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C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe Way ForwardListening, learning, and the case for changeDr. Heath E. MorrisonNov. 26, 2012

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe entry planWhat was promised

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe first 100 daysListening and learning

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L S“Seek first to understand,then to be understood.”-- Stephen R. CoveyThe 7 Habits of Highly Successful People

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L S160 school visits

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L S13 town hall meetings

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SHundreds of meetings withindividuals and small groups

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SAudits/surveysHuman resources audit - AronsConsulting LLCCommunications audit - Drive West CommunicationsOrganizational audit - Council of the Great City SchoolsEmployee engagement survey - K12InsightCommunity survey (ongoing) - K12Insight

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SEvery leader should be able to tell threestories – the organization and where it’sbeen, the organization and where it’sgoing, and their own leadership story.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 1: Focus on student achievement CMS has implemented thoughtful initiativeswith some promising results. Achievement gaps have been narrowed butthey remain pervasive. CMS has focused on increasing thegraduation rate without being equally attentiveto ensuring the quality of the diploma.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 1: Focus on student achievement CMS is not personalized enough and needs tooffer more educational choices for students. The district lags in technology and 21st-centurylearning. CMS has focused on teacher effectiveness butneeds to do more to build capacity, attract andretain top talent.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 1: Focus on student achievement CMS has relied too much on testing as a wayto increase achievement. Cultural proficiency is lacking in CMS. Satisfaction with incremental success masksthe need for sustained transformation.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 2: Build a collaborative relationshipwith the Board of Education. The Board is committed to effectivegovernance. The Board is willing to take on the toughchallenges. The Board wants to expand its capacity forgovernance with professional training.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 3: Increase organizational efficiencyto ensure strong support to schools. CMS has been a leader in pursuing aperformance management system. CMS needs better processes and systems. We need to increase our cross-functionalityas a district by breaking up silos in the system.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 3: Increase organizational efficiencyto ensure strong support to schools. We need to provide better customer service. CMS has created a number of data points andmethods to gauge district/school performancebut needs to involve the community inestablishing an enduring common definition ofsuccess.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 4: Establish a respectful, positiveculture centered on teaching and learning. Many employees display a high degree ofcommitment to their work and their work sites. We need to communicate more effectivelywith our employees and make sure thatexcellence is recognized.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 4: Establish a respectful, positiveculture centered on teaching and learning. We need to strengthen employees’connection to the district as a whole. Compliance-driven culture has hamperedengagement and innovation.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 5: Build public trust through open,honest communication. Nationally and locally, there is great pride inindividual schools within CMS. The gap between CMS’s national reputation andits local image is significant.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 5: Build public trust through open,honest communication. We have missed opportunities to tell our storyand lost the public’s confidence over the last fewyears with communication mistakes with someimportant decisions. We must never assume we have earned the publictrust.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat did I learn?Goal 5: Build public trust through open,honest communication. The community is willing to support CMS, butit is a never-ending campaign to ensure a positiveCMS brand. We need to provide more comprehensiveinformation on district decisions both internallyand externally.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SHow decisions are made are asimportant as the choices decided on.The Way Forward addresses how CMSwill move forward on behalf of its143,866 students.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SWhat does it mean for CMSto educate every child, everyday, for a better tomorrow?

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe case for changeThere will continue to be reforms and changes ineducation whether or not we choose them.Reforms and policy shifts are occurring at theglobal, national, and state level. CMS has to be avoice in those changes.“Ships are safest in the harbor, but that’s notwhat ships are built for.”

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe case for changeOur community wants great results, not just goodones. We cannot afford a culture of complacencyor feeling that “we’re good enough.” Great publicschools are constantly improving and changing.“‘Good’ is the enemy of ‘great.’”

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe case for change‘Just doing a job in an average way will not returnan average lifestyle any longer.’– Tom Friedman“Average is officially over.”

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe case for changeA high school diploma isn’t a guarantee ofsuccess any more.But not having one – and one that is meaningful– is almost a guarantee of reduced opportunities.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe case for change‘The entry ticket to the middle class today is apostsecondary education of some kind.’– Jon Schnur, America Achieves“Today’s students will have to createtheir jobs. They will need innovation,creativity and entrepreneurship.”

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe case for changeTo prepare ourchildren for thefuture, our schoolswill have tochange.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe case for changeNew ways to teach and to learnwill require a wider variety ofschools and classrooms.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SThe case for change

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SHow do we change our schools sothat they prepare our students for thefuture?The Way Forwardestablishes eight key goalsfor CMS.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 1Accelerate academicachievement for every child andclose achievement gaps so allstudents graduate from CMScollege- or career-ready.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 1Identify college-readinessmeasures and reverse-engineerpathways of success for allstudents with a focus onliteracy, numeracy and writing.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 1Strengthen and expand earlychildhood programs to build anearly foundation for learningsuccess that addresses theachievement gap before it begins inorder to prevent third-graderetention.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 1Build a personal plan ofprogress for every child that isaligned with success pathwaysand post-secondary goals. Thisincludes challenging ourhighest achieving students.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GGoal 1Increase programming andextended-learningopportunities to closeachievement gaps.S C H O O L S

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 1Promote increased participationin AP and IB courses and inSAT/ACT testing; and providesupport to strengthen studentperformance.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 2Ensure an effective teacher inevery class is led by an effectiveprincipal in every school servedby quality support staff.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 2Reposition the Talent Effectiveness Projectas a professional-growth system focused onemployee effectiveness.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 2Define attractive career pathsfor all, including teacherswho want to stayin the classroom.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 2Strengthen and refine ourexisting teaching frameworkand performance-feedbacksystem.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 2Incorporate a peer coachingand evaluation program forteachers, administrators andsupport staff; Peer AssistanceReview (PAR).

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 2Incorporate district-level andschool-based teacher-retentionstrategies focused on retainingour top talent.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 3Cultivate innovativepartnerships to provide asustainable system ofsupport for all children.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 3Inventory needs at every schooland asset-map the communityto create unique matches andopportunities; strengthenexisting partnerships and forgenew ones.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 3Expand parent involvementand engagement strategiesby building on learningsfrom Parent University, andrefocus Parent University.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 3Continue to reinforce highereducation, faith-based andbusiness/civic partnerships ascritical alliances needed toadvance student achievement.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 3Launch a communitywide initiative topromote reading andan awareness of theimportance of literacy.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 4Continuously nurture aself-renewing culture ofhigh engagement,customer service andcultural competency.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 4Intentionally nurture aculture of pride, trust, andrespect in schools anddistrict-wide.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 4Establish a strong culture ofcustomer service within centraloffice and schools, and withexternal stakeholders andcustomers.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 4Promote a comprehensiveanti-bullying campaign todramatically reduce bullyingand harassment, and create aconsistent framework topromote a safe schoolenvironment for every child.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 4Initiate plans to ensurecultural competencyframework in all schoolsand every classroom.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 5Establish a comprehensive performancemanagement approach that ensures datainformed and evidence-based decision-making.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 5Establish a school performance reviewframework and process.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 5Develop multiple strategies to addresschronically underperforming schools.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 5Partner with productivity and quality expertsto establish key processes and systems.

C H A R L O T T E - M E C K L E N B U R GS C H O O L SGoal 5Incorporate a system to ensure dataintegrity across every department.