High Performance Leaders in Irving

Independent School District (IISD)

Administrator’s Leadership Conference

August 3, 2010 1

Mission and Vision

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The Irving ISD, in partnership with families and the community, shall meet the educational needs of students by producing engaged learners who are critical thinkers, leaders, and contributors in a technological, diverse, and competitive 21st century world.

The Irving ISD is committed to educational excellence and equity for all students in a multicultural and engaged learning

environment.

What We Will Cover

1. Why The Need for High Performance Leaders (HPL)

2. Why You Are Here

3. What I see as a HPL in Irving ISD

4. Expectations For HPL’s in Irving Independent School District

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Why The Need for High Performance Leadership (HPL)

High Performance Leaders create the culture of their organization. It is therefore critically important to recruit, train and retain the right kinds of people to lead in our school district. High performance leaders help create high performance systems.

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Why You Are Here?

Simply said, if we want to continue to improve Irving ISD, we (I) need to communicate expectations, provide professional learning, develop action goals, achieve results.

1. Communicate Expectations2. Provide Professional Learning3. Provide An Opportunity For Us To:

1. Participate2. Collaborate3. Increase Achievement/Performance

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What Is A HPL in IISD?• What are the expectations? How is it possible for a

leader to live up to the high expectations we (I) are asking for in Irving ISD?

• The following performance expectations if adopted, performed, and practiced consistently will help Irving ISD achieve a coherent and congruent leadership approach that will deliver high performance and achieve result.

High Performance Leaders get results!

Failure Is Not An Option!

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I. Understand and Communicate our Mission,

Vision and Goals.If you are personally grounded in our Mission, you will have clarity of the Vision, you will be sure of your personal values and the behavior we expect of you to reach our Goals.

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High Performance Leaders develop the skills and talents of those around them. They are capable of leading change and helping others through the change process. They engage in shared decision making with the school community, including staff, students, and parents.

II. Build Capacity

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III. Develop Systemic Solutions (Systems Thinking)

High Performance Leaders understand the importance of focus and help ensure that all parts of the school community are aware of and in alignment with the District’s and school’s efforts to improve student learning. They understand that all parts of the school and school district system are interconnected and that it is critical to align school goals with district and state standards and goals.

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IV. Perform Needs Assessments to Guide Actions that Improve

Performance

High Performance Leaders use analysis of best practices in education, society, and the country in order to be proactive and responsive in changing our schools for the better.

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V. Analyze DataStephen R. Covey in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People reminds us, “To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination.

It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.”

High Performance Leaders lead their school/department through the process of identifying improvement goals and objectives in alignment with district and state standards,

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VI. Plan Course for Action

Even clearly stated curricular goals will lose their potential to drive the efforts of improvement if no effort is made to collect and analyze accurate information about student learning and achievement that is reflective of those goals. In most organizations, what gets monitored gets done. Staff learn what leaders value by observing what they pay attention to.

High Performance Leaders pay attention to the core values and priority goals.

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VII. Make Sound and Appropriate DecisionsHigh Performance Leaders are models of ethical and moral leadership. They project integrity by promoting and supporting an environment where students and school staff are always trying to do "what’s right."

They demonstrate courage in difficult situations, and provide a model of moral leadership for others to emulate.

Leaders with integrity are focused and purposeful, and are always attentive to being consistent with what they say and what they do.

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VIII. Achieve ResultsHigh Performance Leaders set high standards and strengthen instructional programs that improve student learning and achievement. Develop and support systems to assist all in meeting performance goals. They set the tone for conversations about teaching and learning, and draw in all members of the school community to support and produce improvements.

HPL’s improve student learning, achievement and staff performance.

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IX. Collaborate

High Performance Leaders create an environment where teachers and administrators work together, in small groups and school-wide, to identify sources of success and challenges.

They struggle collectively to implement improvements for all.

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X. Assess Performance Results and Begin Again

High Performance Leaders assess their school/department and individual performance regularly using benchmarks and metrics to determine the success.

Adjustments are made during and after to promote continuous improvement and increased success.

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Good To Great

High Performance Leaders

create that one degree of difference that will

move their organization from “Good” to “GREAT”.

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Next:

1) What Does It Mean to Move From Good to Great?

2) Where Are You On Your Journey From Good to Great?

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Questions,

Comments,

Reflections… 19