Delaware Association for Public Administration DAPA Public Service Reader
Improving Leadership in Delaware’s Public Schools
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Statewide Vision 2015 Training Initiative
DASL was selected to provide the initial training for Executive Leadership Teams from 22 schools throughout the state of Delaware that were selected to participate in the Vision 2015 Network. These teams were also supported by retired administrators who served as thought partners and facilitators by moderating team discussions during trainings and facilitating homework meetings. Each training session focused on one of four major components: the impact of instructional leadership on student achievement, the influence of time (both the way in which school leaders spend their time and the way in which time is organized at the school site), school culture, and big ideas and strategic planning.
The training activities were spread out over five months and provided opportunities for the school teams to learn about recent research related to school improvement. Team members participated in breakout sessions and homework activities that required them to develop ideas and action plans for implementing some of these research-based strategies in their own organizations.
The following school districts and charter schools were the initial participants in the statewide Vision 2015 Network: Appoquinimink School District, Capital School District, Indian River School District, New Castle County Vocational School District, Kuumba Academy, MOT Charter School, the Christina School District, Lake Forest School District, Thomas Edison Charter School, and the Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Distributed Leadership Project
On February 18, 2009, more than 100 participants came together for a statewide Distributed Leadership Project meeting, demonstrating the success and scope of the project. Teams of teachers, administrators and coaches worked together on a range of issues including data analysis, communication practices, and DSTP preparation, and ideas were shared across schools in the large group. This is distributed leadership in action.
Now in its fifth year, this project has grown to include 14 schools from seven districts. The project’s philosophy is that leadership is a skill, not a role, and that teachers and leaders must share responsibility for student achievement and school improvement. DASL supports schools as they design and implement plans to distribute responsibilities and build leadership capacity. This support includes in-school coaching, meetings to share ideas statewide, training on data analysis, and expert consultation from Joe Murphy, Jim Spillane, and others. The Distributed Leadership Project is part of the Delaware Cohesive Leadership System (DCLS) Initiative, funded by The Wallace Foundation and implemented in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education.