+ Central Office: The Functions of Our Work Lou Howell Central Office Redesign Project, Wallace Foundation’s Iowa Leadership Executive Director, Iowa ASCD

+ The Guiding Principles of Our Work in Central Office The primary responsibility of central office staff members is to develop the collective capacity of the organization to assure that all students are successful.

+ Accomplished through Collaborative Leadership in... Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Data Analysis Processes Learning and Professional Development Relationship Building Performance Operations Change

+ 4 Critical Questions Today Strand 1: Curriculum Leadership: What are the guiding principles for our work as leaders of learning? Strand 2: Monitoring Student Learning: How might I use data to inform decisions at the classroom and district level? Strand 3: Managing Technical Aspects of System Change: What aspects of change will I need to consider as we implement the Iowa Core? Strand 4: Implementing Quality Professional Development: How will I design professional development to implement change?

+ Function 1: Leaders of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Central office personnel ensure the increased achievement of the intended learning of all students through the alignment, monitoring, and evaluation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Learning Opportunities Today and Tomorrow Designing Professional Development for the 21 st Century with Dr. Ann Mausbach and Dr. Dee Engstrom (Council Bluffs) Learning–Focused Leadership with Dr. Mike Copland (University of Washington)

+ Function 2: Leaders of Data Analysis Central office personnel assure all educators’ ability to use data to inform, implement, monitor, and evaluate results- based decisions. Learning Opportunities Today and Tomorrow Collaborating Using Student Work, Dr. Kathryn Schladweiler (Mason City) Effective Ways to Engage Staff in Examining and Making Meaning from ITBS/ITED Data, Kevin Vidergar (North Polk)

+ Function 3: Leaders of Processes Central office personnel establish and monitor common practices and procedures to assure alignment and achievement of initiatives and plans. Learning Opportunities Today and Tomorrow Collaborating Using Student Work with Dr. Kathryn Schladweiler (Mason City) Monitoring Implementation through Walk-Throughs with Dr. Paul Gausman, Dr. Linda Madison, and John Beeck (Sioux City)

+ Function 4: Leaders of Learning and Professional Development Central office personnel model, expect, monitor, and evaluate continuous learning of all. Learning Opportunities Tomorrow Designing Professional Development for the 21 st Century with Dr. Ann Mausbach and Dr. Dee Engstrom (Council Bluffs) Planning for Purposeful Change through Program Evaluation with Jason Ellingson (Collins-Maxwell) Implementing Professional Learning Communities with Becky Martin (Cedar Rapids)

+ Function 5: Leaders of Relationship Building Central office personnel ensure meaningful, two-way communication among all stakeholders for increased student learning. Learning Opportunities Today and Tomorrow Fierce Conversations with Dr. Carol Sensor (AEA 267)

+ Function 6: Leaders of Performance Central office personnel assure the development, implementation, management, monitoring, communication, and evaluation of achievement of results-based goals and initiatives informed by data. Learning Opportunities Today and Tomorrow Collaborating Using Student Work with Dr. Kathryn Schladweiler (Mason City) Instructional Decision Making with Brad Schweppe and Dr. Jane Lindaman (Waterloo) Monitoring Implementation through Walk-Throughs with Dr. Paul Gausman, Dr. Linda Madison, and John Beeck (Sioux City) Planning for Purposeful Change through Program Evaluation with Jason Ellingson (Collins-Maxwell)

+ Function 7: Leaders of Operation Central office personnel organize and assure equitable and adequate resources (e.g., time, people, money, expertise), processes, and systems to achieve student success. Upcoming Learning Opportunity How to Stay Focused on Teaching and Learning in Tough Economic Times – May 12 (IA – 3A districts) and May 13 (4A districts) – with Dr. Allan Odden (Iowa ASCD is a co-sponsor)

+ Function 8: Leaders of Change Central office personnel nurture schools, educators, and stakeholders through the change process to achieve desired results. Learning Opportunities Today and Tomorrow Leadership Change Tools with Dr. Troyce Fisher (Wallace Foundation) Manage the Transition, Not the Change with Dr. Susan Pecinovsky (Ames) Road to Balanced Leadership with Marcia Tweeten (Forest City and AEA 267) Monitoring Implementation through Walk-Throughs with Dr. Paul Gausman, Dr. Linda Madison, and John Beeck (Sioux City) Changes for 21 st Century Schools with Kevin Fangman (Iowa DE)

+ Leaders of Learning Mother Goose shared, “Good, better, best; never rest till good be better, and better best.”

+ Connecting to the Iowa Standards for School Leaders Alignment of Functions with the Standards – Our Next Conversation – Focus on Professional Growth Plans Individual Professional Development Plans Central Office Leadership Performance Review: A Systems Approach for electronic versions of documents Contact Lou Howell at or