Districts on the Move : Leading a Coherent System of Continuous Improvement

Built from the principles of Fullan/Quinn′s Coherence this book explains why the long-term success of school districts requires a systemic approach for creating a coherent system of continuous improvement. The reason is that the district is the most important ‘unit’ of system change, not the school by itself.

School districts demonstrating the clarity, commitment, collaboration, and accountability needed to create a coherent system of continuous improvement are deemed Districts on the Move. We use the phrase ‘on the move’ because forward motion is essential for coherence-making and continuous improvement as both necessitate constant adapting and adjusting to realize the equitable improvement of student learning outcomes.

Building off the framework Fullan and Quinn introduced in the International best-seller Coherence The Right Drivers in Action for Schools, Districts, and Systems, Westover presents a roadmap to help district and school leaders navigate the journey of creating a coherent system of continuous improvement. Based on more than 15 years of successful partnerships with school districts, this book includes case studies of how districts progressed over time, leadership competencies shown to be critical factors for success, tools and rubrics for action planning and guiding implementation, and reflective questions for inquiring about the current state of district systems and practices and strategies for systemic improvements efforts.

Readers will discover Benchmarks of Capacity that will serve as guideposts to
• Create clarity of district goals and school priorities for student learning
• Cultivate a culture of shared leadership and systemic collaboration
• Develop collective expertise with a coherent instructional framework
• Engage in evidence-based cycles of inquiry for continuous improvement

Learn how to lead systemic improvement that builds capacity at the classroom, school and district levels.