In this tutorial, we'll examine some potential barriers to the implementation of your plan, and I'll pose some possible solutions. We'll address potential challenges related to teachers, other members of the team, and the number of initiatives being implemented. Let's get started.
One potential barrier to successful implementation of your plan is the fact that classroom teachers can feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities that come along with being an active member of a school improvement team. Leaders can overcome this challenge by offsetting the weight of these increased responsibilities so that teachers can commit more fully to the goals of the team. For example, active members of the school improvement team might be relieved of additional responsibilities, like study hall monitoring or lunch duty. Leaders can also increase teacher commitment to the team by recognizing teachers' efforts in working towards those goals.
Another potential barrier to plan implementation related to teachers is the potential for misconceptions about how the school improvement team is collecting and using data. An especially common concern of teachers is that data might be used for teacher evaluation purposes. Leaders can address this concern by clearly communicating and demonstrating exactly how data is being collected and used. It's important that all stakeholders, including teachers, understand that data is being used to make decisions based on evidence of what's working and what's not working in the school improvement process.
It's important to empower teachers with the autonomy and authority they need in order to carry out those essential roles and functions within the team as everyone works together to make progress towards the goals of site-based initiatives and action plans. Another area of potential barriers to plan implementation deals with other members of the team and school community, including students, parents, and community members, at least in part, because being an active member of the school improvement team can also be confusing and overwhelming for these stakeholders, just as it can be for teachers.
The school improvement team can increase buy-in and consequently increase support from the larger school community by involving all of these stakeholders in both the implementation of the plan and communication of progress towards the goals of the plan. The school improvement team simply will not be able to successfully carry out the plan without the buy-in and support of the stakeholders. The team should also clearly define and communicate its expectations for students, parents, and community members. Furthermore, the team should also clearly communicate realistic expectations for the timeline of the plan, including a timeline for goal attainment and the overall scope of the plan.
One final potential barrier to the success of the implementation of your plan is trying to implement or maintain too many initiatives. To avoid team members and teachers becoming overwhelmed by an overload of initiatives, teams should avoid implementing too many initiatives at the same time. Ideally, a school should not be engaging in more than about three site-based initiatives per year if they want all of those initiatives to be effective. A team should focus on just one site-based initiative, and the processes of the team should be streamlined to avoid possibly creating any roadblocks to implementation.
I've shared with you some strategies for addressing potential barriers to the successful implementation of your site-based initiatives in action plans, including problems that might occur regarding teachers, other stakeholders, and too many initiatives being implemented at one time. Now it's your turn to stop and reflect. Which of these types of barriers can you see as potential issues in your school or your district?
As you reflect on how this new information can be applied, you may want to explore the additional resources section that accompanies this video presentation. This is where you'll find links to resources chosen to help you deepen your learning and explore ways to apply your newly acquired skillset. Thank you for joining me today. Have a great day.
(00:00 - 00:15) Introduction
(00:16 - 01:47) Potential Teacher Challenges
(01:48 - 02:51) Potential Challenges with Other Members of the Team
(02:52 - 03:31) Too Many Initiatives
(03:32 - 04:18) Stop and Reflect
Critical Issue: Implementing Site-Based Management to Support Student Achievement
This article outlines the important considerations in implementing site based management, and how to overcome challenges.
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/dec95/vol53/num04/Boston_Revisits_School-Based_Management.aspx
Meeting Five Critical Challenges of High School Reform: Lessons from Research on Three Reform Models
This article provides suggestions based upon research from the implementation of SBI and reform in several different schools.
https://www.mdrc.org/publication/meeting-five-critical-challenges-high-school-reform