Sorry that I have not blogged lately, I'm excited to share that I've been working with several central office teams and schools fostering a culture of collaboration for supporting student success.  Below is a summary of the collaborative work being done throughout MNPS.

• Pre-K Department--Collaborating with the Pre-K department to develop a program effectiveness plan, which will guide the decision making and implementation of early learning throughout MNPS.  To learn more about that work, go to: www.mnpscollaboration.org/mnps-early-learning-jan-2018.html
• Lakeview Elementary--Dr. Claire Jasper is using the collaborative inquiry process with her leadership team and eventually individual teachers when using data to make informed decisions for supporting student success.  To learn more about that work, go to: www.mnpscollaboration.org/lakeview-elementary-jan-2018.html
• Wright Middle--This time of year signals the start of planning for next year.  Dr. Sharada Deaton used the collaborative inquiry process to engaged staff in a data dive that informed recommended school improvement plan goals for 2018-2019.  To learn more about that work, go to: www.mnpscollaboration.org/wright-ms-sip-process-jan-2018.html
• Cane Ridge High--Rhonda Bledsoe, Dean of Students, is using the collaborative inquiry process for having student data chats.  During the data chats, students complete a #goalgetter sheet that she uses to follow up with them every couple of weeks.  To check out that work, go to:  www.mnpscollaboration.org/cane-ridge-hs-student-data-chats-jan-2018.html
• Antioch Middle--Dr. Celia Conley invited me on two different occasions. 
  • The first meeting was a full staff faculty meeting where the collaborative inquiry process was used to analyze the Panorama culture survey and develop recommendations for spring 2018. 
  • The second occasion was all day team meetings where the collaborative inquiry process was used to analyze achievement, attendance, and behavior data.  Each team developed action plans for the remainder of the year. 
  • In March, Antioch Middle administration will be having teacher data chats.  To learn more about the work at Antioch MS, go to: www.mnpscollaboration.org/antioch-middle-spring-2018.html
• Whites Creek High--Dr. James Bailey, invited me to a faculty meeting where the collaborative inquiry process was used to have staff analyzing attendance, achievement, and behavior data to make recommendations for the supporting student success for the remainder of the school year.  To check out that work, go to: www.mnpscollaboration.org/whites-creek-hs-feb-2018.html

If you would like assistance or more information about collaborative inquiry or have a story to share, please reach out to Margie Johnson at margie.johnson@mnps.org.

This week, I received a link to an article by Learning Forward with the title, "Collaboration is the answer" (Hirsch & Crow, 2018).  Since my work is around fostering a culture of collaboration, I had to stop and read it (https://learningforward.org/publications/blog/learning-forward-blog/2018/01/30/collaboration-is-the-answer).

The thing I like best about this article is it recognizes the complex issues being faced by today's educators; hence, the reason for collaboration.  If one person knew the answer to the problem, then it would already be solved.  “No generation of educators in the history of the United States has ever been asked to do so much for so many” (DuFour & Marzano, 2011, p. 5).  The answer to beginning to support all student success is through collaboration.

The MNPS collaborative inquiry process provides a meeting structure and equips facilitators with group dynamic strategies for ensuring that meetings are productive, efficient, and honors the professional expertise in the room.  As Albert Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."  Collaborative inquiry allows the best thinking to rise to the top for addressing issues that are hindering our success.

To see MNPS schools and organizations using collaborative inquiry, please check out the Workshop Warehouse.

If you would like to share a story about collaborative inquiry or interested in assistance, please contact Margie Johnson at margie.johnson@mnps.org.

References:
DuFour, R. & Marzano, B. (2011).  Leaders of learning: how district, school, and classroom leaders improve student achievement.  Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.

Hirsch, S. & Crow, T. (2018).  Collaboration is the answer. Learning Forward website.  Retrieved from https://learningforward.org/publications/blog/learning-forward-blog/2018/01/30/collaboration-is-the-answer