Dr. Phillip Schlechty will be presenting “Transformation or Reform,” at the 2009 Texas ASCD Annual Conference. What does Dr. Schlechty means by transformation and reform? To get this answer we went to his book, Leading for Learning: How to Transform Schools into Learning Organizations. Dr. Schlechty wrote, “In the context of recent efforts to improve schools, reform usually means changing procedures, processes, and technologies with the intent of improving the performance of existing operating systems.” He describes transformation as, “Transformation is intended to make it possible to do things that have never been done by the organization undergoing the transformation. It involves metamorphosis: changing from one form to another form entirely.” Basically, what he is saying is to reform something is to enhance what you are currently doing, and transformation is to create a new process or procedure.
What are some of the issues we are looking to transform or reform in schools? Some issues that come to mind are engagement, achievement, innovation, graduation rates, and communication. According to Project Appleseed, the ways to start reforming are by first looking at the classrooms/subject matter. What you can change and/or add to the teaching methods currently going on. Then secondly, look at the administrative procedures. The steps for transformation are different. If you decide to transform, you must first look at what you are doing in your district, what is not working and why. Then research other procedures/processes. What are others doing in their districts? See if this meets the needs of your students and district.
So what is better for your district, to reform the current process and procedures already in place or to adopt new ones? Each individual district is different. Come hear Dr. Phillip Schlechty outline transformation for schools from “government-dominated bureaucracies to community-oriented learning organizations.”
What are some of the issues we are looking to transform or reform in schools? Some issues that come to mind are engagement, achievement, innovation, graduation rates, and communication. According to Project Appleseed, the ways to start reforming are by first looking at the classrooms/subject matter. What you can change and/or add to the teaching methods currently going on. Then secondly, look at the administrative procedures. The steps for transformation are different. If you decide to transform, you must first look at what you are doing in your district, what is not working and why. Then research other procedures/processes. What are others doing in their districts? See if this meets the needs of your students and district.
So what is better for your district, to reform the current process and procedures already in place or to adopt new ones? Each individual district is different. Come hear Dr. Phillip Schlechty outline transformation for schools from “government-dominated bureaucracies to community-oriented learning organizations.”
Please feel free to respond to the questions below:
1. Is your school or district taking steps to reform or transform? If so, what are some ways you are approaching this?
2. How will the end result of your school’s or district’s reform or transformation look like?
Texas ASCD Upcoming Events:
Rescheduled to:
May 20th, 2009
Elementary Science Tutorial: Start With Vocabulary and Measurement
Annette Venegas
Fort Worth ISD
CLOSED
June 1st & 2nd, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Luchin
Amarillo ISD
CLOSED
June 8th, 2009
Traditional Block Scheduling
Dr. J. Allen Queen
Tyler ISD
June 16th, 2009
Elementary Science Tutorial: Start With Vocabulary and Measurement
Annette Venegas
Goose Creek CISD
June 18th & 19th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD
July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)
July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD
September 16th & 17th, 2009
Five Keys to Reading Success
Tim Rasinkski
Northside ISD
September 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hays CISD
October 1st & 2nd, 2009
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)
October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)
November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD
