Coping Successfully With Change

The Education Challenge CHANGE and How to Cope Copyright © 2009, PWR Associates

Change is the One Constant  Public’s

expectations of the performance from public education have grown dramatically.  Worldwide competitive situation is starting to catch us unprepared.  Demographic shifts are leading to a more challenging and diversified populace.  Aging of populace (baby boomers) will cause reduction in supply of experienced education professionals.

Public Expectations  All

children must be educated to a competent level.  American children must compete favorably with their foreign counterparts.  Schools will be run more efficiently with less waste.  Power groups should not push for selfish advantage at the expense of the mission of a quality education for children.

Worldwide Competition  The

International Math and Science Study Percentile rankings 4th

grade math/science 8th grade math/science 12th grade math/science 12th grade adv math/science

54/88 32/59 10/24 6/0

Worldwide Competition  Quote

from R.E. Smalley, Nobel Prizewinning scientist from Rice University

“By 2010, 90% of all Ph.D. physical scientists and engineers in the world will be Asian living in Asia.”

Demographic Shifts and Aging Populace  Must

learn to provide quality educations to minorities as they will be the majority in a few decades and must contribute fully to national competitiveness.  Aging of America putting pressure on government entitlement programs (e.g. Soc. Sec., Medicare, Medicaid).  The transfer of jobs to overseas locations because our populace isn’t competitive is very harmful.

The Formula for Success Classroom Instruction   

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Track Assessment Data through the year Train on proven teaching methods Train principals to lead collaborative teams that review the assessment data and decide what interventions are necessary to improve learning Favor Results over Process Value Intellectual Honesty

Change Leadership  

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Establish positive “can do, must do” environment Use Walkthroughs and MBWA to nip problems in the bud and keep initiatives on track to the desired results Refuse to accept poor, status quo performance Train leaders in the foundational concepts prerequisite to the change leadership training Train leaders in how to effectively manage change.

PWR Associates A Tailored Approach 

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Assessment-we detail the reality of your current situation to determine what effort in what places will have the biggest and quickest positive impact on your student learning results. Based on the assessment, we structure a training and coaching program to address the areas of opportunity identified in the assessment. The importance of the follow-on coaching cannot be overstated. “Seat time” in a training class will not have any benefit if the concepts are not implemented. Coaching overcomes this reticence. It is easier to learn and make the inevitable, initial mistakes in front of an outside consultant than in front of your internal administrator.

PWR Associates Tailored Approach (continued)  The

benefit of the tailored approach we favor is that you only spend time learning and implementing those techniques that will have quickly the most favorable impact on your performance.  A continuous improvement approach requires a continuous learning environment.

PWR Associates Background of the Problem  Currently

educators feel the victims of “unreasonable expectations” put on them for massive performance improvement.  This leads to a search for “reasons” why “it can’t be done.” These excuses focus attention away from the very real positive impact that can be achieved if you know what to do and how to do it.

PWR Associates

The Background of the Problem (cont) A

flurry of activity of initiating “new, gee whiz” techniques is common in most districts across the nation. However, this amounts to overloading already busy teachers and thus, while lip-service is paid to the new techniques, nothing beneficial really happens.  Educators are hanging on to Linus Blanket habits because they have always done it that way, to the exclusion of new, research-based techniques proven to be more effective.  Educators fear data because it represents the unknown to them.

PWR Associates

Leading Change is Difficult. It Requires Passion, Skill and Experience.

 Asking

people if they would like to change the way they do their job will get you a consistent response from the majority. NO!  This is especially true if it means real change as opposed to the “cosmetic change” that is often put in place to placate education critics.  Leading change is difficult and rewarding.

PWR Associates Benefits of Our Approach

 Immediate

improvements in performance  Improving community image and credibility  Improving morale among educators  Improving morale and performance among students no matter socioeconomic, ethnic, or learning disabilities represented

PWR Associates Where From Here?  Contact

us to set up an initial consultation on your unique situation.

 If

we can help, we will tell you how.

 If

we can’t help, we will tell you that.

 Call

did.

719-598-2100, You will be glad you