Gene Sharratt, Executive DirectorWashington Student Achievement Council

Leadership, Olympia, and Reality:Leadership, Olympia, and Reality:

Guiding the Team to the Top!Guiding the Team to the Top!

genes@wsac.wa.gov

Out of clutter, find simplicity.

From discord, find harmony.

In the middle of difficulty,

lies opportunity.- Albert Einstein

OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE

Catalyst: n. “One who precipitates a process or

event leading to change.”

As school leader, how will you be a catalyst for change in your school?

What specific actions will you take to create a culture where people and programs continue to improve?

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“Every school has

leadership that results in

improved student performance – and

leadership begins with

an effective school

principal.”Southern Regional Education Board

Challenge to Lead Series, 2004

“Leadership characteristics are the

second strongest predictor

of a school’s effect on student results.

Only classroom factors, such as

teacher quality, are stronger.”

Kenneth Leithwood, University of Toronto

Everything we do,

every activity we create,

every relationship we build,

every network we support is aimed

at improving the capacity of schools

to provide a quality education for ALL students.

Leadership is . . .

“Doing right things right.”

Kenneth Leithwood

Aligning Education Programs and Transitionsfor Student Success and for a Working Washington

The “New Minimum” for 21st Century Learning and Life: A Continuum of Early Learning, K-12 and Post-Secondary Education

Graduation & Attainment = Pathways to Prosperity

Education = opportunities for more Washington families

• Kids spend 70% of their waking hours out of school – support schools and teachers rather than blame them – we’re all responsible

• Changing demographics like significant increases in student poverty, English language learners, mobility and homelessness are challenges

in schools - not excuses

• All kids need hope and relationships

• Schools can’t do it alone - “There are no quick fixes to the challenges confronting public education in the US. School improvement must be seen as an extension of community development…” - Pedro Noguera

• Invest in human infrastructure - In 2015, the state invested $16 billion in transportation infrastructure

They’re All Our Kids!

K-12 Public Education IssuesWhat stands out in Olympia and beyond about work to meet the needs of each and every student:

•McCleary – fully fund basic education / compensation / equity

•Professional Development – teachers / principals / targeted PD / data

•Opportunity Gap – racial / poverty / English language learners / special education / foster youth

•Discipline Disparity – racial / conflict resolution / school climate

•Graduation – rates / gaps / barriers / early warning systems / guidance / college and career ready

•Social Emotional Learning – ACEs / MTSS / PBIS / 21st century skills / growth mindset

•Family Engagement – home connections / partnerships / community / early interventions

•STEM Literacy – workforce / computer science / project learning / gender disparity / racial disparity

•Educator Workforce – pre-service prep / diversity / cultural competency / retention

•Reforms Implementation – CCSS / NGSS / TPEP / Smarter Balanced / career & college ready grad

•Attainment – transitions / access / dual credit opportunities / CTE equivalencies

Vision, Leadership, Advocacy, Governance – and/or Legislation

A few things on the legislative plate . . .

• Funding McCleary – What will the Supreme Court accept as a reliable and sustainable funding? If not now, when?

• How will the legislature deal with compensation? Facilities?

• Student assessment scores and teacher/principal evaluation? Local bargaining – role of scores? Starting 2017-18. Reauthorization of ESEA? After or before election?

• Smarter Balanced Assessments? Will Common Core hold in Washington? SBA role in transition to postsecondary? Use of SBA scores to determine postsecondary placement and need for remediation courses in high school – Bridge to College.

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A few things on the legislative plate . . .

• Teacher and administer supply and demand? Recruitment, retention, professional development? Early learning requirements? Paraprofessionals? What about substitutes?

• Will Courts move quickly to block Initiative 1366?

• Will Bellevue College become WSU Bellevue? Will there be a new WSU campus in Federal Way? How is WSU/Everett progressing? Will the UW/China higher education partnership change the landscape of higher education in Washington?

• Will reduced tuition be retained? How do we close opportunity gaps in P-12 and postsecondary attainment? What about foster care, children of incarcerated adults, special needs students, ELL, etc.?

• Who will run for Governor? OSPI? Legislative seats? How does that impact the 2016 and beyond session? Will Gay run for President on the Republican ticket?

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Initiative 1351 – K-12 Class Size Reduction

Higher Ed Bears Brunt of Budget Cuts

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Percent change in Near General Fund biennial appropriations, 2007-09 – 2013-15. Higher Education includes Opportunity Pathway account and HECB/WSAC appropriations.

Average resident undergraduate tuition since1984

From 2008 to 2012, average tuition and fees increased by 73 percent at Washington’s research institutions, 56 percent at our regional institutions and 42 percent at our community colleges.

Proposed tuition freeze for next two

years

Constituents concerned about almost every other topic communicate (by email and phone) to the Governor and

Legislators MORE than education funding supporters10/17 – 10/23/15:3,674 contacts opposing oil terminals 80 contacts supporting homelessness fixes38 contacts opposing fish and wildlife agency ruling5 contacts honoring Tillie the Dog*** 0 contacts supporting education funding6/17 – 7/2/15:653 contacts supporting transportation revenue package390 contacts requesting statewide ban on fireworks125 contacts opposed to marijuana revenue reform114 contacts opposed to railway oil transport16 contacts opposed to animal cruelty in South Korea*** 31 contacts supporting education funding5/1 – 5/7/15: 4,192 contacts supporting law enforcement body cameras1,925 contacts supporting increased investments in the state’s health care system1,519 contacts opposed to pesticides 67 contacts supporting increased investments in higher education*** 20 contacts supporting education funding3/27 – 4/2/15:256 contacts supporting solar energy investments *** 11 contacts supporting education funding

PoliticsNot enemies nor friends,But allies and opponents.

Building New Partnerships

Creating New Pathways

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By 2023…

Current level of attainment: 50%

At least 70% of Washington adults ages 25-44 will have a postsecondary credential.

Current level of attainment: 89%

100% of adults ages 25-44 in Washington will have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Our Vision

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We inspire and foster excellence in educational

attainment.

Demographic Imperative/Support

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Source: Longanecker, D. (2012). Knocking at the college door. Retrieved from http://www.wiche.edu/info/knocking-8th/profile/wa.pdf

43Source: Washington Student Achievement Council Staff Analysis of 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-year PUMS data file. Wages Include civilian employed WA residents age 25-64. Unemployed rate reflects civilian labor force for WA residents age 25-64.

Education = Lower Unemployment

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The Council of Presidents 2013 44

By 2018, About Two-Thirds of all Employment Will Require Some College Education or More

Source: Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018. Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce, August 2012

“Leadership is influence.”

John Maxwell

As a leader, what we all fear is the

“Imposter Syndrome”

Every leader is telling a story about what he

or she values.

What do you value?

As a leader,if you don’t have

values, you don’t add value.

Leaders at all levels . . . “lead in the transformation of people and organizations.”

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Leaders build capacity, not dependency.

Adult behavior changes when . . .

“If you want to change people’s behavior, “You need to create a

community around them, where these new beliefs could be practiced,

expressed and nurtured”

Michael Fullan

The Leadership Challenge

The challenge of effective leadership is to create a “system” for continuous improvement that has a clarity of

purpose, a collaborative culture, a focus on results, and all

based on trust.

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Leadership Teams . . .

In the essentials . . .

unity.In the non-essentials . . .

freedom.In all things . . .

clarity.

Leaders reward the right behavior . . .

As a Leader You Know . . .

What gets measured gets done.

What gets rewarded gets repeated.

What will you measure?

What will you reward?

As a leader . . .

The Five A’s of Data Use

AccessibleAccurate

ActionableAccountable

Applicable

“I like running the most. Sometimes I feel like I’m flying. Like I can just keep on forever.”

-Sofia Batchelor

Photo Credit: The Columbian

Three, two, one . . . group discussion

Three new learnings . . .

Two ideas I can apply . . .

One concept I would like to know more about . . .