How to conduct a developing school site visit for developing member support teams A W S N A webinar.

How to conduct a

developing school site visit

for developing member support teams

A W S N A webinar

a yearly observation visit by a Support

Team member to understand and

reflect

the school’s progress on its path to

membership, summarized in a

professionally written report.

A site visit is…

teacher mentoring,

teacher evaluation, or

pedagogical recommendations.

A site visit is not for…

Developing School Site Visit

Step-by-step

Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks


Objective– beforeStep-by-step

Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks

Objective - before

Gain a preliminary understanding of

the school’s history and current living

structure:

history including location/s

current grades & special subjects

faculty and staffing

3-year development plan

buildings

leadership

governance


Preparation - before

Step-by-step

Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks

Preparation – before

Request & receive from admin leader/point person: previous support team final report/s three-year development plan long-range plan, strategic plan outreach/enrollment materials development/advancement materials personnel policies parent handbook list of all employees and titles sample employee contract Board by-laws, recent minutes latest budget summary

Preparation – before

Ask administrative point person to make a schedule for your visit, including meeting with: Faculty Administrative management staff College of Teachers (pedagogical leadership) A-B-C (leaders of administration, Board, College) Board and/or Board Executive Committee Parent group 2-4 classes (for ten minutes each)

Also: 3 with administrative leader/point person 1 with College Chair 1 with Board Chair 2 openings for the unexpected 1 closing meeting with appropriate person or group


Tasks - before

Step-by-step

Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks

Tasks - before

Read: all sent materials school website Highlight: key areas related to their development

goals questions regarding significant changes questions or unclear areas

Prepare: Select a report template ready to refer to

during the visit; use one from your LC rep or ask AWSNA office


Objectives - during

Step-by-step

Before During After

Objectives

Preparation

Tasks

Objectives - during

Experience the life of the school and it’s organs (groups).

Listen for the living questions from

each leadership person or group.

Refer to the school’s 3-year plan in meetings.

Inform school leadership of next steps on path to membership.

Ask questions, when appropriate.


Preparation - duringStep-by-step Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks

Preparation - during

Always keep in your mind the end product: the final written report.

This report reflects back to the school…

1. Current statistical information2. Narrative about general wellbeing of

school3. Commendations and recommendations

…what they themselves know to be their own goals, objectives, tasks. Your observations and perceptions may help them to see themselves more clearly.


Tasks – during

Step-by-step

Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks

Tasks – during

Upon arrival, review and adjust schedule with administrative leader/point person.

Take notes during each meeting.

Cover any questions you had highlighted.

Inspire school leadership to continue to make progress on their 3-year plan.


Objective – after

Step-by-step

Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks

Objectives – after

Reflect (in written form) for the

school and regional delegates, the

state-of-the-school and its

progress on the path to

membership.


Preparation - after

Step-by-step

Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks

Preparation – after

Assemble on your desk:

Your marked-up copy of the school’s 3-year development plan, other school data

Your notes from meetings with groups, individuals

Answers to questions you asked

Previous site visit report/s, if available, for this school

Information/reflections from regional delegates circle

Example/s of other exemplary regional site visit reports

Preparation - after

You are preparing to write the

developing school site visit

final report.


Tasks - after

Step-by-step

Before During After

Objective

Preparation

Tasks

Developing school site visit report

Write a report that strengthens collaborative leadership, institutional effectiveness and best practices amongst the organs of the school.

Commendations first. Notice what works well. Appreciate areas in which improvements occurred. Shine a true light on the school’s being.

A developing school site visit report has three major sections:

I. the current statistical information about the school;

II. a narrative about the general wellbeing of the school;

III. a list of commendations and recommendations as to the school’s progress with its development plan.

Also included is a review of the school’s status on the AWSNA Path to Membership.

The purpose of the visit is to guide a school towards AWSNA membership; not to evaluate individuals connected with the school.

I. current statistical information

School data

Have the school administrator or other designated person/s create an information form, addressing the following:

• Name of school visited• Visiting team member/s• Date• Total enrollment, students per grade• Tuition range (see annual budget page)• Salary range (see annual budget page)• List of faculty and administration including name, position,

and levels of Waldorf training, years experience at school, and intentions for next year.

• Board member list w/ current officers• Does school rent or own its facility?• Does the school know where it will be located next year?• One-page budget summary

II. narrative about general wellbeing

Qualitative Report

Sense of wellbeingRelationship to anthroposophyEarly Childhood and GradesCollegial relationsLeadership & governanceAdministrationEnrollmentFinances & legal responsibilitiesBoard activityParent activityCommunity relations

III. commendations and recommendations

commendations• What inspired you?• What impressed you?• What adversity was overcome?• What was accomplished in their 3-year plan?

recommendations• Where in the school’s 3-year plan goals are

they needing support, effort, energy, cohesion, adjustment, funding, focus, staffing, more time, or courage?

• Which group or individual can take up that task?

recommendations

Refer to policies or practices in the AWSNA Path to Membership Guide.

Highlight challenges, not prescriptive or specific solutions.

Direct them to the responsible position or group.

These should have emerged from key school groups during your visit or through your questions in presence of the appropriate person or school group; i.e. A-B-C; College; Board; administration.

current status of school

What type of development plan is the school operating under (phase 1, phase 2)?

Where is the school in the progress of its development plan?

Another task – after

Share your report third draft with the administrative leader/point person, asking;

• Is this an accurate reflection of the school?

• Is there anything missing?

(Explain that you will make the final decisions about content of the report.)

Tasks – after

Submit a professionally written

report for the school to the

school’s administrative

leader/point person and

Leadership Council

Representative.

procedural point…

• The report is shared with all the leadership groups in the school, through the administrative leader/point person.

• The report is shared with all delegates through the Regional Leadership Council Representative.

Worth mentioning…

The final written report is an archival document that will take its place in bearing witness to the developmental progress of the school at this point in time and space.

Developing School Site Visits

Other questions…

Is there a substantive change?

A visiting support team member may review

the following list with the admin leader/point

person.

A school that experiences a substantive

change is expected to inform the regional

Leadership Council representative of the

changes, through a letter.

What is a substantive change?1) Adoption of a new, substantially changed mission statement, including a

change of the school’s stated relation to anthroposophy as the foundation and method of Waldorf education.

2) Change from independent to public sector.3) Change from non profit to for profit.4) Change of governance including a shift from associative pedagogical leadership by the faculty model to a “head of school” leadership model.5) Formation of or elimination of a college of teachers (or its equivalent) or a change in its role.6) Substantial full-time faculty or administrative staff turnover (by 25% or more).7) Resignation or turnover of 50% or more of a governing body (i.e. college,

board).8) Addition, combining or closing of a grade or section or starting or closing a

grade or section (i.e. high school).9) Relocation of the school or establishment of adjunct program on another

campus.10) Merger with another school/institute/program.11) Substantial change in enrollment (by 15% or more) overall or in any section

of the school.12) Addition or elimination of program.13)A significant change in the school’s financial condition.

a. Receipt of a transformational giftb. Significant loss of revenuec. Assumption of major debtd. Government participation in the financing of the operating budget


What if the school has not written its 3-year

developing school plan?


What if the school has just completed its

first 3-year plan?


What if the school is in the Second Phase

Plan?

Developing school site visits and final reports

are similar for these school phases.

What if the school has not written its 3-year

developing school plan?

What if the school has just completed its

first 3-year plan?

What if the school is in the Second Phase

Plan?

Developing School Phases

School Phase Objectives PreparationPre- three-year plan Inspire school

leadership and groups about benefits of three-year plan.

Direct admin leader / point person to AWSNA website: Young Schools Guide; Path to Membership, Section II.

During three-year plan, years 1-2-3

Hold school leadership and groups accountable to their own path of development.

In reviewing progress in 3-year plan, ask if areas have arisen that have been accomplished or have fallen behind timetable.

Post three-year plan, working towards Second Phase Development Plan

Appreciations all around. Inspire school leadership and groups about next cycle and full membership/accreditation.

In reviewing completed 3-year plan, ask if areas have arisen that have been accomplished or remain to be accomplished.


School Phase Objectives Preparation

Pre- three-year plan Inspire school leadership and groups about benefits of three-year plan.

Direct admin point person to AWSNA website: Young Schools Guide; Path to Membership, Section II.








School Phase Objectives PreparationPre- three-year plan Inspire school

leadership and groups about benefits of three-year plan.

Direct admin point person to AWSNA website: Young Schools Guide; Path to Membership, Section II.







”The apostle* must be polite, serene,

enthusiastic and happy, transmitting joy

wherever he or she goes.”~ Pope Francis

* Support Team member

Reference materials

AWSNA Path to Membership Guide, October 2014Substantitive Changes – p. 26.

AWSNA Path to Membership Guide, October 2014Support Team Guidelines – p. 28 – 29.

AWSNA Path to Membership Guide, October 20143-year plan development guidelines– p. 30-

31.

How to conduct a developing school site visit for developing member support teams A W S N A webinar.

Documents

Transcript of How to conduct a developing school site visit for developing member support teams A W S N A webinar.