District-Wide Implementation of Naviance: Successes and
Challenges
Patti GatzkeSecondary School
Counseling SpecialistOmaha Public Schools
July 11, 12, 2012
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About Omaha Public Schools
• 50,000 students – 12,600 grades 9-12• 7 high schools and 3 alternative programs• 70% receive Free/Reduced Lunch• Diversity: 66% ethnic minority; 34% white• Graduation Rate: 76.64% (AYP) 2011• Post-Secondary Going Rate: 66.5% 2009-2010
(includes military)
• 60 High School Counselors
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How did we get started?
• Counselors came back from NACAC saying “We need this program!!”
• 3 Pilot Schools funded by the district• Decision to implement Naviance district-
wide included Guidance Directors• District procedures for a purchase this
large caused delays
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Gearing up for Implementation
Developing a Plan:• District Office – oversight/support for the
program• Naviance Consultant – guide and advisor• Guidance Directors – a timeline for their building• Technical Staff Support
Challenge:• Start date of January 1, 2011
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Our Senior High Program Focus:(handout)
Students will be supported to:– Attend school regularly– Advance on grade level– Graduate– Prepare for post-secondary opportunities
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Milestones Grade 9• 8th to 9th Grade Transition meeting
Review importance of attendance Review credit system Identify adult support
• Develop Personal Learning Plan Course Plan Post-secondary plans Career Interests Extra-curricular involvement
• Take EXPLORE/Interest Inventory (Pre-ACT)
• Take Career Interest Inventory (Career Interest Profiler – FACTS Class)
• Attend Individual Registration Conference
(Encourage Honors/challenging courses)
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Milestones Grade 10• Review Personal Learning Plan
Credit check/Course Plan Post-secondary plans Career Interests Extra-curricular involvement
• Take PLAN/Interest Inventory (Pre-ACT)
• Attend Individual Registration Conference
(Encourage AP/Dual Enrollment courses)
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Milestones Grade 11• Review Personal Learning Plan
Credit check/Course Plan Review Post-secondary plans Career Interests Extra-curricular involvement
• Take ACT or COMPASS• Begin College Search Process:
OPS Game Plan Survey Attend College Fair (Oct. & April) Talk to College Reps at school Go on a College Visit(s)
• Attend Individual Registration Conference (Encourage AP/Dual Enrollment courses)
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Milestones Grade 12• Review Personal Learning Plan and Senior Credit Check for
Graduation Status Review College/Career Interests Complete Beginning of the Year Senior Survey
• Take ACT or COMPASS• Attend College Fair/Talk to College Representatives at school• Complete:
College Applications and Transcript Requests OR Military Application OR Job Application
• Complete FAFSA (Jan/Feb)• Complete Scholarship Applications • Complete OPS End of the Year Senior Survey and Request
Final Transcript
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The Implementation Plan
• What do we hope to accomplish with Naviance? for students? for counselors?
• What are our priorities?• What is realistic for spring 2011?• How can we prepare for 2011-12?
Challenge: How do we work with 7 very different buildings and teams?
Communication is key for buy-in.
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Year 1 Goals• Set-up complete (Succeed and Family Connection) with
auto-update• All Counselors trained• Grade-level milestones• All Counselors entering college,
scholarship and career data, using edocs (handout)
• All Counselors documenting task completion in Success Planner
• All students introduced to Family Connections
(9th graders have a Course Plan)• Some teachers writing recommendations and
using it in class (career assessments, resume)
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Training Schedule – Spring 2011
• Webinar introduction to all Counselors at regular meeting times (Naviance Staff)
• Initial training included all Counselors
- Documentation expectations for spring - College Planner and Plan Milestones - (Naviance Staff)
• Special training for Guidance Secretaries (District Staff)
• Counselor training on specific components by domain (Naviance Staff)
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Year 2 Goals• All counselors using Naviance to support their work with
students with the understanding:
You are not working for Naviance, let it work for you.• All students familiar with the program, entering colleges on
their own, requesting transcripts and recommendations.• All parents/guardians have an account• All college and scholarship data in Naviance for reporting
purposes • All application materials sent through eDocs• Counselors communicate with students/parents through the
program• Naviance enfolded into Guidance Curriculum and FACTS
Curriculum• More teachers trained and using it
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Training Schedule – 2011-2012• All counselor review - Naviance• eDocs for Advanced Education counselors and secretaries -
Naviance• Building training with teachers on Recommendations,
Resume, Course Plan or other topics by request – District• Special Education Teachers - Career Assessments• On-going work with individual counselors or departments as
needed.• May training on using Reports• Survey each building for actual usage and training needs
(handout)
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Year 3 Goals• Student course history imported into program – teachers enter
course recommendations• Success Planner developed to include interventions for
attendance, achievement and life skills• Teachers/administrators trained and begin using it to assign
tasks and communicate with students/parents• All students have a PLP in Naviance• All students familiar with the program and use it regularly• All counselors using it with students/parents• Positive impact on data - Increase in post-secondary going
rate• Naviance seen as an asset that supports success for all
students!
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Anticipated Training 2012-2013
• New Counselor Training (District Staff)• Fall Counselor Review within each building team
(Naviance Staff)• eDocs review with counselors and secretaries
(Naviance Staff)• Success Planner Training for all counselors and
other building staff (Naviance Staff)• Continued support for building secretaries –
district (District Staff)
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Using Reports to communicate what we are doing and the value of Naviance.
Student Usage
Benson High Magnet School
Bryan High School
Burke High School
Central High School
North High Magnet School
Northwest High School
South High School
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Student Outcomes Summarydata from our OPS End of the Year Senior Survey
2 Yr College4 Yr CollegeApprenticeship ProgramCareer EducationEmployedMilitaryOtherOther SchoolsUndecided/No PlansUnknownYear Off
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What Worked?• Including Consulting Services and Training in initial
contract.• Piloting the program in three schools first.• Coordinating implementation from the District Office.• Family Connection accounts with easy to track User
Name and Password.• Initial Course Plan set-up at District level.• Including FACTS teachers in the implementation for
freshmen. • Clear counselor expectations at training and in End of
the Year Reporting.
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What could we have done better?
• Moved slower – focused training in first year on College and Career Planning only.
• More counselor input into Implementation Plan.• More communication with building administration
and district supervisors to get buy-in from the top.
• Some unrealistic expectations from the program – Success Planner and Course Planner.
• More focused coordination from district office.
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Where do we go from here?
• Continued training and encouragement of counselors.
• Increasing communication with building administration – show them what a positive Naviance has on their students.
• Monitoring data for effect on focus areas.• Search for funding for the future.
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Contact Information:
Patti Gatzke
Secondary School Counseling Specialist
Omaha Public Schools
402-557-2160
