In any organization, the distance between policy and the implementation of policy can be wide. This is particularly true in school districts, where multiple layers of people with authority and autonomy separate students from policy-makers. To narrow that gap, the district engaged CGR to conduct repeated surveys on perceptions of leadership, the strategic plan, key initiatives, school climate and other issues—providing a frequent feedback loop through which school-based personnel can share their school realities with district leaders.
District leadership believes that conducting and publicizing this survey will: (1) help central office learn how to be more responsive to schools, and (2) hold themselves accountable for implementing key aspects of the strategic plan. As the district moves to hold students, teachers and principals more accountable for results, and encourages adults to use data to monitor their progress, the Superintendent, board and other leaders are attempting to do the same.
These surveys are not intended to answer whether the initiatives in the strategic plan are the “right” ones, nor whether they are resulting in improved student outcomes yet. Instead, the surveys help the district monitor how well it is doing at communicating and implementing changes, and provide an opportunity to adjust where necessary. The survey should be understood as an improvement tool for the district, rather than as evaluation of the strategic plan.
Survey Results
- June 2011 Teacher Report (PDF)
- June 2011 Teacher Responses (PDF)
- Dec 2010(PDF)
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Kirstin Pryor is a proud parent of Maya (8) and Mason (4) at Franklin Montessori, where she serves on School-Based Planning Team. Before returning to Rochester three years ago, she spent 9 years as a middle school teacher, union member and literacy coach in Baltimore City Public Schools. She and her husband are both graduates of Wilson Magnet.
Kent Gardner is an economist. Two children having left the nest (after graduating from Irondequoit High School), he & wife Jill have only the puppy, Reilly, to raise.
Erika Rosenberg expects to send new daughter Nina and her big brother Nate to East Irondequoit schools. A reporter before joining CGR, Erika walked the D&C’s education beat for 5 years.