Mission

1
Mission VisionSupport Session
Pillars of PLC
Please

• Sign-In
• Enjoy refreshments
• Find a seat with materials

Thank you
2
GOALS

• To review mission and vision
• To provide strategies you might be able to
  utilize as you work with your staffs to . . .
• Revise/develop mission
• Gather input for vision

Not a prescription, an option!
3

• Introduction
• Review Mission
• Strategy Recommendations
• Voices of Experience (Doug Marilyn)
• Reflection Planning
• Break?
• Review Vision
• Strategy for InputVision
• Voices of Experience (Doug Marilyn)
• Closure

AGENDA
4
I am here . . .
PLC Mall

• Just entered and locating the map
• The mission store
• The vision department
• The values (collective commitment) shop
• The parking lot

Why did you select this place as your current
location?
5
Review . . .

• Mission--Why do we exist?
• 1. Explicit Student learning
• 2. Implicit How will we react if students dont
  learn at high levels?
• Often specified after developing the mission as
  a pyramid of interventions.

PLC BookChapter 4 Getting Startedpages 12 and
131-132
6
Effective school leadership must focus on the
core of the enterprise which is student learning.

• DuFour Eaker

7
A mission statement. . .

• Invokes commitment to student learning
• Is developed collectively
• Guides decisions and planning
• Can have legal implications

• TERMS/PHRASES to avoid
• maximize the development
• ensure maximal learning or development
• guarantee . . . or best . . .
• best possible
• Any phrase or word that states we will do
  everything

8
Examples
The Mission of Acme School is . . .

• To create a learning environment that results in
  academic excellence.
• Excellence in teaching and learning for all.
• Also--See HOPE Foundation handout page 3

OR
9
Commentary

• The unique context of your school is most
  important as you consider implementing the
  following suggestions!

10
Suggestions

• Keep it simple!
• Educate staff on what a mission statement is
  prior to revisions/developmentHOPE Foundation
  handout page 3 is a good resource.
• Review four common themes. Apply these and
  questions to current mission to create some
  discomfort with status quo.

11
All kids can learn (4 common themes) . . .

• to the level of their abilities
• to the extent that they take advantage of
  opportunities
• and its up to us to see that they have
  opportunities to grow and develop
• so we will establish high standards that we
  expect all students to achieve

Getting Startedpages 141-142 PLC Handout 9
12
Staff could . . .
For example

• Review the implicit attitude of the four themes
• Review the current mission and answer the 5
  questions (PLC Handout 14)
• Add a 6th question providing the opportunity for
  suggested revisionsask why!

13
Take this mission statement back to the committee
and tell them to rework it.Id like it to
mention education.
14
Suggestions

• Keep it simple!
• Educate staff on what a mission statement is
  prior to revisions/developmentHOPE Foundation
  handout page 3 is a good resource.
• Review four common themes. Apply these and
  questions to current mission to create some
  discomfort with status quo.
• Provide an example or two (HOPE handout and
  Getting Started page 134.)
• Consider reducing the mission to a shorter
  slogan.
• Model enthusiasm for the process and product!

15
Process Recommendation

• Entire staff awareness and input
• Focus Team or representative group uses input to
  revise mission
• Submit draft to Associate Superintendent ISSIs
• When draft is returned, submit revised mission to
  staff for review approval

16
My thoughts ideas so far . . .
17
Voices of ExperienceDoug BlochMarilyn Monroe
18
Additional Resources

• 1. HOPE Foundation Handouts
• How Active is My School Mission?
• Revitalizing the Missionplanning form!
• Keeping the Mission Alive
• 2. PLC and Getting Started (books)
• 3. PLC Handouts (9 14)

19
Leaders are uniquely positioned to ensure that
amid the busyness and bombardment that all
organizations endure, the mission and vision
remain central.

• Mike Schmoker

20
Vision after the Break!
21
Vision

• Instills an organization with a sense of
  direction!
• What do we hope to become?

22
Widespread ownership is key!

• Its not enough to have people agree with
  someone elses statements. They should feel they
  have played an integral part in formulating the
  statements.

DuFour Eaker
23
Step 1

• Review and/or share research on effective schools
  
• (Refer to PLC book pages 70-74)

Why?
The vision should be based on collective INQUIRY
rather than collective OPINION!
24
Step 2

• In teams, each person has post-it notes
• Question posed individuals write one response
  per note sheet
• QUESTION I would like our school to become a
  place where . . .

Reminder Reflect on effective schools research!
25
Step 3

• Individuals read and post notes on team chart
  paper

26
Step 4

• Each team sorts or arranges post-it notes
  into categories

Community
Students
Curriculum
27
Step 5

• Each team creates a team statement that best
  describes its collective vision for the category.

28
Step 6

• Team statements are collected.
• A representative committee develops a draft
  vision based on the common themes/trends
  presented in the team statements.

29
Step 7Writing the Vision

• Draft is reviewed by entire staffcritique,
  propose revisions, etc.
• Committee incorporates recommendations into a
  second draft
• Second draft is presented for discussion
• Every staff member is asked if s/he could own
  the vision.
• IF NOT, recommendations for additional revisions
  are requested process continues!

30
Voices of ExperienceDoug BlochMarilyn Monroe
31
References/Resources
Vision

• PLC book pages 62-86
• Getting Started book pages 13-15, 131-133
• Hope Foundation Handout
• PLC Handouts 15 16
• Summer Leadership Academy (June 11)
• Handouts--Accelerated Schools Putnam County

32
Closure

• Reflections

At my site or in my program, I think we might try
. . . My next steps include . . . One idea I am
thinking about . . .
Thank you