Do This Before Summer Break To Know What and How to Plan for the Next School Year

As the school year comes to an end, it is the perfect time to reflect and plan for the year ahead. Proper planning goes beyond arranging schedules; it involves learning from the past year and figuring out what strategies worked well and which ones need adjustment. This guide provides a clear approach to improve your school-year planning, ensuring you have a smoother transition into the next academic period.

Reflective Diagnosis: What Worked and What Didn’t

Before you jump into planning, take the time to review the fast-ending school year. This process will help you collect valuable insights about teacher needs, data trends, systems in place, and your leadership practices.

Begin by gathering feedback and reviewing data collected over the course of the school year to pinpoint successful strategies and areas needing improvement. Understanding the needs of teachers is vital for setting a productive tone for the next year. Speak with some of your teachers and staff members about their experiences. Did they feel supported? Were there specific areas where they wanted more training? Listening to their feedback will guide you in determining where to focus moving forward. Additionally, look at notes collected from classroom walkthroughs by you, your admin team, and coaches to get a complete picture of teacher and staff needs.

Include the analysis of key performance metrics in your process, such as attendance rates and test scores. For example, noting specific areas where student performance was lower or specific groups for whom attendance was not as high.

Finally, as part of this retrospective, reflect on your leadership style. Evaluate how your decision-making and communication strategies have impacted the team. Document specific examples that highlight your strengths and pinpoint areas where you can grow.

Start, Stay, Shift, and Stop

With reflective data in hand, categorize your findings to guide future planning using the "4S Protocol".

• Start: Identify new initiatives or systems to implement. For instance, consider creating a specific intervention block if teachers were not successful providing Tier 2 and Tier 2 supports for students.

  
  

• Stay: Focus on what is currently successful. If a specific process is proving effective, ensure it continues to be implemented consistently.

  
  

• Shift: Modify practices that need improvement. Rather than abandoning a program that isn’t effective, adapt it based on staff feedback. For example, if a professional development workshop received mixed reviews, ask for input on how to enhance its relevance and impact.

  
  

• Stop: Eliminate practices that are no longer beneficial. If outdated curriculum materials are hindering student learning, it is essential to phase out those resources and invest in more effective materials.

  
  

This framework will not only organize your insights but also provide tangible steps toward achieving your objectives for the upcoming year.

Planning for Professional Development

Armed with insights from your reflection and your protocol, you can now develop a professional development (PD) plan for the beginning of the year that is tailored to the needs of your teachers and school. As you step into the planning phase, consider the following questions to ensure you have a well-structured approach:

• What needs to be scheduled? Start making connections now to ensure you have everything you need to fulfill your plan.

  
  

• What needs to be communicated? Identify who needs to be involved. Is ther anything important that you need to let teachers or staff know before the end of the school year?

  
  

• When does it need to be communicated? Timing matters. Do your plans involve summer planning days or times? Do you need teachers and staff members to check their schedules now before everyone heads out for the summer?

  
  

• How will it be communicated? Decide on communication methods, such as email, meetings, in person conversations, etc..

  
  

• What support do you need? Identify resources or personnel necessary for achieving your goals. Whether it is budget allocations, administrative assistance, or partnerships, be proactive in seeking support for success.

  
  

Embracing Change for a Better Future

Planning for the next school year does not have to feel overwhelming. Instead, it can be a chance for growth and improvement. By reflecting on past experiences, using the "4S Protocol", and asking the right planning questions, you pave the way for a great start to the next year!

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