Generating Buy-in and Consistency

Using Workgroups to Create Change in a National Non-profit

Heidi Erbe, Director of Instruction, Breakthrough San Francisco

Do Now

Pair Share

• Think of a time when a new program was rolled out at your organization. What was your reaction to the process and the end result?

Objective

Today, we will discuss how workgroups can be a model for building buy-in and

developing best practices.

Mission of Organization

Founded in 1978, Breakthrough Collaborative has a unique dual mission to:

• Increase academic opportunities for highly motivated, underserved students and put them on the trajectory of a successful college path; and

• Inspire and develop the next generation of teachers and educational leaders.

History of Organization

1978: First Breakthrough site started

1989: First Breakthrough replication site started

1991: National office opened to support replication- range of roles- fundraising site start-up, coaching, training, branding affiliation

2009: Improving Teacher Training Initiative started

History of Challenge

• Breakthrough is a distributed network of affiliated programs

• National office does not hire local site directors who are employees of independent schools or independent 501(c)3 organizations

• Mandates are an unsuccessful vehicle for standardization and excellence

History of Challenge

Affiliate employees express desire for:1. Professional Development

2. Career Pathways

3. Codified Best Practices

4. Increased Pass-Through Funding Tied to Training

5. Enhanced Accountability from National and Each Other

Mandates do not consistently produce…1. excellent student outcomes

2. director longevity

3. best practice codification

History

• Compare/contrast your organization with Breakthrough in terms of history, influence, and impact.

Pilot Plan

1. “Improving Teacher Training Initiative”2. Gap + Breakthrough3. 2 days vs. 2 weeks of teacher training4. New way for national office to work with

local sites5. Research + Breakthrough Reality6. High-impact, transferable teaching skills—

teaching residency7. Breakthrough teacher = standard definition

Model Selection & Development

Model

Model Selection & Development

• Research-based model that works for all students

• Comprehensive model

• Collaborative conversation

• Cycle of developing, testing, refining—excellence through collaboration

Model

• What are some of the strengths and potential weaknesses of this model?

Data

Preparation6 of 9 indicators—ITTI teachers reported feeling better prepared; average of 7% higher scores than non-ITTI sites

– Curriculum development– Lesson planning– Instructional techniques– Leadership training– Classroom management– Development of a community of young educators

Summer Session Support9 of 9 indicators—ITTI teachers felt better supported by an average of 5% higher scores

Data

• 25 US sites will implement ITTI during summer 2011

• 22 sites (88%) will have a full implementation

• 16 US affiliates will pilot curriculum during summer 2011, representing 64% of the Collaborative

Anecdotal Data

The work I have done with ITTI, both at working retreats and over the

phone/internet, has been the most productive professional development I

have ever had, including the 5 years when I was a classroom teacher and routinely attended in-services and conferences.

Please keep this going!

Anecdotal Data

The "package" that we have created over the past two years is solid, and

maintaining momentum by continuing to meet and refine is important. This is the

best collaborative work I've seen come out of Breakthrough; I hope similar models continue to thrive in the Collaborative.

Data

• How might a similar replication model affect your organization?

Critical Attributes

Professional development for directorsIncreased standardization Excellence through collaboration

Challenges

• Sustainability

• Framing pass-through funding

• Time commitments and Executive Director buy-in

• Over-reliance on key site leaders

Implications

• Pilots vs. workgroups

• Ongoing need for training, support, and evaluation

• Extending best practices to all areas of work

Closure

• What are two ways you might apply the practices of Breakthrough’s teacher training replication model to your organization?

Questions