In January 2011, the newly elected State of California Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), Tom Torlakson, asked the Glen Price Group (GPG) to provide support for a strategic planning process for the California Department of Education (CDE). He initiated this work as part of his effort to drive a change process within CDE that would heighten the impact of CDE programs as well as its overall institutional effectiveness. Key elements of this work included:
- Recognizing the need for broad stakeholder involvement in the issues facing California public education, SPI Torlakson convened a 54-member Transition Advisory Team (TAT), including parents, educators, superintendents, school board members, business and union leaders, higher education and nonprofit representatives. The composition of the team was designed to model of the kinds of coalitions necessary to prepare all of California's students to be healthy, productive citizens, and lifelong learners. GPG supported the work of the TAT by assisting with meeting organization, facilitation, logistical support, writing, and research.
- The TAT members participated in one of eight policy working teams. Each Policy Working Team produced a comprehensive strategy memo detailing advisory recommendations for the SPI in its designated area in addition to relevant contextual information. The “Transition Advisory Team Blueprint for Great Schools,” a document summarizing the team's key findings and recommendations, was published on August 9, 2011. In addition to facilitating the work of the TAT, GPG provided overarching research and writing support for the compiled report (see: http://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/bp/bpcontents.asp).
- As part of their work and GPG facilitated meetings, the TAT developed a new mission statement and tagline for the California Department of Education (CDE), which was subsequently adopted by the SPI. It reads as follows:
“California will provide a world-class education for all students, from early childhood to adulthood. The Department of Education serves our state by innovating and collaborating with educators, schools, parents, and community partners. Together, as a team, we prepare students to live, work, and thrive in a highly connected world.”
California Department of Education: Learn. Innovate. Collaborate. Serve.
- As an integral part of the TAT, an Institutional Development Working Team was formed to concentrate on the CDE as an institution and make recommendations for its continued development in building a strong culture of service and support, engaging internal and external talent, and interagency collaboration.
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The momentum provided by the planning design developed by the Institutional Development Working Team sparked one of the most extensive and intensive planning efforts ever undertaken by a state department in California. Using an Appreciative Inquiry-based design, GPG facilitated a process that involved over 900 peer interviews by CDE employees and additional quantitative surveys. These produced an extensive data set and momentum for change which then provided the basis for action planning in ten priority action areas during an innovation forum and action planning workshop. These events were facilitated by GPG and attended by over 175 CDE staff members in June 2011. Key immediate results of this work include:
- Identified “quick wins” for immediate action by CDE;
- Concrete action plans in the ten priority work areas; and
- Formation of integrated action teams which will draw on people and resources throughout the department for action in key areas of STEM, Technology, and English Learners.
“Throughout its work, the team itself proved what powerful commitments Californians are prepared to make for public education when called upon to do so.”
SPI Tom Torlakson
SPI’s Message, A BluePrint for Great Schools
“On issue after issue, you will find a wealth of sound strategies that hold great promise for our students and our schools — including many that have already proven effective in California. Some areas need further study, discussion, and debate, and would in some cases require changes in law to carry out. Others merely need nurturing and support to achieve lasting results.”
SPI Tom Torlakson
SPI’s Message, A BluePrint for Great Schools
“A Blueprint for Great Schools was not written to sit on a shelf. It is imperative that it become a plan of action, unifying us with focus and purpose. For we dare not measure our commitment to public education in dollars alone. We must also invest in our students our very best thinking, our very best efforts — and above all — our very best people. We can do this, California!”
SPI Tom Torlakson, SPI’s Message, A BluePrint for Great Schools
What are the 2-3 most important things you gained from today’s meeting?
- “Innovation is built from the bottom up”
- “Tremendous wealth of diverse ideas focused on student achievement and success”
- “Encouragement that CDE’s future has a great deal of potential for improvement”
- “Positive change is a vital piece of helping CDE become the best it can be (internally and externally)”
- ”Strong passion for doing what’s right for students in the State of California”
- “The initiative to hold such a work group shows a collaborative attitude of CDE leadership“
- “An incredible effort to include so many staff – wonderful”
- “Feeling like I have a voice in the future of the department”
What was most useful/relevant in the work today?
- “The nuts and bolts of how to realize our goals and initiatives. For me the true meaning of success = I wanted to keep working!”
- “The process was thought provoking. It inspired creative thinking – all good.”
- “The discussions and ideas – by putting together these groups with a varied CDE representation many different ideas came forward.”
- “Process was very clear which helped produce focused results/plans of action. Knowledge and experiences of group members were diverse which gave varied perspectives and helped to foster doable concise plan of action.”
- “Coming together as a team – across branches, divisions, units and job titles to work on a common goal.”
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