Collaborative Inquiry Toolkit
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • FERPA 101
    • Component A: Clear Focus
    • Component B: Collective Responsibility
    • Component C: Culture of Trust
    • Component D: Data-Informed Decision-Making
    • Submit Resources
  • Workshop Warehouse
    • Collaborative Inquiry for Data Use Workshop (Got Data? Now What?)
    • Fishbone and Logic Model Workshop Materials
    • Innovation Configurations Materials
    • Creating an Evaluation Plan
    • Facilitating Collaborative Inquiry Workshop (Dr. Laura Lipton)
    • Group Data Exploration (PLI 2016)
    • Collaborative Inquiry Community of Practice
    • JE Moss Elementary Leadership Team Meeting
    • 2016 NCES STATS DC Presentations
    • Una Elementary Leadership Team
    • Haynes Middle Prep-August 1, 2016
    • August 2, 2016--Jere Baxter Middle
    • 2016 NTC Nashville Analytics Conference
    • Glencliff ES Leadership Team--Sept. 15, 2016
    • Haynes MS Leadership Team Culture and Climate Meeting--Sept 19, 2016
    • Sept 27, 2016 Two Rivers Leadership Team Meeting
    • Rose Park Culture and Climate--2016
    • Two Rivers SIP Goal Setting--Sept 20, 2016
    • Curriculum and Instruction Meeting--Sept. 30, 2016
    • Two Rivers--October 10, 2016
    • John Early Culture and Climate--2016
    • CTE Cohort--October 11, 2016
    • Apollo Middle Milestone Meeting
    • Murrell--Culture and Climate 2016-2017
    • Margaret Allen--Jan 4, 2017 Culture and Climate
    • Head Magnet Middle--Jan 4, 2017
    • Apollo Middle--Jan 10 & 25, 2017
    • IT Creswell Vision and Mission
    • Dr. Springer Literacy CoP
    • Two Rivers SIP Process Feb & Mar 2017
    • East Nashville SIP March 2017
    • East Nashville Behavior Plan May2017
    • Family Engagement Data Dive
    • Leading Collaborative Inquiry
    • DuPont Tyler Middle Vision and Mission
    • Facilitating Collaborative Teams
    • 2017 SEL Conference Culture and Climate Change
    • JE Moss Elementary Leadership Team Meeting--2017
    • Goodlettsville Middle Vision and Mission
    • CTE Cohort--July 26, 2017
    • Joelton Middle Vision and Mission
    • Whites Creek High Freshman Academy Vision and Mission
    • Goodlettsville Middle Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meeting
    • Exceptional Education Coaches
    • Hull Jackson Montessori Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meeting
    • Central Office Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meeting
    • Jones Paideia Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meeting
    • Cole Elem BHAG Fall 2017
    • Cole Elem Culture and Climate--2016
    • NAZA Data Dive Nov 3, 2017
    • Metro Data Coord Meeting Nov 16, 2017
    • 2017 Learning Forward Workshop
    • Two Rivers Dec 2017 Culture and Climate
    • MNPS Learning Tech Jan 2018
    • MNPS SE Quadrant Leadership Meeting Jan 2018
    • Margaret Allen Middle Jan 2018 Culture and Climate
    • MNPS Early Learning Jan 2018
    • Lakeview Elementary Jan 2018
    • Wright MS SIP Process Jan 2018
    • Cane Ridge HS Student Data Chats Jan 2018
    • Antioch Middle Spring 2018
    • Whites Creek HS Feb 2018
    • 2019 Wright MS Leadership PLC
    • July 2019--JE Moss Elementary Leadership Team Meeting
  • Collaboration Corner Blog
  • MNPS Data Guides
  • Meeting Structures and Strategies
  • Feedback
  • Collaborative Inquiry Working Group
  • Reading List

Collaboration Spotlight: NAZA (Nashville After Zone Alliance)

11/21/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
The African Proverb states, "It takes a whole village to raise a child."  MNPS' partnership with the Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA) is an example of the village working together to support student success.
Picture
 On November 3rd, MNPS educators and NAZA staff convened for a collaborative inquiry data dive.  After an overview from NAZA Director, Anna Harutyunyan, and a Responsible Use of Data overview from Laura Hansen, Wright middle school and two of their NAZA partners shared their NAZA-MNPS partnership with a panel discussion. 

Thanks Cassie Deas, Jennifer DeWall, and Patricia Madera for allowing us to learn from you.
Picture
naza_11.3.17.pptx
File Size: 2951 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

naza_data_dive_meeting_minutes_11.3.17.docx
File Size: 121 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

next_steps_commitments_recording_sheet.docx
File Size: 121 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

 
 Then, participants engaged in the collaborative inquiry process to analyze multiple sources of data from NAZA and MNPS' data warehouse and partner for supporting student success.

To see their Next Steps Commitments, check out this page: www.mnpscollaboration.org/naza-data-dive-nov-3-2017.html

Thanks to the following middle schools and organizations that participated in the collaborative inquiry data dive.
Apollo Middle
DuPont Hadley Middle
Donelson Middle
DuPont Tyler Middle
Joelton Middle
McKissack Middle
McMurray Middle
Wright Middle
Backfield in Motion
Beech Creek Ministries, Inc.
Bethlehem Centers of Nashville
Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee
Conexion Americas
D.Y.M.O.N. in the Rough
Global Outreach Development International
In Full Motion
Martha O'Bryan Center
Metro Parks (Coleman, Hartman, Old Hickory, Paradise Ridge, Southeast)
Moves & Grooves
Nashville International Center for Empowerment
Nations Ministry
Urban League of Middle Tennessee
Why We Can't Wait, Inc.
YCAP YMCA
YMCA of Middle Tennessee
0 Comments

Collaboration Spotlight: Pre-K Family Involvement Specialists

11/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
On October 30th, the Pre-K Family Involvement Specialists had a retreat.  Marianna Merritt invited me to facilitate a session where the collaborative inquiry process was used to inform how family engagement can support student success.
The session began with an Activating and Engaging activity called Looking Back...Looking Ahead (Lipton & Wellman, 2011) where participants shared how family involvement in schools has changed from the past to now and then their vision for future family involvement.
For the Exploring and Discovering part of the collaborative inquiry process, a jigsaw strategy was used to have the family involvement specialists read their assigned pages of Parents 2017: Unleashing Their Power and Potential (Learning Heros, 2017) to identify 3 A's plus one (Lipton and Wellman, 2011).  This protocol has them identify one ting with which you agree, argue, and aspire.  Then, the plus one is an insight gleaned from the sharing.
Picture
We Organized and Integrated the observations using the Traffic Light protocol (Lipton & Wellman, 2011) to discuss actions to stop, continue, and start.
Wonderful engagement and ideas were generated from this session. 

Check out the meeting minutes to see their reflections and meeting feedback.
agenda_oct_30_2017.docx
File Size: 33 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

meeting_minutes_10.30.17.docx
File Size: 132 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

References:
Learning Hero. (2017, August).  Parents 2017: Unleashing their power & potential.  New York, NY: Learning Heroes.

Lipton, L. & Wellman, B. (2011).  Groups at work: Strategies and structures for professional learning.  Charlotte, VT: MiraVia, LLC.
0 Comments

Collaboration Spotlight: MNPS Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meetings--Hull Jackson Montessori, Central Office staff, and Jones Paideia

10/18/2017

0 Comments

 
The Department of Equity and Diversity offers a wonderful professional learning experience called the Poverty Simulation.  After participating in the poverty simulation, participants engage in a data dive during the Poverty Simulation follow-up meeting to discuss action steps for supporting student success.

For the poverty simulation follow-up meeting, participants engage in a data dive by reviewing various data warehouse reports, including Assessment Details by Subgroup for TLA, MAP, and/or ACT; Attendance Dashboards for 2017 through 2014, and Behavior Dashboards for 2017 through 2014.

To see specific details from each follow-up meeting, click on the name.
  • Hull Jackson Montessori
  • Central Office staff
  • Jones Paideia

If you have a collaborative inquiry story or are interested in learning more, please contact Margie Johnson at margie.johnson@mnps.org.
0 Comments

Collaboration Spotlight: MNPS Exceptional Education Department

10/3/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Kassie Williams, a coordinator for the MNPS Exceptional Education department, is using the collaborative inquiry process to work with coaches this semester.  One session is planned for September, October, and November. 

The first session was held on September 20, 2017.  The purpose of these sessions is to foster a culture of collaboration for supporting student success.  The primary outcome for this meeting was to allow the exceptional education staff to leverage their collective expertise in addressing four focus areas:
  • Data- Based Decision Making
  • Instructionally Appropriate IEP’s
  • Access to High Quality Core Instruction
  • Effective Intensive Interventions

To learn about their work and the workshop, please go to www.mnpscollaboration.org/exceptional-education-coaches.html

If you have a collaborative inquiry story or are interested in learning more, please contact Margie Johnson at margie.johnson@mnps.org.

1 Comment

School Spotlight: DuPont Tyler Middle & Congrats to Drs. Anderson and Hammond

5/30/2017

0 Comments

 
I had the privilege to work with the staff and administration at DuPont Tyler Middle Prep.  Dr. Bianca Jefferson is the new Executive Principal of DuPont Tyler and wanted staff input on developing new vision and mission statements.  In two one-hour sessions using the collaborative inquiry process, the vision and mission statements were developed.

To learn more about their work, click HERE.
Picture
Picture

CONGRATULATIONS to
Drs. Erin Anderson and Craig Hammond

Drs. Erin Anderson and Craig Hammond have been part of the collaborative inquiry journey since 2014.  They were part of the initial workshops with Dr. Laura Lipton and Bruce Wellman, helped inform the IC Map, and participated in the Spring 2016 and 2016-2017 Collaborative Inquiry Community of Practice.  It has been an honor having them part of our collaborative inquiry learning experience. 

Wishing you all the best in your new leadership positions.  I look forward to see how collaborative inquiry is used to inform your work.
0 Comments

Collaboration Spotlight: Family Engagement Data Dive at Joelton Middle Prep

5/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
On Friday, May 19th, I had the honor to work with Joelton Middle Prep and the Family Engagement Department.  During the meeting, representatives from Joelton Middle Prep’s leadership team used the collaborative inquiry process to analyze various sources of family engagement data.  While I facilitated the meeting, several Family Engagement staff members observed the meeting to learn about the structures, strategies, and principles that I use to facilitate the collaborative inquiry process.  After the meeting, we discussed some of the structures, strategies, and principles that I used to lead the collaborative inquiry meeting.
 
Thanks to the Joelton Middle leadership team and Family Engagement Department for allowing me to facilitate these wonderful learning conversations.
 
To learn more about this work, check out:
  • Joelton Middle Prep Family Engagement Data Dive: http://www.mnpscollaboration.org/family-engagement-data-dive.html
  • Leading Collaborative Inquiry Discussion: http://www.mnpscollaboration.org/leading-collaborative-inquiry.html

Picture
0 Comments

Collaborative Professionalism--Voices Matter

1/19/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
--Dr. Lyn Sharratt, Fall 2016
When I was a middle school teacher and attended professional development workshops, one of my biggest complaints was the day would focus on theory, but I would never get to “see” the theory in practice.  Needless to say, I implemented very little of what I learned from those experiences. 
 
The best technique I found for changing my practice was by experiencing the strategy and collaborating with other teachers.  Also, a theme that is surfacing as a powerful principle of supporting student success is collaborative professionalism.  However, how do we foster collaborative professionalism as a way that we do work and not an additional task added to the overflowing plates of educators?
 
With these ideas in mind, it’s the main reason why the collaborative inquiry process is taught by immersing school staff in a collaborative experience with the process.
 
On January 4, 2017, Margaret Allen Middle and Head Magnet Middle had the opportunity to experience the collaborative inquiry process while reviewing the culture and climate walkthrough data.  You can read more about their experiences by clicking on their names..
Do you have a collaborative inquiry story to share?  If so, please let me know.
 
Also, If you and/or your school are interested in learning more about collaborative inquiry and how it can support student success, please feel free to reach out to Margie Johnson at margie.johnson@mnps.org.

Reference:
Sharratt, L. (Fall 2016).  Setting the table for collaborative professionalism.  Principal Connections, 20(1), 34-37.  Retrieved from http://www.lynsharratt.com/pdf/collective_professionalism.pdf
0 Comments

Together is Better

1/12/2017

0 Comments

 

If you want to fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.
~African Proverb

I had the honor and opportunity to represent MNPS’ Collaborative inquiry work and a Multi-State Data Use Standards working group at the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement conference this past weekend. 
 
While following the conference hashtag, #ICSEI2017, on Twitter, one of my colleagues from Belgium shared the above quote.  Needless to say, I loved it and completely agree with it.
 
I remember June 4, 2014 when a diverse group of 41 educators and community partners across the district came together to begin discussing data use and the barriers to having effective data use practices in MNPS.  Several barriers (at least 33) were identified at this time.  Using a consensus building protocol, we narrowed the focus to the top 3, which were:
  • lack of a common language
  • lack of trust throughout the organization
  • lack of leadership modeling (“walking the walk”)
Picture
After identifying these barriers, logic models were developed to create road maps for overcoming the barriers.  These roadmaps have served to inform the collaborative inquiry work for the past 3 years.
To address the common language issue, a committee was convened throughout 2015 to develop the MNPS Innovation Configuration (IC) Map for Collaborative Inquiry and was revised after 4 months of implementation where 5 middle schools (Haynes, Margaret Allen, Two Rivers, West End, and Wright Middle Preps) provided feedback to make it better.
 
Another committee was convened during 2015 to develop an evaluation plan for collaborative inquiry.  If we expected schools to use data for making informed decisions, then we needed to “walk the walk.”  A Teacher Data Use Survey, interviews, focus groups, and observations were used to collect data to answer the below questions:
  • How and where is collaborative inquiry occurring in MNPS schools and with what fidelity?
  • How does the culture of MNPS support collaborative inquiry and promote the integration of collaborative inquiry as essential to the work of the district?
  • What preparation and support needed to implement collaborative inquiry are teachers and administrators receiving?
  • Is collaborative inquiry making a difference for teaching and learning in MNPS?
Access the MNPS Collaborative Inquiry Evaluation Infographic HERE.  Read more about the complete evaluation plan HERE.
 
The MNPS Collaborative Inquiry has only been able to get as far as it has because we are doing it together.  If you have a collaborative inquiry success story to share OR need any collaborative inquiry support, please feel free to contact Margie Johnson at margie.johnson@mnps.org.
0 Comments

School Spotlight: Collaboration at Murrell School               "When you know better, you do better." ~Dr. Maya Angelou

11/15/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
During my first year of teaching 8th grade math and science, I decided to put my students into cooperative groups for a math project.  I was trying something new and even had my university supervisor coming to observe me. (In KY new teachers are observed at least 9 times a year by principal, mentor teacher, and university supervisor.)

Dr. Maya Angelou has a quote, "When you know better you do better."  Well, let's just say that when the lesson where I used cooperative groups was observed, I had ALOT to learn.  I had basically put students together and said, "cooperate".  I lacked structures, strategies, and principles for facilitating the cooperative learning process.

Today, there's research about the importance of leveraging collaboration and social capital in schools (Hargreaves & Fullan, 2012; Hattie, 2015) for improving student success.  However, just like I did in my classroom, educational organizations are putting teachers together in common planning time and saying, "collaborate."  How well do you think this is working?

The collaborative inquiry process is a tool for providing structures, strategies, and group dynamic principles to help teams move from dialogue, to discussion, to decisions.  The best part is that voices are heard and ownership is fostered, so that the actions really occur.

Let me share with you an example last week, November 8th from Murrell School where the TELL survey data was used with faculty to make recommendations for improving culture and climate.  They made some excellent recommendations for supporting student success. 

Here's what Susan Siegel, Executive Principal of Murrell School, shared about the process: "It was wonderful!  I loved the process, and learned great strategies in working with staff.  I talked to several teachers and they really appreciated the steps taken, and felt all voices were heard. Many also said they were pleased that we had a plan to ensure changes.  All said you did a terrific job and thought the entire PD was exciting and energizing."

You can read more about Murrell's work at http://www.mnpscollaboration.org/murrell--culture-and-climate-2016-2017.html.

Thanks Murrell for inviting me to be part of the conversation.  I look forward to continued collaboration.

If you and/or your school is interested in learning more about the collaborative inquiry process for fostering data conversations, please feel free to contact Margie Johnson at margie.johnson@mnps.org.

References:
Hargreaves, A. & Fullan, M. (2012).  Professional capital: Transforming teaching in every school.  New York City, NY: Teachers College Press.

Hattie, J. (2015).  What works best in education: The politics of collaborative expertise.  Retrieved from https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/corporate/global/pearson-dot-com/files/hattie/150526_ExpertiseWEB_V1.pdf

0 Comments

Central Office Support for Collaborative Inquiry 

5/24/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
If you have been part of this journey since Summer 2014, one of the barriers identified for implementing collaborative inquiry was the lack of leadership modeling.  I refer to this barrier as “walking the walk.”  People raised concerned about leadership, particularly from central office supporting the implementation of collaborative inquiry practices.
 
Since we have the collaborative inquiry community of practice among 5 middle schools and asked them to develop an implementation plan for implementing collaborative inquiry, the need to have this discuss at central office arose.  The meeting to discuss central office’s role in supporting collaborative inquiry was held on Thursday, May 19th from 11 AM to 2 PM. 
 
Overall, it was a very productive meeting where we used collaborative inquiry practices by using the Teacher Data Use Survey data from the community of practice schools as a springboard for how to best support schools.  We had a lively conversation and some great ideas were generated. 

To learn more about the meeting, including the agenda, PowerPoint, minutes, and pictures of charts, please go to http://www.mnpscollaboration.org/collaborative-inquiry-working-group.html.

I also videotaped the session because several schools requested to see videos with collaborative inquiry  being modeled.  Once I have the videos ready, I will post them to our toolkit and notify you via a blog post.

Please note that I am always here as a support for this work and several central office staff have received training as well.  I’m happy to meet with you and your team to discuss the best way your school and/or department can foster a culture of collaborative inquiry.  Ultimately, my vision is for the expertise throughout MNPS and school community be leveraged for supporting student success.
 
Contact me, Margie Johnson, at margie.johnson@mnps.org.
 
Hope you all have a wonderful summer. 

1 Comment
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Email Subscription

    Click HERE to subscribe to receive emails for the blog posts.

    Archives

    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    Agenda Template
    Behavior Plan
    Central Office
    Collaboration
    Collaborative Professionalism
    Collective Efficacy
    Community Of Practice
    Community Partners
    Component A
    Component B
    Component C
    Conference Presentations
    Culture
    Data Guide
    Equity And Diversity
    Evaluation Plan
    Exceptional Education
    Family Engagement
    IC Map
    Laura Lipton
    Leadership
    Leading Collaborative Teams
    Literacy
    Maximizing Time
    Mission
    MNPS Data Warehouse
    NAZA
    PreK
    Psychological Safety
    REL Appalachia
    Relational Load
    Research
    School Spotlight
    SEL
    SIP
    Social Capital
    TDUS
    Trust
    Vision
    Welcome
    Workshop Materials

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Copyright © 2020
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • FERPA 101
    • Component A: Clear Focus
    • Component B: Collective Responsibility
    • Component C: Culture of Trust
    • Component D: Data-Informed Decision-Making
    • Submit Resources
  • Workshop Warehouse
    • Collaborative Inquiry for Data Use Workshop (Got Data? Now What?)
    • Fishbone and Logic Model Workshop Materials
    • Innovation Configurations Materials
    • Creating an Evaluation Plan
    • Facilitating Collaborative Inquiry Workshop (Dr. Laura Lipton)
    • Group Data Exploration (PLI 2016)
    • Collaborative Inquiry Community of Practice
    • JE Moss Elementary Leadership Team Meeting
    • 2016 NCES STATS DC Presentations
    • Una Elementary Leadership Team
    • Haynes Middle Prep-August 1, 2016
    • August 2, 2016--Jere Baxter Middle
    • 2016 NTC Nashville Analytics Conference
    • Glencliff ES Leadership Team--Sept. 15, 2016
    • Haynes MS Leadership Team Culture and Climate Meeting--Sept 19, 2016
    • Sept 27, 2016 Two Rivers Leadership Team Meeting
    • Rose Park Culture and Climate--2016
    • Two Rivers SIP Goal Setting--Sept 20, 2016
    • Curriculum and Instruction Meeting--Sept. 30, 2016
    • Two Rivers--October 10, 2016
    • John Early Culture and Climate--2016
    • CTE Cohort--October 11, 2016
    • Apollo Middle Milestone Meeting
    • Murrell--Culture and Climate 2016-2017
    • Margaret Allen--Jan 4, 2017 Culture and Climate
    • Head Magnet Middle--Jan 4, 2017
    • Apollo Middle--Jan 10 & 25, 2017
    • IT Creswell Vision and Mission
    • Dr. Springer Literacy CoP
    • Two Rivers SIP Process Feb & Mar 2017
    • East Nashville SIP March 2017
    • East Nashville Behavior Plan May2017
    • Family Engagement Data Dive
    • Leading Collaborative Inquiry
    • DuPont Tyler Middle Vision and Mission
    • Facilitating Collaborative Teams
    • 2017 SEL Conference Culture and Climate Change
    • JE Moss Elementary Leadership Team Meeting--2017
    • Goodlettsville Middle Vision and Mission
    • CTE Cohort--July 26, 2017
    • Joelton Middle Vision and Mission
    • Whites Creek High Freshman Academy Vision and Mission
    • Goodlettsville Middle Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meeting
    • Exceptional Education Coaches
    • Hull Jackson Montessori Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meeting
    • Central Office Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meeting
    • Jones Paideia Poverty Simulation Follow-Up Meeting
    • Cole Elem BHAG Fall 2017
    • Cole Elem Culture and Climate--2016
    • NAZA Data Dive Nov 3, 2017
    • Metro Data Coord Meeting Nov 16, 2017
    • 2017 Learning Forward Workshop
    • Two Rivers Dec 2017 Culture and Climate
    • MNPS Learning Tech Jan 2018
    • MNPS SE Quadrant Leadership Meeting Jan 2018
    • Margaret Allen Middle Jan 2018 Culture and Climate
    • MNPS Early Learning Jan 2018
    • Lakeview Elementary Jan 2018
    • Wright MS SIP Process Jan 2018
    • Cane Ridge HS Student Data Chats Jan 2018
    • Antioch Middle Spring 2018
    • Whites Creek HS Feb 2018
    • 2019 Wright MS Leadership PLC
    • July 2019--JE Moss Elementary Leadership Team Meeting
  • Collaboration Corner Blog
  • MNPS Data Guides
  • Meeting Structures and Strategies
  • Feedback
  • Collaborative Inquiry Working Group
  • Reading List