The first definitive text on continuous improvement in school district-university partnerships, covering improvement methods, theory, research, and real cases across the country with practical improvement tools that can be adapted to any setting.

Edited by Louis M. Gomez; Manuelito Biag; David G. Imig; Randy Hitz and Steve Tozer - Foreword by Anthony S. Bryk

Foreword

Anthony Bryk

Introduction: Getting to Mutual-Benefit Partnerships

Navigating the Tangles of Inter-Organizational Work

¿It Takes a Village¿ to Redress Inequities

The Improvement Leadership Education and Development (iLEAD) Network

Social Learning Theory and Culture

Moving Beyond Transactional Relationships

Trading Zones and Boundary Objects

iLEAD¿s Developmental Progressions Framework as a Boundary Object

The Desiderata to Sustain Trading Zones

• Continuous Improvement
• Equity
• Coordination
• Capacity Building

Conclusion

References

Section I: Improvement Methods, Equity, and Problems of Practice in Local Context

1 ¿ Braiding Improvement into the Fabric of District Leadership Preparation and Practice

University of Virginia and Chesterfield County Public Schools

David Eddy-Spicer, Tinkhani White, and Michelle Beavers

Partnership Context

• University of Virginia
• Chesterfield County Public Schools

An Educational Leadership Preparation Partnership Emerges

The ¿Improvement Sandwich¿: Cooperation into Coordination

• CCPS Strand: Focus on Programmatic Equity and School Improvement Planning
• UVA Strand: Redesigning the M.Ed. Program
  • Field-Based Learning as Boundary Infrastructure

  Securing the Braid: Coordination into Collaboration

  • Deepening Coordination Across School Levels and With Central Office in CCPS
    • Collaborating across School Levels in CCPS
    • Collaboration in Teaching and Learning at UVA

    Results: Organizational Practice & Partnership

    Conclusions and Lessons Learned

    • CCPS Lessons Learned
      • From Professional Development to Intrapreneurial Collective Learning
    • UVA Lessons Learned
      • A&S Faculty Collective Learning
    • Partnership Lessons Learned: Co-Development of Leadership Pedagogies
    • Essential Lessons of Partnership Work

    Questions for Discussion

    References

    2 ¿ A University-School District Collaboration to Improve Equity- and Inquiry-Driven School Leadership

    Fordham University and Bronx School Districts 9 & 11

    Margaret Terry Orr, Kris DeFilippis, Meisha Ross Porter, and Elizabeth Leisy Stosich

    Context

    Problem

    Challenges, Solutions and Evidence

    • Development
    • Advanced Leadership Preparation
      • Redesigning Fordham¿s EdD Program
      • Creating a Bronx EdD Cohort in Equity-Focused Improvement Science
    • Leadership Development
      • Assistant Principal Math Networked Improvement Community
      • Creating Positive Change through the Bronx Academic Response Team Initiative
      • Principal Equity Improvement Networked Improvement Communities

      Conclusions and Lessons Learned

      Questions for Discussion

      References

      3 ¿ Moving a Partnership from Itinerant to Integral: Using Improvement Science as a Catalyst for Change in Leadership Preparation & Induction

      George Mason University and Fairfax County Public Schools

      Samantha Viano, Farnoosh Shahrokhi, Regina Biggs, Natasha Saunders, Claire Silva, and Paige Whitlock

      Context

      • EDLE Program at GMU
      • FCPS
      • FCPS and GMU Partnering Prior to iLEAD
      • Joining Together as iLEAD Partners

      Problems

      • Stagnant Progress on School Improvement
      • Mismatch Between EDLE Leadership Preparation and FCPS Practice

      Challenges, Solutions, and Evidence

      • Improvement Science as Our Catalyzing Agent to Come Together

      Making Improvement Science EDLE¿s Signature Pedagogy

      • EDLE Faculty¿s Introduction to Improvement Science
      • Commitment to Improvement Science through Curriculum Development

      Diverse Approaches to Supporting the Use of Improvement Science in FCPS

      • Professional Development Opportunities
      • School-Based Leadership Induction
      • Title I Comprehensive Needs Assessment

      Our Partnership Driven Initiative: Piloting an Improvement Science Approach to School Improvement

      • Phase 1: Cultivating Cultures of Continuous Improvement, 2019-20 School Year
      • Phase 2: Redressing Inequities, 2020-21 School Year
      • Phase 3: Spreading What Works, 2021-22 School Year
      • Showcasing Our Joint Efforts

      Synergy between Leadership Preparation and School Improvement

      Conclusions and Lessons Learned

      • Starting with a Foundational Relationship to Build upon
      • Garner Immediate Excitement about Improvement Science
      • Leverage Eagerness and Capacity to Make Time for Collaboration
      • Concluding Thoughts
      • Attending to the Mission of our Partnership Work

      Questions for Discussion

      References

      4 ¿ Improvement Science as a Collaborative Effort for Equity

      High Tech High and High Tech High Graduate School of Education

      Julia Jacobsen and Diana Cornejo-Sanchez

      Context

      • High Tech High & the High Tech High Graduate School of Education

      Problems

      • Induction as a Lever for Teacher Retention
      • Experimenting with Improvement in Teacher Induction

      Challenges, Solutions and Evidence

      • Challenge #1: Entry Planning that Incorporates Continuous Improvement
        • Root Cause Analysis
        • Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycles
        • Sharing Learning
      • Challenge #2: Operating in a One-Year Time Frame
      • Challenge #3: Developing the Capacity of Improvement Coaches
        • Deficit Thinking
        • Compliance Orientation
        • Improving Coach Development
        • Facilitating Continuous Improvement for Equity
        • Induction Improvement Coach Summit
        • Impact

        Conclusions and Lessons Learned

        • CI Can Be an Effective Framework for Adaptive Learning
        • The Importance of Improvement Science in our own Program Processes
        • Developing New Organizational Capacity for Continuous Improvement

        Teachable Moments

        • How Might Improvement Processes Foster Connection and Belonging?
        • How Can Both the Process and the Outcome of Improvement Efforts Support Equity?
        • How Can We Develop Sustainable Improvement Efforts?
          • How Can Improvement Science Help Organizations Grow Toward a Common Mission and Develop Concrete Understandings?

          Questions for Discussion

          References

          Section II: A New Kind of Partnership: Continuous Improvement as an Animating Force

          5 ¿From a Transactional Relationship to a Transformational Partnership

          University of Maryland College Park and Prince George¿s County Public Schools

          Segun Eubanks, Jean Snell, Doug Anthony, Charoscar Coleman, Felice Desouza, Kara Miley-Libby, and Christine M. Neumerski

          Context

          • Not Your Father¿s MOU
          • The Back Story: People Building Trust, Institutions Leading Change
            • A Change in Perspective
            • PGCPS Initiates a Catalyst for Change ¿ the EdD in School System Leadership
            • UMD Initiates a Catalyst for Change: The Ceii
            • iLEAD Initiates a Catalyst for Change: Getting to the Work of Improvement
            • Getting to Work: Our First Problem of Practice

            Problems

            • A Shared Problem of Practice: Putting the ¿Improvement¿ in the School Improvement Process
            • Leveraging the New Strategic Plan

            Challenges, Solutions, and Evidence

            • Improvement Science as a Shared Methodology and ¿Solution¿
              • The Partnership ¿Solution¿ to the Challenge of District Capacity Building with SPPing
            • Looking Forward to Future Work: The Launch of 2 Partnership Networked Improvement Communities
            • Showing Evidence of Partnership Impact
              • Evidence of Engagement and Commitment is Strong and Growing
              • Growth on the iLEAD Developmental Progressions
              • Emerging Data of Change in Systems Practice

              Lessons Learned

              • Key Learning #1: Building Strong Relationships is the Starting Point
              • Key Learning #2: Focus on Problems of Practice and Stay Prepared for Change

              Teachable Moments

              • You're Not Really Married if You Don¿t Have the Paper
              • Adapt, Don¿t Abandon
              • Shifts Happen
              • Just Do Something

              References

              6 ¿ Redesigning School Staffing Models through Team-Based Residencies

              Arizona State University and Avondale Elementary School District

              Betsy Hargrove, Christina Flesher, Nicole L. Thompson, and Carole Basile

              The Next Education Workforce: A Growing Idea

              Context: MLFTC and AESD Partnership

              Challenges, Solutions, and Evidence Based Teacher Preparation

              • Challenges for AESD
              • Changes and Vision at MLFTC
              • A Renewed Partnership
              • Serendipity and Early Models
              • Improvement Science: Planning, Doing, Studying Acting
                • Residents
                • Lead Teachers
                • Site Lead
                • Instructional Configurations
                • Studying the Innovative Approach

                Lessons Learned

                • Invested and Involved Leadership
                • Systems and Structures
                • Challenges of Teams
                • Developmental Progressions and Growth in Collaboration
                • Characteristics of Successful Teams

                Conclusion

                Afterword: Beyond Teacher Preparation

                Questions for Discussion

                References

                7 ¿ District-University Partnerships for Continuous Improvement: How Can UM Help? University of Mississippi and Oxford School District

                Denise A. Soares, Mark E. Deschaine, W. Bradley Roberson, David Rock, Marni Harrington, and Brian Harvey

                Context: Beginning the Partnership Work

                The Achievement Gap Project

                Chronic Absenteeism PDSA Cycle

                • Plan
                • Do
                • Study
                • Act
                • Building Capacity
                • Spread and Scale Progress

                OSD Improvement Science Problems of Practice

                • Passion Professional Development PDSA Cycle
                  • Plan
                  • Do
                  • Study
                  • Act
                • Youth Truth Survey PDSA Cycle
                  • Plan
                  • Do
                  • Study
                  • Act

                  UM-SOE Improvement Science Problems of Practice

                  • Graduate Studies Office PDSA Cycle
                    • Plan
                    • Do
                    • Study
                    • Act
                  • UM-SOE Dean¿s Office Staff PDSA Cycle
                    • Plan
                    • Do
                    • Study
                    • Act

                    UM-Developmental Progression

                    • The ¿How¿ of Partnerships (Partnership Mechanisms)
                    • Expectations, Sustainability, Norms & Routines
                    • Vision for the Future
                    • NCSUP Mission

                    Lessons Learned

                    Questions for Discussion

                    References

                    8 ¿ Equity-Focused Improvement Science

                    Portland State University and Portland Public Schools

                    Susan P. Carlile, Deborah S. Peterson, and Tania McKey

                    Key Leaders

                    • Professor of Practice Susan Carlile
                    • Associate Professor Emerita Dr. Deborah S. Peterson
                    • Assistant Professor and Senior Director of Humanities Dr. Tania McKey

                    Context of the PSU-PPS Partnership

                    • Portland State University
                    • Portland Public Schools

                    Chronology of Improvement Science Efforts

                    Networked Improvement Communities

                    • Partner Districts
                    • Newberg School District (NSD)
                    • Changes in the Partnership with the Newberg School District

                    The New District Partnership: Portland Public Schools

                    Challenges and Solutions

                    Tools to Identify Next Steps

                    • Progress (Strengths) at the Partnership Level
                    • Progress (Strengths) at PPS
                    • Progress (Strengths) at the PSU Level
                    • Areas of Focus (Challenges) at the Partnership Level
                    • Areas of Focus (Challenges) in PPS
                    • Area of Focus (Challenge) in PSU

                    Contextual Complexities

                    Theory of Improvement

                    • Program Redesign
                    • Redesign PPS Practices for Principal Support
                    • Hire Scholarly Practitioners as Principal Preparation Cohort Leaders
                    • PPS Hires PSU Principal Licensure Completers

                    Lessons Learned

                    Next Steps

                    Conclusion

                    Questions for Discussion

                    References

                    Section III: Partnerships Ain¿t Easy: Learning from Short-Term Efforts and Long-Term Sustainability

                    9 ¿ Shared Goals, Methods, and Learning: Partnering for Equity-focused, Systems-level Improvement

                    University of Denver and Denver Public Schools

                    Erin Anderson and Sandra Lochhead

                    Context

                    Problem

                    District Context

                    Sustainable Improvement in the District

                    Challenges, Solutions, and Evidence

                    • Shared Goals: Embedded Process Over External Program
                      • Where Did We Start?
                      • What Steps Happened Along the Way?
                      • Where Are We Now?
                    • Shared Methodology: The Design Improvement for Equity (DI4E) Model
                      • Where Did We Start?
                      • What Steps Happened Along the Way?
                      • Where Are We Now?
                    • Shared Learning: Shared Research Agenda in a Research-Practice Partnership
                      • Where Did We Start?
                      • What Steps Happened Along the Way?
                      • Where Are We Now?

                      Summary of Impact

                      Conclusions and Lessons Learned

                      • Lesson 1: Be Clear About your ¿Why¿¿Your North Star Guides the Way
                      • Lesson 2: Create a Shared Theory of Improvement for your Partnership Work and Use It as a Map to Reach your Destination
                      • Lesson 3: Interdependence Was Essential to the Partnership and to Increasing Equity in the System
                      • Lesson 4: Be Disciplined about a Shared Learning Agenda or Research Plan
                      • Lesson 5: Despite Shared Values, Norms, and Goals, There Are Still Organizational Values and Conditions That Will Limit Systems Change

                      Questions for Discussion

                      References

                      10 ¿ Organizational Changes¿ Impacts on University-District Partnership Development

                      University of South Carolina and K-12 School District in South Carolina

                      Kathleen M. W. Cunningham, Peter Moyi, and Barnett Berry

                      Context

                      • University of South Carolina College of Education
                      • The Partnership Between CoE/EDLP and MCSD

                      Developing and Sustaining a District-University Partnership

                      • Two Partnership Frameworks: iLEAD¿s Developmental Progressions and the Stage Model
                        • Developmental Progressions (Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 2020)
                        • Stage Model (Trubowitz, 1986)
                      • Partnership Journey
                        • Improvement Work Begins
                        • Establishment of a Core Improvement Team
                      • Organizational Progress: Partnership
                      • Organizational Progress: UofSC (i.e., CoE and EDLP)

                      Challenges

                      • Challenge 1: Multiple, Evolving Goals
                      • Challenge 2: Logistics (Distance, Funding, Time-Competing Priorities)
                      • Challenge 3: Personnel and Leadership Transitions
                      • Challenge 4: COVID-19 Pandemic

                      Conclusions and Lessons Learned

                      • Consideration 1: Clearly Defined Goals and Expectations
                      • Consideration 2: Core Partnership Team with Consistent Membership, Leadership, and Active Commitment
                      • Consideration 3: Lean on a Continuous Improvement Mindset to Reflect and Learn

                      Questions for Discussion

                      References

                      11 ¿ Preparing Principals for Urban Schools: The Challenge of Equitable Outcomes at Scale

                      University of Illinois Chicago and Chicago Public Schools

                      Steve Tozer, Peter Martinez, Cynthia K. Barron, Shelby Cosner, Zipporah Hightower, Janice Jackson, David Mayrowetz, Sam Whalen, and Paul Zavitkovsky

                      Partnership Context: Chicago school reform and UIC¿s ¿Urban Mission¿

                      • Chicago School Reform and State Legislation
                      • The Principal Preparation Program Design and Redesign: 11 Key Components
                      • Impact of Program Design and Redesign
                      • ¿We Want to Be as Good as People Think We Are¿

                      Using the Development Progressions to Tell the CPS/UIC Partnership Story

                      • From MOU to Vendor Contract
                      • A Missing Objective?
                      • Preparation of CPS Principal Supervisors (Network Chiefs) and Central Office Personnel
                      • A Next Edge of Growth

                      Developing Capacity as a District Partner: the UIC Ed.D. Program

                      Elaborations and Qualifications on the IHE Narrative

                      • Vision, Systems, and Above All, People
                      • Our First Targeted Program Hire
                      • Building the Team
                      • Leadership Coaches as Boundary Spanners
                      • Creating ¿Boundary Objects¿
                      • Next Edges of Growth
                      • Need for New Resources

                      How Did the District Sustain its Share of the Partnership for 20 Years across 9 CEOs?

                      Conclusions and Lessons Learned

                      1.Equity

                      2.Partnership

                      3.Leadership Development: Vision, Systems, and People

                      4.Continuous Improvement

                      Questions for Discussion

                      References

                      Conclusion: How Continuous Improvement Partnerships Can Transform Education

                      Louis Gomez and Manuelito Biag

                      Tightly Tethered Mutuality

                      Attending to the How of Partnerships

                      The Role of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

                      Building a Strong Field: Infrastructure that Recasts Partnerships

                      Creating Social Infrastructure for Collective Action

                      Looking Forward: The Sustainability of Mutually Beneficial Partnerships for Leadership and Continuous Improvement

                      References

                      References

                      Index

                      About the Contributors