School improvement does mean something different to each stakeholder…(and it usually has a meaning to those that don’t seem to have an immediate stake in a school's improvement!). Schools are in the business of educating students and the meaning given to any business, or its needed improvements, is influenced by the businesses’ goals and the people involved in that process.
Distinctly, school improvement is about creating an environment or system(s) that facilitates and supports maximum student achievement. To organize a successful school, district-wide or state-wide school improvement plan, each schools-site must begin the process by focusing on the culture and needs of their learners and their families, teachers, and admin and support staff. There are many examples of school improvement plans that have been effective and when implemented elsewhere, fell short. Why? The schools had the same goals… but different people were involved in the school improvement process…
School improvement is about creating both an environment and the system(s) to support student learning. Creating an environment makes me think of contented people, foliage and warm surroundings. A system brings concrete, flow charts and fixed processes into mind. A combination of these two functions, environment and system(s), will look and be different for every school-site desiring change and need to be considered, evaluated, and flexible throughout each school’s practice of school improvement.
The Link to Teachers' Success...
Dr. Kathleen Salzano, Ed.D.
