Historically, school leaders build plans in isolation over the summer, often spending September and October teaching and monitoring those plans alone. This can be exhausting and ineffective. How could we approach this differently? This is where September planning can make a significant difference.
As the school year wraps up, the months of May through July present a crucial opportunity for educators, administrators, and stakeholders to prepare effectively for the upcoming academic year. This time should be about more than just winding down; it’s a chance to reflect, gather input, and lay the groundwork for success. Here’s how to maximize this period for planning, ensuring your school is ready to hit the ground running in the fall.
Why September Planning Matters
Engaging with teachers, students, parents, and community members is vital for a comprehensive planning process. While we would love to have everyone stay and plan over the summer, that’s not realistic. If you have meetings with staff already scheduled, use this time for September planning. Conduct surveys, focus groups, and meetings to collect diverse perspectives on what worked well this year and what needs improvement. Ask specific questions about curriculum, classroom management, extracurricular activities, and support services. The insights gathered will help shape a more responsive and inclusive plan for the next year.
Setting Clear Priorities
Key actions in this process include clarifying the priorities you want to cover with staff and other constituents. These priorities should rely on staff engagement to ensure the plan moves forward. They will be crucial in monitoring the plan, communicating challenges, and problem-solving when obstacles arise. Identify meetings that can be converted to September planning, such as staff meetings, professional development days, department meetings, or grade-level gatherings. Surveys can help gather input on prioritization and necessary actions to improve existing systems or plans.
Defining Parameters and Deliverables
Once the priorities are set and meetings identified, it’s essential to define clear parameters and deliverables for your planning process. Leaving adults in the room without urgency or accountability can lead to unproductive venting sessions. Identify specific problems to solve, measures for success, an action plan ready for September, and any demands for support, such as budget or personnel needs. Establishing these parameters provides a framework for the planning team, ensuring alignment on the vision for the upcoming year.
Developing a Detailed Planning Document
Develop a detailed planning document that outlines objectives for the group before they begin. Assign responsibilities to each team member and create a timeline for achieving these deliverables so they understand how their time should be spent based on what’s most important.
Establishing Regular Feedback Loops
Feedback is a critical component of effective planning. Establish regular check-ins with each team to facilitate ongoing reflection and adjustments. Monthly review meetings can assess progress on deliverables and necessary adjustments. Utilize shared online documents, visit meetings intermittently, or have team leaders meet regularly with you to share progress. This creates an opportunity to build teachers’ capacity to work as a team, empowering them to be problem-solvers. Regular feedback ensures that the planning process remains dynamic and responsive to emerging needs.
Coaching and Supporting Teams
Find time to coach these teams, review their work, and provide feedback weekly to ensure they stay on track. This may be challenging with an administrator’s busy schedule at the year’s end, but it’s worth the investment. Building norms and routines, teaching conflict resolution, and guiding consensus-building are essential skills for your teams.
Creating a Timeline for Implementation
A timeline for implementation is crucial for effective action. This timeline should include key milestones and deadlines for each phase of the planning process. Break down planning into manageable parts, ensuring your team can focus on specific goals without feeling overwhelmed.
Develop a visual timeline with input from your team. If the timeline works for you but not for them, you risk losing buy-in. Share the timeline with all stakeholders to keep everyone informed and build accountability. Adjust timelines as needed based on feedback and progress, recognizing that flexibility is key.
Celebrating Achievements
As you make progress on your plans, celebrate achievements—both big and small. Recognizing your team’s hard work boosts morale and fosters a positive school culture. Highlighting successes motivates everyone to stay committed to the goals set for the next year. Consider weekly shoutouts, direct praise during visits, or a bulletin board showcasing each team’s progress.
Typical Teams for Planning
The months of May through July are vital for reflection and preparation for the next school year. Consider organizing teams for curriculum mapping, professional development, PBIS, scheduling, new teacher orientation, staff handbooks, and hiring committees.
By gathering input, setting clear parameters, and establishing regular feedback loops, schools can create comprehensive plans that address the needs of all stakeholders. With a well-structured timeline and recognition of achievements, your school will be equipped to welcome students back with renewed energy and purpose. Let’s make the most of this planning period and set the stage for a successful school year ahead!
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