Study Group Info

The Formula for Success Study Group is a 9-session module focused on instructional leadership. It is designed for principals, assistant principals and prospective principals. Topics include:

Session One: Orientation to a study group: The first session is designed to help members of the group discuss essential elements of group membership including creating a trusting environment and the importance of listening carefully. They will also agree on concrete ground rules for operation of the group.

Session Two: Characteristics and Actions of Effective Principals: This session focuses on characteristics and action of excellent principals. The articles for this session discuss these characteristics and actions. The study questions also help participants discuss those characteristics and actions and how to incorporate them into daily work. It also encourages participants to reflect on their district's and school's vision.

Session Three: Varied and Changing Roles of Principals: This session addresses the many "hats" that principals are expected to wear: disciplinarian, manager, public relations director, teacher, maintenance person, crossing guard, evaluator, parent educator and so on. While principals may continue to wear a variety of hats, the profile of effective principals has changed over time. The series of articles connected with this session examine the varied and changing roles of principals and provide information on the habits and actions of strong, effective principals. The study guide for this session also assists participants in rethinking the profile(s) of principals and in developing an initial plan for creating a strong professional culture in their school.

Session Four: The Principal and School Reform: The articles for this session explore the principal's role in school reform and describe actions that principals can take to bring about meaningful change. The study guide asks participants to examine obstacles to school reform and explore options that principals can take to bring about meaningful change.

Session Five: Powerful Professional Development: Articles for this session highlight the critical role that faculty professional development plays in building and sustaining educator and student success. Study guide questions will assist participants in developing a greater understanding of the elements of powerful staff development and in examining their own p.d. offerings.

Session Six: Standards-Based Staff Development: This session focuses on the National Staff Development Council's standards for staff development. This session will help participants have a broader understanding of the principles of effective staff development, and how these principles can be applied in schools. Completion of the activity for this session will give participants a plan for initiating, implementing and institutionalizing NSDC standards for staff development.

Session Seven: The Role of the Chief Learning Officer in Building Leadership Capacity: the focus of this study session is on building teacher leadership capacity. Study questions for this session will help participants further explore the role of the CLO, identify critical elements in building teacher leadership capacity and help develop some "first steps" in shaping and supporting teacher leaders.

Session Eight: The Role of the Chief Learning Officer in Building Leadership Capacity, part two: This is a continuation of the last session, with a particular emphasis on building leadership capacity. Participants will reflect on the four types of schools and school communities (low participation, low skillfulness; high participation, low skillfulness; high skillfulness, low participation; high skillfulness, high participation). The session will help participants assume new leadership roles in order to create positive school change.

Session Nine: Effective Study Groups: As a member of a peer study group, participants had the opportunity to experience the benefits that can be derived from such a process. The purpose of this study session is to further explore the importance of principal study groups, to evaluate the value of the study group, and to determine the study group's future direction.

If you are interested, the Best Practices Center, which developed the Formula for Success Module, will provide to you—free of charge—facilitator manuals and participant guides. The facilitator manual has very specific instructions, but we have found that it helps facilitators feel more confident if they have participated in a training session. The Best Practices Center offers periodic training sessions and would be pleased to provide this service to your school system.

If you have additional questions, need more information, or would like to talk with someone who has gone through the facilitator training, please contact us via email.