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The Macon Miracle: Connecting Strengths, Reinventing Education, Helping Children Flourish. Presented By: Dr. Romain Dallemand, Susanne Griffin- Ziebart , Dr. Judy Godfrey, Kathy Becker, and Jim Pulliam. Where is Macon/Bibb County?. County and District Demographics. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The Macon Miracle:Connecting Strengths, Reinventing Education, Helping Children Flourish
Presented By:Dr. Romain Dallemand, Susanne Griffin-Ziebart, Dr. Judy Godfrey, Kathy Becker, and Jim Pulliam
Where is Macon/Bibb County?
County and District Demographics
• 155,000 people in the County (2010 Census)• 43% white• 51% African-American • 6% Other
• Student Population• 21% white• 79% African-American
and Other
The Macon Miracle: Why is Transformation Urgent?
• Approximately 25,000 students• Rated 174th out of 179 Georgia
districts• Has 10 of the 78 lowest
performing schools• 51% graduation rate• 9,441 students suspended –
48,000 days of missed instruction• 703 students dropped out• 493 students expelled
The Macon Miracle: Why is Transformation Urgent?
• 20,000 students are receiving services from D.F.C.S.
• 632 students are documented as homeless students
• 1,000 students are living with someone who is not a biological parent
• 1,111 students have at least one parent incarcerated
• 78% of students receive free or reduce priced lunch
• 1,100 students arrested from August 2011 – March 15, 2012
Why Appreciative Inquiry?• Recognized the challenge
of increasing the “probability” of “buy-in”• Recognized the need to
include more than the “traditional” voices in the creation of the plan• Wanted to ensure that
employees and key stakeholders played an active role in creating the plan
Why Appreciative Inquiry?• Involves everyone in the
process• Creates “space” for
people to envision possibilities rather than barriers
• Develops a sense of unity by bringing everyone in the same room and creating a shared experience
• Ensures equitable access to information
The Macon Miracle: Bibb County’s Planning Process
• Two days to complete what was typically done in four days (i.e., Dream, Discovery, Design and Destiny)• All employees, parents,
community members, business partners and state and local dignitaries participated (i.e., approximately 4500 people)
The Macon Miracle: Bibb County’s Planning Process
• Dedicated time during the work day for all employees to participate• Held at the Macon
Centreplex Arena• Co-facilitated by the
Center for Appreciative Inquiry and educators from Bibb County
Opportunities of Facilitation
Engaging the Core Team• Core Team Participants• Represented all employee groups• 60 members
• Core Team Involvement• Champions of the process• Planned, designed the process• Selected topics for interviews• Facilitated groups in the
interviews• Assisted with data collection
• Thoughts of Core Team Members
Data Collection Strategy
• SUMMIT ONE• Positive Core & Headlines
captured from each circle group• Strategic Plan Themes
Developed
• SUMMIT TWO• Employees surveyed to identify
energy for each theme • Initiatives for each Theme
emerged
What Were the Summit Outcomes?
• Participants in the Summits created: • 6 Focus Areas • 22 Goals
• Strategic Plan• District Management
Plan• Research-based
initiatives• Innovative initiatives
Key Initiatives
• Year-round school • Instruction in
Mandarin Chinese for all students beginning in kindergarten• System-wide portfolio
schools of choice
Key Initiatives• Proficiency for all
students in numeracy and literacy by third grade• Students earn up to 30
college credits by graduation• Change the culture of
schools through system-wide, strategic professional learning
Key Initiatives• Integrate 21st Century
teaching tools in the classroom and in the home• District Welcome Center
to provide information and training to parents• Gifted instruction,
Advanced Placement classes, and Honors classes for all students
Key Initiatives
• Students initiate a portfolio they will continue to develop through high school• Dormitories for
students experiencing unanticipated circumstances
Lessons Learned• Including all stakeholders is powerful• Clear expectations and training and supportive
scripts are important to ensure the message and experience is consistent• Dedicating 4 full days to the process would have
been valuable
Lessons Learned• The Core Team plays a critical role—selection and
training is key• Initiate the Strategic Planning process AFTER you
have leaders in place to lead the work• Using existing leaders meant that “old” mindsets could
interfere with the work
Lessons Learned• For large scale summits, develop a plan that
ensures everyone hears the work of other groups• Be prepared to address the fact that not everyone
will agree with everything (yet)• Be prepared to address the fact that some will be
against the plan for various reasons
Bibb County’s Successes
• The process and the inquiry created hope and enthusiasm• The effort resulted in
a comprehensive, research-based innovative plan that was approved by the School Board
Bibb County’s Successes
• The inquiry created broad-based engagement in the conversation about education• The inquiry engaged
individuals not previously included• The inquiry
engendered support
Bibb County’s Opportunities• Engage and maintain
“buy-in”• Build equity so all
students excel—create unified support• Change the culture of
the organization and community• Help people to focus
their energy in a positive way
Bibb County’s Next Steps
• Strong implementation• Communication• Building understanding of strategies• Build understanding of each individual’s
unique role
• Impact of Initiatives on students and staff• Communicate expected outcomes of each
initiative• Build understanding of requirements from
students and parents
Bibb County’s Next Steps
• Create and celebrate quick wins• Continue to
support the strong guiding coalition
Why was this inquiry so powerful?
Questions?
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