Strategic Planning for Equity
Leadership & Equity Strand
District Level
Little Rock, AR
Overview
This module focuses on strategic planning for an urban school district in crisis. Based on a case in Little Rock, AR leaders enter into a simulation where they advise the Superintendent on strategic planning within a highly charged community context and the a prospect of an indefinite School Board suspension and a potential redrawing of district lines if reforms prove ineffective.
Key Skills Developed:
- Strategic Thinking & Planning
- Engaging Family and Community Constituents
- Dual Language Programming
Related Readings
- IDRA Two-Way Dual Language Immersion Programs (Kristin Grayson, M.Ed.)
- The Astounding Effectiveness of Dual Language Education for All (Collier & Thomas)
Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (ISLLC 2015)
- 1) Mission, Vision, and Core Values
- 3) Equity and Cultural Responsiveness
- 8) Meaningful Engagement of Families and Community
- 10) School Improvement
Simulation Experience on April 29, 2016
Strategic Planning for Equity in Little Rock, AR
During the colloquium teams will enter a simulation experience:
Your school district, Little Rock Unified School District (LRUSD), is facing the prospect of an indefinite school board suspension and a potential redrawing of district lines if reforms prove ineffective. Within your team, you will each take on one role for the duration of the simulation. These are fictitious roles; please bring your past experiences in education and education leadership with you into the role as well as what you have learned about the context in Little Rock, AR.
Simulation Roles
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Rick Silver, LRUSD Superintendent and group leader of the group during the simulation experience
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Alicia Martinez, Principal and Community Advisory Board Member and time keeper of the group during the simulation experience
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State Department of Education Commissioner’s Designee and Community Advisory Board Chair and recorder for the group during the simulation experience
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Mary Allen, Parent and Community Advisory Board Member and team member
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Teachers Union President and Community Advisory Board Member and team member
After allocating team roles, participants proceed through the case, making critical leadership decisions to create a successful strategic plan that is responsive to families and community in terms of issues of equity. At the end of your simulation experience, groups revisit their team’s decision-making process and create a short presentation to summarize your group’s process, decision-making experiences, and learnings for the case.
Registered participants will begin their collaborative multimedia case experience at Teachers College Columbia University on April 29, 2016 (4-7 pm) in Zankel Building 212C. [Event Map]
The simulation experience takes the real urban district context as the starting point for participants’ learning experiences. If you are interested in attending any of our colloquium and multimedia case experience sessions this spring hosted by the Urban Education Leaders Collaborative at Teachers College Columbia University, please register for tickets.
Future UELC spring sessions will be held on:
- Friday, May 20 – Leadership for College & Career Readiness — Colloquium Series (4-7 pm)
- Saturday, May 21 – Programming for Multilingual Learners — Building Leader Institute (8 am – 12 pm)
- Friday, June 10 – Innovation for Teacher Retention — Colloquium Series (4-7 pm)
- Saturday, June 11 – Teacher Leadership — Building Leader Institute (8 am – 12 pm)
- Wednesday-Friday, July 27-29, 2016 – Summer Building Leader Conference with On Point Leadership
