
HIGH STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS
• Pursuit of a larger purpose (Vision Driven)
• Focus upon the organization products and service
• Products=policies and procedures that ensure student
achievement
• Approval of guiding documents such as CSIP, budget,
board agenda calendar, and agendas
HIGH STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS
• Service=representation of the community
• Guiding documents such as stakeholder surveys, district
scorecard, community advisory minutes, and community
forum meeting minutes
• Keep decision making focused upon student achievement
• Be willing to embrace change*
HIGH STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS
• “The challenge facing schools today is the ability to
cultivate a culture wherein all members of the school
community feel comfortable in disrupting routines long
established by the status quo and embrace a connected
world which is ready to support their desire to learn without
limits” taken from What Connected Educators Do
Differently by Todd Whitaker, Jimmy Casas, and Jeffrey
Zoul.
GOOD VS GREAT BOARD OF EDUCATION
• The good board knows that the district has guiding
documents such as the CSIP, board policy, budget, and
meeting agendas.
• The great board understand the larger purpose and
appropriate use of these documents.
COLLECTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
STUDENT LEARNING
• Continuous improvement for all
• Understand the interdependence among all components of a
learning organization
• Board of Education oversight of resources, personnel, and
policies
• Examples include: human resource audit, curriculum audit,
and the simple act of tying all expenditures to the CSIP*
GOOD VS GREAT BOARD OF EDUCATION
• The good board knows whether student learning indicators
are acceptable or not.
• The great board commits its time, resources, and energy into
keeping the district accountable for continuous improvement
in student learning by understanding and acting based upon
needs.
STRONG COMMUNICATION
• Continuous two-way communication
• Board of Education members speak on behalf of the
owners-the community
• Avoid hearsay, rumors, and personal agendas
STRONG COMMUNICATION
• Focus upon stakeholder survey results, community
forum feedback, and student voice
• CSIP quarterly reviews and updates on progress clearly
communicated with stakeholders through district
scorecard
• Create and communicate the district points of pride
• Speaking with one voice*
GOOD VS GREAT BOARD OF EDUCATION
• The good board is communicating with friends and
family about the school district.
• The great board opens lines of communication with
representatives of all stakeholder groups.
TRUE GRIT: GOING BEYOND
GOOD TO GREATNESS
• Pete Carroll sums it up by stating, “I have learned that if
you create a vision and stick with it , you can make
amazing things happen. Discipline and effort to maintain
the district vision can make it all come true, the two go
hand in hand.” Taken from True Grit…The Power of
Passion and Perservance by Angela Duckworth.