The words "School Strategic Plan" often strike fear in the heart of a head of school, principal, or superintendent because they've suffered through the nightmare of a planning approach that miserably fails to recognize and strengthen the complex relationships that comprise a school. 

Some management consultants think that a long weekend visit is all that's required to learn about your school and print a plan, but your work is more valuable than that. Your people deserve better!

We are constantly searching for new strategies to grow schools and elevate the culture for educators. Every now and then we learn about a concept or an idea that we believe is going to have a big impact.

That's what happened when we met Alan Metcalfe at the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) conference a few years ago and learned about Interpretive Master Planning. 

If you're looking for a better way to distinguish your school, then you will definitely want to explore this powerful growth method.

Education leadership is an unusually complex responsibility that requires intelligence, wisdom, and hard work. Perhaps what our schools need most isn't another strategic plan, but rather a strategic organization where unity and trust prevail. 

“One of the biggest accelerators to change is simplicity.”
--Dr. Henry Cloud

Educators are the ultimate "knowledge workers," unique in their ability to solve complex problems and develop new ways to enable growth.

Yet they continue to languish in an industrial approach to school leadership and design where the physical spaces, time schedules, and human dynamics stifle creativity and inspiration.

There is a better way!

Putting "Excellence" on the website or in the mission statement doesn't make it true. Excellence starts with a resolute commitment to stop doing average. 

Stop doing what average schools do.
Stop doing what average leaders do. 

Your calling as an educator is one to Excellence, not average!

Prince the Peacock was beautiful, with blue and green feathers that were a sight to behold. 

We met him over the weekend at the Warm Springs Inn (which we highly recommend, by the way) in Wenatchee, WA.

Despite all of his investments in marketing himself, Prince remained frustrated and unable to accomplish his goals. (perhaps a little like your school)

The first quarter of 2021 is almost complete, and it's been a great start to what we believe will be one of the most exciting years in school leadership. 

You've been walking through a hard journey while carrying a heavy load, making it hard to look beyond the challenges of each day. Getting through it was a little easier when you kept your head down and just tried to put one foot in front of the other. 

Left, right. Left, right. Keep going ...

Her stress level was off the charts. Frustrated with what they felt was a lack of leadership and too many unfinished plans, some members of the board were boldly raising the stakes.

They wanted a clear plan to grow enrollment and restore confidence in the direction of the school. Or else...

What are educational leaders learning during 2020 that will produce positive, long-lasting impact on schools? School Leaders are making substantial changes to their strategic plans based on their experiences so far this year.

Dr. Ashley Berner shares valuable insights about what they've learned at the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Education Policy, including why curriculum and culture remain the foundations to achieve sustainable school growth.